| How to Pack an Emergency Kit for the House Posted: 08 Apr 2022 05:00 PM PDT In case an emergency happens in your area, you want to be ready. Here are some tips on how to create an emergency kit for your home. Remember to also prepare a kit in the event that you may need to evacuate; keep it in your car. - Look at the Things You'll Need to see what your kit should contain.
- Make a first aid kit if you don't already have one. In an emergency you, a loved one, or even a neighbour could be cut, burned or injured in some other way. If you have these basic supplies you are better prepared to help people when they are hurt.
- Determine what hazards exist in your local area. Contact your local emergency manager and ask. If your location does not have an emergency manager, check with your county or state emergency management official for assistance.
- Most natural disasters types can be predicted to occur in a given region, so prepare accordingly. Examples include:
- Flooding (one of the most common natural disasters on Earth)
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
- Blizzards
- Tornadoes
- Volcanic eruptions
- Tidal Waves
- Extreme heat or cold
- Wildfires
- Man-made disasters occur when it's primarily human activity (or lack of) that causes a disaster, although it can happen in conjunction with a natural disaster. This may include:
- Power failures/blackouts
- Civic unrest. (Rioting, looting, police actions).
- Nuclear plant meltdown
- Write a plan based on the hazards, then build a kit to support the plan.
- Purchase "Self Powered Flashlights" and "Self Powered Radios". In the event of a disaster, power will be out and batteries will be unavailable, sold out. The latest models have the "Weatherband/Emergency Band" and will also charge your cell phone, thus if your cell phone fails in a disaster, it will be that the cell phone towers, their infrastructure will be damaged, even destroyed. it also doesn't hurt to have a satellite phone which can be used with out a cell tower it connects to orbiting satellites.
- Pack according to location. Depending on where you live, you might need different things in an emergency such as flood, hurricane, tornado. Of course there are a few things that you should have regardless of location.
- Pack a map in your kit. These are especially helpful if you must evacuate and emergency routes may involve detours.
- Gather together the items on the list that you already have at home.
- Keep a running list. If you can't pick up everything at once you should add an item or two to each shopping trip.
- Designate a first aid kit for emergency or disaster and one for everyday use. Your first aid kit should contain:
 - A minimum of two pairs of Latex gloves for the smallest kit. Remember, it may be a stranger who needs your help and having a latex barrier will help prevent infection.
- Use vinyl gloves if you or a family member is allergic to Latex. Latex allergies can be severe.
- Keep more pairs in your disaster kit that will evacuate with you. You may go through several pairs in one emergency.
- Check the integrity of the gloves if they've been stored in changing temperatures. They may become brittle. Sometimes gloves deeper in a box may still be good so don't toss the box because the first few pairs are bad. Look through them all.
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding. (Look for bulky dressings called surgical pads in health supply stores)
- Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
- Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Burn ointment to relieve pain.
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
- Gauze pads
- Micropore tape
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or sterile saline as general decontaminate. Sterile saline is available in litter bottles in health supply stores.
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers.
- You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates and have a plan for refrigerated insulin.
- Over the counter pain medicine (Like Tylenol and Advil) and an antihistamine (Like Benadryl).
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.
- Go to the store to buy the items you don't already have.
- Obtain a waterproof box. This does not have to be expensive. Just a large waterproof box with a lid. These are available in the storage sections of most discount stores.
- It should be small enough so that in an emergency, you can roll it into your car, yard, or home in just a few minutes. Look for something with wheels and/or handles.
- Consider placing kits in your home, car, and workplace.
- You never know where you'll be when an emergency strikes.
- Use backpacks or plastic tool boxes for jump and run bags.
- Keep everything sorted with clear zip sandwich, quart or gallon bags.
- For worker/s in large urban areas keep a backpack under your desk which contains water, energy bars, flashlight, spare socks and good walking shoes in case public transportation is disrupted.
- Stay hydrated! Water is the most essential life sustaining resource. Keeping water (in clean plastic bottles) in your home, car trunk, and workplace will keep you hydrated when you're under stress.
- You may need more water for children, nursing mothers, the elderly or if you live in a warm climate.
- You may need to add electrolyte replacement drinks (Gatorade or Powerade) to replace valuable minerals in warm or humid weather or if you will be very active.
- Keep at least a three-day supply of the items listed in the "Things You'll Need" section (below) in the box.
- Consider other things you might need--especially things such as medication, bandages, firearms, or other things according to age, location, or health.
