An Ounce of Prevention

“It could never happen to me!” Most people think that a disaster could never happen to themselves. People think that tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and armed attacks could never be something they experience personally. There are so many different disasters that can occur that it is extremely important to an individual and a community that everyone is ready for the worst.

Preparing for the worst does not mean that everyone has to expect the worst. As Benjamin Franklin said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” (1736). If more people spent an “ounce: in preparation for disasters the effects could be greatly diminished (World Health Organization, 2014). Most significantly, lives can be saved by careful preparation for emergency situations (Missouri Department of Public Safety, n.d.). The very goal of emergency preparation is to increase the positive outcomes of negative situations that have occurred. This may be a foreign concept to many people. 

It is recommended by the CDC to prepare a kit that has supplies for three days of living without assistance. The kit should include three basic elements including, food, water, and other supplies (Federal Emergency Management Agency 2014). The food and water can be prepared as aforementioned. The supplies can require a little more creativity and planning. One thing that can often be overlooked is personal medical need items like medication, glucometer, prescription glasses, and anything that the doctor prescribes that is necessary for health. Similarly it is very important to make preparation for anyone in a family that has any special needs like a baby or someone with a handicap. For babies bring items such as food, diapers, powder, and anything else they frequently require. Seemingly less vital, but still important is documentation and money. Depending on the disaster, it may be a long time before one's home can be accessible. That is why it is so important to bring money and other vital documents that may be useful in verifying identities and allocation of assistance (Federal Emergency Management Agency 2014).

Also very important is shelter and protection. Objects such as blankets, sleeping bags, and extra clothing are very important. One of the most versatile substances that one can bring is untainted bleach. It can be mixed with water to act as a cleaning or disinfectant. Also, bleach can serve as a water purifier in more dire situations by adding 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Maybe more important than other items is having a first aid kit. There are many emergencies that this is the only object that is going to be used. Items such as wraps, bandages, antiseptics, gauze, and over the counter medicines may prove to be extremely helpful. Very useful in a situation where a person is displaced from their home without much assistance are items that assist in making a fire (Federal Emergency Management Agency 2014).

For more information check out any of the references below.

References

Franklin, Benjamin (1736) Retrieved September 20, 2015. From http://www.ushistory.org

World Health Organization (Ed.). (2014, December 24). Strengthening emergency preparedness, response capacities can save lives in mega disasters like tsunami. Retrieved September 13, 2015.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (Ed.). (2014, September 2). Emergency Supply List. Retrieved September 13, 2015.

Missouri Department of Public Safety (Ed.). (n.d.). Gather Emergency Supplies. Retrieved September 13, 2015.