By Teresa Carr
Adams County Senior Council
Administrative Assistant
Emergencies – Packing a GO Bag and a STAY Bag – Planning ahead and preparing for the worst-case scenarios are the best ways to stay safe before a disaster hits. While there are many things to plan for, your response to all of them is one of two things: stay at home or evacuate. Whenever possible, staying at home in your own environment and with your own emergency supplies is the best choice.
GO Bag Emergency Supplies – The GO bag is a portable kit that includes items you need to survive and to take with you if you suddenly have to leave your home. Store your GO bag in a place that is easy to grab, such as next to a door or in the trunk of your car. Prepare for year-round use; spring, summer, fall and winter, and be sure it is sturdy and easy to carry.
Update your emergency GO bag every six months. Replace items that will expire in the upcoming months such as food and medical supplies. Your GO bag should contain:
● Bottled water and food—easy-to-open cans or pop-top containers (at least a one-day supply).
● Personal sanitation—moist wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and incontinence supplies. Extra clothing.
● Medications—prescription medication for a week and paper copies of your prescriptions.
● Small first-aid kit—band-aids, gloves, ointment, pain reliever [ibuprofen].
● Personal essentials—extra pair of eyeglasses and/or hearing aid.
● Special needs family—essentials for family members with special needs.
● Pets—water, food, leash, waste bags.
● Flashlight, battery operated/manual radio—pocketknife, whistle.
● Copies of important documents—identification, passport, medical insurance and Medicare cards, etc., and store these in a waterproof bag.
● List of doctors and emergency contacts.
● Recent family photos for identification— including your pets.
STAY-at-Home Emergency Supplies Kit – If you’ve already created a GO bag, you’ve got a head start on your STAY bag (or waterproof bin), because many GO bag items would be needed in a stay at-home emergency. The STAY bin does not need to be completed all at once.
● Water and Food—one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. If you live in a warm weather climate, more water may be necessary. Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.
● Personal hygiene—moist wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation and incontinence supplies, toothbrush and toothpaste, extra clothing.
● Medications—list of prescription medications, dosage, and allergies. If your prescription plan allows it, order an extra supply of your medications or ask your doctor for some free samples to have in case of an emergency—include at least a one-week supply of medications. Plan for medications that require refrigeration.
● First-aid kit—bandages, hand sanitizer, gloves, ointment, pain reliever [ibuprofen], tweezers.
● Personal essentials—extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries, wheelchair batteries or other special equipment. Label wheelchairs, canes and walkers.
● Special needs family—essentials for family members with special needs.
● Pets—water, food, leashes, portable bowls, crate, food and copies of veterinary records, in case you have to take your pets to a kennel while you stay in a shelter or hotel.
● Medical devices—list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices, such as pacemakers.
● Flashlight, head lamp, battery-operated radio—fresh batteries (sizes AA, AAA, C, D), duct tape and a multi – purpose tool or pocketknife, extra blankets, and a whistle.
● Copies of important documents—identification, passport, medical insurance and Medicare cards, etc., and store in a waterproof bag.
● List of doctors and emergency contacts.
● Cellphone and charger—in case there is still electricity. A solar-powered charger for power outages. When
Low Power Mode is on, your iPhone will last longer before you need to charge it, but some features might
take longer to update or complete.
Just A Thought: “I’m saving that rocker for the day when I feel as old as I really am.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
