Friday, November 29, 2013

Essentials Of Emergency Survival Kits

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By Susan Dawson


Emergency survival kits are a necessity for each one of us. They should always be within our reach at all times because they might be the difference between life and death. In creating this important tool, there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration. One of the most important of them is to know whether the kit in question will only be used only once and disposed of or is intended for several occasions. This will ensure that it is packaged as appropriate.

When creating the kit, it is important to ensure that you do not forget anything. At the same time, you should not overdo the exercise to the extent of making it burdensome. An important component of almost any survival pack is shelter. The shelter serves to protect you from all the forms of harsh weather conditions. Exposure to extremes may lead to potentially life-threatening conditions.

There are a number of different forms of shelter that one can choose from. Popular choices include tents, trash bags and tarps. All have their advantages and disadvantages. A common practice is to rip nylon ponchos open and to modify them into tents. Virtually any light material will do. Make sure you have some ropes and stakes to help the erection.

Related to the shelter is the need for warm bedding. The top two choices here are wool and fleece. Both are always warm even when wet. Wool is a flame retardant while fleece has the advantage of being lightweight. Foil type blankets are easy to package and equally as good as these two. Cotton bedding should be avoided as much as possible as they lead to loss of body heat.

The amount of water in the kit should be worked out as per each individual. A minimum of between 130 and 160 oz is required for each person per day. This water is only to be used for drinking purposes. The water may be packed in water bags, sterilised bottles or reusable containers. On average, bottled water has a shelf life of about 5 years.

The choice of food is mainly dependent on individual preferences. Just ensure that there is a balance between the main groups of foods and minerals. About 2000 calories of energy are required per person per day. Since space is limited, preference is given to foods that require little or no preparation at all and do not require the use of utensils. Food bars and granola are fairly convenient.

Hygiene items such as toilet paper, soap, wash clothes, towels and toothbrushes are not an absolute necessity but make life a bit more comfortable. A first aid kit may be needed at one time or the other. Some of the items to have in this kit include painkillers, gauze rolls, wound cream, antibiotics and some blood anticoagulant. Rescue aids and essential tools include a source of light, a whistle, a pocket knife, multi-purpose pair of pliers, a small rope and a crank radio.

There are rules that govern the preparation of emergency survival kits. What is contained in these tools is dependent on what the owner deems being most important. If you are taking medication, for instance, you will probably regard your drugs as being very important and you have to include them in the kit. Once you have your list, the next thing is to look for an easily accessible waterproof bag.




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