- Don't forget to pack nonperishable food into your kit. Buy ready-to- go meal kits that can feed multiples.
- Do not rely on Cell Phone Service or Internet. In an emergency, infrastructure such as cell phone towers and Internet service may be compromised. Consider:
- Have physical maps. Services like Google Maps may not be available, so having an old fashioned paper map and even an atlas can make all the difference in finding alternate routes in an emergency.
- No cell phone service? Try texting. During 9/11/01 in New York City, cell towers were unable to process all the calls made by frantic people. Text messages tended to go through better.
- Have emergency numbers written down and/or memorized. You may not remember phone numbers, and if your cell phone is out of charge you might not be able to reach people if you need to use a different phone.
- A radio that does not require batteries (such as solar, battery powered, or crank) can help obtain vital information in an emergency. Plus, the psychological comfort of having music, entertainment, and connection to the outside world can be important.
- In deciding what food to put in your emergency kit, remember to choose food your family will actually eat. Good choices include:
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Canned juices
- Non-perishable pasteurized milk
- High energy foods
- Vitamins
- Food for infants
- Comfort/stress foods
- Practice emergency drills with your family. Fire drills are important to teach your family, in case there ever were to be a fire.
- Make sure that if space is limited, everything you bring is essential.
- Consider becoming an amateur radio operator. This allows one to communicate over greater distances, even to other states and countries.
- Cell phones are optional, but are highly useful in emergencies. Pack two methods for charging or powering your cell phone. External battery packs or a car charger are examples.
- Keep old prescription glasses when you get new glasses. An old pair of glasses is better than none at all.
- Make your kit portable, in the event that you would need to evacuate.
- Power inverters (Converts DC power to AC power) for cars are handy for charging cell phones, powering your TV, radios, running refrigerators, etc.
- Label the chargers to the different cell phones. This will ensure that you don't get the cables confused when you're in a rush or panic; it also ensures that people other than you know which cable is used for which purpose without having to rely on you alone.
- Family Radio System (FRS) radios can be useful in keeping in touch with your friends or family in a small area when telephones are out.
- Remember, many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider Community Emergency Response Team training. Students may be given a kit that can be used as a starter for your personal disaster kit.
- Purchase Self Powered Radios AND Self Powered Flashlights. Batteries will be unavailable in an emergency and some models will also charge your cell phones.Some of these devices are solar powered as well as using a "crank generator". Find these at Radio Shack, Walmart, Online.
- Glowsticks. Candles are a safety hazard, especially if there is gas leaks going on, explosive, flammable gas is in the area. Using candles can cause a fire, even an explosion.
- Make sure you include an original prescription bottle with dosage information in case you need to get medicines refilled during an event.
- Should you choose to bring a firearm with you in an emergency or have one in the kit (not advisable in Canada or anywhere where firearms are illegal or restricted), make sure that you have a reasonable amount of ammunition with you, as well as the original and a copy of your firearms license. Also, in the event that you must evacuate, make sure you know the law before bringing a firearm across state lines.
- Have an address book, in case you haven't got everyone's number on the phone.
- Consider a glowing sticker for your box so you can find in in a power outage.
- If you have a strong arm you can also buy a crank operated flashlight, because it can only be broken by damaging the things that make it turn, causing the energy for light, it is also waterproof, which is a plus.
[Edit]Warnings - Bring only what you need.
- Avoid putting salty foods in your emergency kit, as they will only make you thirsty.
- Consider temperatures where you store your kits - heat can significantly degrade the quality of supplies in a few months. Try to store supplies in an area constantly below and out of direct sunlight.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Sleeping bag or warm blankets. Make sure you have at least one good sleeping bag or heavy blanket for each family member. Keep in mind that a sleeping bag used by a child for a sleepover or slumber party is not rated for outdoor use.
- Water, if the water supply is contaminated or declared undrinkable, you should have several gallons on hand. A good guide is one gallon of water per person per day, for 3 days.
- Food for your family for three days -- canned, non-perishable foods that last a long time. Don't forget to include a manual can-opener.
- First aid kit
- Flashlight(s) and extra batteries
- Self powered flashlights which are available in the local Walmart, Target, and Radio Shack, and also online, as are glow sticks. These types of lights are safer than candles, and do not use batteries, which will be unavailable in an emergency
- Wrench, or whatever you would need to turn off utilities in your house. Other emergency tools are also a good idea.
