4 Places To Keep Emergency Bags – And What You Need In Them
While it is wise to anticipate emergencies, many people are blindsided by unexpected events that lead to dire consequences. From natural disasters to urgent visits to the hospital, having an emergency kit ready and in a designated area can save time and increase safety. Prepare yourself for life’s extremities with this quintessential guide for building and storing your emergency bag.
While it is wise to anticipate emergencies, many people are blindsided by unexpected events that lead to dire consequences. From natural disasters to urgent visits to the hospital, having an emergency kit ready and in a designated area can save time and increase safety.
Prepare yourself for life’s extremities with this quintessential guide for building and storing your emergency bag.
What You Need In Your Emergency Bag
It can be stressful narrowing down a list of items to put in your emergency kit. Due to space and the ability to move swiftly when an emergency strikes, it’s best to only focus on the vital items. The most important item is the bag itself. Selecting a custom bag will give you the security you need, and you can tailor it to the size that’s ideal for you.
The type of bag you choose is up to personal preference, but it should be easy to lift and not cause any pain when carrying. A duffle bag or backpack are great options as they are easy to grab and carry, with the weight distributed evenly on your back.
The Must-Have Items
Driver’s licenses, passports, birth certificates, and documents pertaining to the home, credit cards, and banking items should be kept in a waterproof case and stored in the emergency bag.
If you or a loved one has prescription medication, be sure to include this in your bag along with a copy of the prescription. An emergency card with medical information on it should be packed, as well.
Spending extra money on food and water during an emergency can make the situation frustrating, so having some bottled water ready-made meals in your emergency bag can help you weather the storm.
If injuries are sustained, it will be wise to get a travel-sized first aid kit. The items that you need in your bag should be enough to last a minimum of 24 hours but ideally up to 72 hours.
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Where To Keep Your Emergency Bag
There are many places you might want to keep an emergency bag so it’s quickly to hand in the event of an emergency. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
1. Home
Keeping your emergency kit in your primary place of residence is great for when emergencies happen at home.
Fire emergencies can happen due to faulty electricity, a forgotten candle, or even forest fire embers spreading. In this case, the emergency bag should be stored in a designated area in the home where you can quickly grab it on your way out. Next to the front door or even beside the bed are good options.
Wherever you decide to store the bag in your home, communicate the bag’s location with everyone who lives there and make sure to have an effective evacuation plan.
2. Personal Locker or Safe Deposit Box
If your home is located on a floodplain, you may be better off storing important documents and emergency items in a second location that has little to no risk of flooding.
A safe deposit box at a bank or even a storage locker can be a great location. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place that can be secured and can protect the internal contents from damage.
3. Workplace
If you spend late nights at work by yourself or have a job that requires longer shifts, then storing an emergency bag at your workplace is ideal.
Your needs for this bag may be different depending on your job, but it’s important to remember accidents can happen at work, too. Even having a spare set of clothing can be useful if you spill a cup of coffee.
4. Car
Storing your emergency bag in the trunk of your car can help if you need to drive to safety. This location can be helpful for long road trips.
Problems can arise and leave you stranded with a flat tire, a totalled car, or even standstill traffic that leaves you stuck in the place you are visiting for an extended amount of time.
Having the emergency bag in the car can also help if your home is being robbed. Getting your family to the car as quickly as possible and escaping can save your lives.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to having the safest outcomes in life, it’s best to be proactive, not reactive. Extend your life and offer security to your family with these helpful tips. Be ready for anything by preparing your emergency bag today.
