Why Do You Need a Plan for Emergency Survival?

Click image to see survival kits

Emergency survival is a topic that is often overlooked. Emergencies will happen. Nobody can predict when or where these emergencies may occur. Natural disasters, accidents, disease and civil unrest all contribute to the probability of experiencing a survival situation, and these threats increase every year. The only way to maximize the chance of survival in survival situations is emergency survival planning. Preparation is the key to overcoming fear.

How is emergency survival planning achieved? The first step in emergency survival is to identify potential survival situations you and your loved ones could experience. Review threats that could cause emergencies such as weather, diseases, transit conditions, etc. Understand when and where each individual disaster could present itself. Only by understanding potential emergency survival situations can you adequately prepare for them.

Second, create emergency plans for each emergency survival scenario. This plan should include exit plans, meeting locations, emergency contacts, locations of emergency survival kits, first aid and emergency response training. Review emergency plans often with family members so the information is fresh and retainable. To maximize emergency survival, post the plans in easy-to-read places in the home, work and in the car.

The next step is to acquire a survival preparedness kit. These kits are sold online or can be assembled yourself, though the cost to build a emergency survival kit yourself can be more costly than purchasing one online. Be sure your emergency survival kit has a complete list of emergency survival supplies. Customize each emergency survival kit adding items to accommodate your unique personal needs and those of your family.

Finally, review all emergency survival supplies and emergency plans often, updating them and customizing them for your particular needs. Once your survival preparedness is complete, share your knowledge with friends, family members and coworkers. Working together and sharing information we can ensure everyone’s survival. Do not put off emergency survival planning. Predicting survival situations is virtually impossible but preparing for them is easy. Being prepared for emergencies will give you peace of mind knowing that your emergency survival planning will take care of you when you need it the most.

---

Do You Have an Emergency Survival Plan?

Nobody can predict emergencies, but everyone can be prepared for them. Having an emergency plan is an inexpensive part of emergency survival planning.

Review how to recognize emergencies with your family, especially with older children who are capable of helping younger children. Once family members understand how to recognize emergency survival situations, the next step is to instruct them on what to do in such situations. Education is crucial to emergency survival planning.

Every emergency plan should include details of how to exit your house in case of an emergency. Not all exits may be usable in an emergency, so include different escape routes from your house. Be sure to recognize all windows and doors as potential exits, with proper instructions on how to exit through a window safely.

Emergency contacts are the next essential part of an emergency plan. Two types of contacts need to be included, in-town and out-of-town. In-town contacts are useful for small emergencies that only affect your own household. Out-of-town contacts are useful in emergencies which affect not only your household but the households of everyone in the surrounding area. Post this list of contacts next to each phone in the house and store the numbers in your cell phones.

Establish meeting locations, one in town and one out of town. Not all family members may be at home when disaster strikes, so make sure your meeting locations are well known. Also be sure that all family members know how to get to the meeting locations, even children.

A final part of an effective emergency plan is to acquire survival preparedness supplies such as emergency survival kits (72-hour kits) that may be grabbed in a hurry and carried out the door. Commercial emergency survival kits include all necessary personal and first aid items one would need for temporary use in emergencies. Emergency survival kits are inexpensive and may be purchased online. Be sure to have enough emergency survival kits to sustain your entire family in emergencies.

Review your emergency plan with your family regularly and update your plan details as needed. Following these steps will minimize the dangers you and your family may encounter in emergency situations help you achieve emergency survival planning.