- Extra clothing for warmth
- Waterproof matches, or lighter
- Unique family needs -- medication you may need such as heart medications, prescription glasses, etc., infant formula and diapers etc.
- Weather radio with tone alert to get updates about severe weather conditions. In the U.S., NOAA weather radios are the best way to stay informed about National Weather Service weather warnings and watches. The radio should be battery-operated and have a tone-alert feature that automatically notifies you when an advisory is issued. Some "Self Powered Radios" also have the weather band, will also "Alert" you.
- Self powered radio -- available from your local discount or electronics store, this will save you money on batteries, and batteries will not be available in an emergency. The "Eton" radio, a "Self Powered" radio is a Weather Radio as seen above, only it does NOT use batteries, has a LED flashlight built into it, a RED LED "ALERT" light built into it, an "ALERT" siren, and has the Weather Band built into it. This model will even charge cell phones, should they run low on power.
- An extra set of car keys and cash and/or a credit card.
- Pet food and water
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask for filtering contaminated air or a gas mask with gloves and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
- moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Local maps
[Edit]Other Items to Consider - Cash or traveler's checks and change as well as a credit card
- List of Important Phone Numbers and their addresses
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Activities for children (and you!) (books, games, puzzles, deck of cards etc.)
- It also doesn't hurt to have a firearm and some ammunition for protection or hunting
- Tents Your home will probably be destroyed,minor or major... it is still important to have a tent on hand.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References - Ready.gov -- source of information and some text, public domain government resource
- FEMA.gov
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| How to Organize a Birthday Party for Kids Posted: 08 Apr 2022 09:00 AM PDT Kids' parties can be more fun than adult parties -- you don't have to be so serious and you can let your inner child out with them. Plus, by the end of the day when all the kids' energy has come to a halt, and they fall asleep, you're right there, laying next to them, taking a little nap yourself! [Edit]Planning Party Basics - Pick a theme with your child. Though it may seem unnecessary, having a theme will help you know what decorations to buy, what food to prepare, and what games to plan.[1] Character parties are popular (think Sponge Bob or Scooby-Doo), but general themes work, too (pirates, fairies, princesses, cowboys, etc.). Unless they want something that just isn't appropriate, allow them creative freedom. Sit down with your child at the table with a pen and paper and write down all the ideas you both like.[2]
- Some themes will obviously be more difficult than others. Go with your child to a couple of party stores and see what's available or go online. It'll be easiest to pick a theme based on what you have at your disposal. Most parents aren't Martha Stewart; you certainly don't have to be.
- Nail down the specifics. There are a few questions you'll have to address: When is the party going to be? How long will it last? Where is it going to be? Is there anything going on communally or culturally that would prevent other children from coming? What time of day works into your schedule?
- Take your child's age into account. Generally, the younger the child, the earlier the party. You do not have to entertain all day--a few hours is more than sufficient. If you're not having it at home, consult the desired venue to see what times are available.
- Get invitations (that match the theme!). Once you have them picked out, it's time to finalize the details. Check your schedule to make sure there are no girl scouts or work meetings during the time you're thinking. On the invitation, put the start and end times, address, what each child should bring (swimsuit, etc.) and if there will be a meal so parents can plan accordingly.[3][4]
- As for guests, a good rule of thumb is the child's age plus 1.[5] And if parents can come along, great! It's best to have a couple others to help with monitoring and clean up.
- Have your invitations in the theme of your party. The other children will probably get excited, too. Your child can hand them out at school (if possible to do it discreetly) or you can give them to the parents if your child is too young (or forgetful!).
- Your child shouldn't hand them out in front of those not invited -- it might make the others feel bad. Give them to the teacher to put in the take home folder or have your child put them in desks or lockers.
- Buy decorations.[6] For everything from table cloths to pinatas, a party store is your best bet -- or else you'll end up bouncing around town for days looking to piece it all together. And if they don't have a specific something, ask! They may be able to order it for you.
- It's always an option to make your own if you're DIY handy. And your child can always help if you want someone to blame the poor penmanship on! As an alternative idea, a few children can come over a bit earlier to make decorations themselves, if they'd like.
[Edit]Organizing Activities & What to Eat - Plan some games. These are the building blocks of a good child's party, so start thinking up craft projects, look into renting an entertainer, or utilize the facilities at an outside venue. Look in your phone book or online for party rentals or places near you. For younger kids, have a loose schedule to keep things running.
- Don't be afraid to go super theme-oriented. If you're having a Wild West party, have them pan for gold in the sandbox. Conduct a scavenger hunt with theme-related clues and a final prize.
- Don't be afraid to go super simple. Nowadays, kids aren't playing the old school games they could be. Instead of having them all plop down in front of the Wii, have them Capture the Flag, play Red Rover, Blind Man's Bluff, or have relay races.
- Bingo is also a great birthday party game for a big group.[7]
- For older children, have more free time. The older the child, the less structured the party should be. Kids will likely want to do their own thing at one point or another. If they express this, don't stress. More free time for you and the other parents!
- Make party favors interactive. Instead of giving them a bag of small toys that will get played with for three minutes and then shoved in a drawer, have them make the party favors themselves! The kids will feel more involved and like they were a part of the party.
- They could make potato print t-shirts, simple masks, jewelry, fishing rods, badges -- the list goes on and on and on. This requires a bit more forethought, but will pay off in the long run.
- You could have this be the first activity -- so children that come earlier have something to busy themselves with while the others slowly file in. Any late arriving child can take the necessary materials home with them if they'd like.
- Let the kids take home the decorations. This is an easy and quick idea if you have something with a general theme, like princesses or baseball. And it allows for minimal clean up!
- Plan the party food.[8] When it comes to parties, one thing is timeless: cake. Will you bake one or buy one? Or two?! Cupcakes are easy and super trendy as well. Whatever you choose, either get the order in early or go grocery shopping for the ingredients ahead of time. Make the food theme oriented, too!
- Despite what logic dictates, cake isn't enough. You'll need food food too -- make it easy on yourself and get some pizzas delivered or get a fast food restaurant or catering company to take care of everything. Finger sandwiches and lunch bags with sandwiches and fruit, jellos, or chocolate chip cookies are great choices, too.
- If it's a nice day outside and you have a grill, kids love hot dogs and hamburgers. Don't forget the buns, mustard, and ketchup!
- If there will be other parents or adults attending and watching over the kids, have food for them, too. They may not be so keen on chicken nuggets and Sprite.
- Plan the party drinks. Soda pop, lemonade, and juice are all pretty standard. And if you'll be outside a lot, a cooler filled with bottles of water or cans of soda will surely be appreciated, especially if it's hot outside. And, of course, milk goes great with cake. If it's autumn or winter, have the kids play outside and come in for cider to warm them up.
- Have glasses (and cutlery in general) that are safe for the kids to use. Things may get broken -- so don't break out your fine china. Be prepared for a mess.
- Plan the goodbye. Give the other parents your cell phone number on the off chance they're running late, early, or sending someone else to pick up their child. Establish protocol for the safety of every child.
- As the child leaves, take note. Have them say goodbye to everyone, gather their things, their party favor, and mentally check them off their list. Never let the child leave on their own or with an adult you don't recognize.
- If you are planning outdoor games, have one or two simple indoor games prepared too, in case it rains.
- Plan for more games than you think you'll have time for. Younger kids tend to get bored easily and take less time with games than you think.
- If you want to, you can have different games set up at once, and the kids won't be bored. It will be like a mini carnival, and they can pick which game they want to play.
- You can set games up the night before the party, that way they are ready to go on the day of the party.
- Set up an activity at the beginning that can be joined as the children arrive. Doing a craft works well. They can make masks for themselves, decorate hats, or just coloring.
- Scatter some beach balls around your yard. Little kids and babies will keep themselves busy and entertained.
- You can also contact a painter and set him for the day of the part do that he can paint tattoos on the child.
- You can hang painted styrofoam balls from a ceiling or tree for a space party (use acrylic paints or spray paint), spray paint pebbles gold for a pirate party (and have the kids find the gold throughout your yard) or you can purchase silk butterflies, and adhere them to walls, trees, and fences for a girl party. Just think of all the things that you can do for the theme, and go with it.
- If you have a theme party then make it into a plot. For example: if it's a car themed party, have a car break down so in every game they play they can get a "tool" to fix the car. It's an easy way to have a goal but no competition.
[Edit]Warnings - Make sure beforehand if anyone attending the party has food allergies.
- If you're having a party for young children, and babies will be present, make sure the prizes and games in the goody bags are safe and they cannot choke on them.
- Competitive games may upset younger children. Allow everyone to be a winner at some point.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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