Emergency Supplies

Recall together some emergencies that have happened in your home or area: a blackout in the city, someone’s falling and bumping his head, someone’s cutting his finger on a knife, or a fire in the kitchen. When these things happened, where did you find the supplies you needed? Did you have to search for candles or antiseptic or bandages? Perhaps you could not find or did not have what you needed. Talk about how important it is to have emergency and safety supplies stored near the place where the emergency is most likely to happen and where everyone could find them quickly.

First decide where in your home you can put a central store of supplies. Then assign several family members to find the safety and emergency items that are scattered throughout your house. You likely have many of the items you need already. Look over the following suggested list of items. You may want to buy those on the list you do not have, as well as others you feel you might need.

1. A flashlight in good working condition.

2. Extra batteries for radio and flashlight. Do not keep batteries in the flashlight or radio. Keep them in an airtight container.

3. Portable battery powered radio. Use for receiving emergency instructions.

4. Candles (bowl type). Keep in case of power failure. Bowl will help prevent fire in case candle is overturned. (You can make these inexpensively out of paraffin wax.)

5. Wooden matches. Use for lighting candles and relighting pilots on gas appliances. Be sure matches are kept in a metal container out of the reach of small children.

6. Fire extinguisher (ABC or dry chemical type for all classes of fires). Be sure you know how to handle and use it. Check it regularly.

7. Fuses (if your home has a fuse box). Numbers on the end of the fuse indicate size. When replacing blown fuses, be sure the number on the end of the new fuse is the same as the number on the old fuse.

8. First-aid instruction book.

9. First-aid supplies. The following list suggests minimum items to be included in your first-aid kit.

   • Aromatic spirits of ammonia—one unbroken tube

   • Aspirin—100-count bottle

   • Calamine lotion (for insect bites, hives from allergic reactions, or exposure to stinging nettle or poison ivy)—one tube

   • Thermometer—one oral and one rectal for small children or babies

   • Scissors and tweezers—one of each

   • Safety pins—one package of assorted sizes

   • Adhesive tape—one roll

   • One large box of assorted adhesive bandages

   • Matches (for sterilizing)—one box of wooden matches

   • Absorbent cotton—one box

   • Rubbing alcohol—one unbreakable bottle

   • Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or Bacitracin)—one tube

   • Bicarbonate of soda (used for shock and upset stomach)—one box

   • Diarrhea remedy (Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol)—one bottle

   • Elastic bandages (for sprains and aches)—one 3-inch (about 7.5-cm) and one 6-inch (about 15-cm)

   • Gauze—one roll

   • Hot water bottle

   • Hydrogen peroxide—one unbreakable bottle

   • Ipecac syrup (induces vomiting)—one bottle

   • Finger splints (popsicle sticks)—ten splints

   • Roller bandages—two 1-inch (2.5-cm) and two 2-inch (5-cm)

   • Three-by-three-inch (7.6-cm) sterile pads—one box

   • Triangle bandages—four or more

   • Hand soap—one bar

   • Water purification pills and/or bottle of 2% tincture of iodine

   • Eye drops and medicine dropper

   • Razor blades

   • Needles

   • Measuring cups

   • Knife

   • Consecrated oil

   • Soothing throat lozenges—one package

   Place all these items in a waterproof container (metal, heavy plastic, or wooden). Also store blankets, sheets, and at least four thin board splints 30 inches (about 76 cm) long.

   You may wish to add items to the kit as you need them. For example, if you have small children, you may wish to add liquid acetaminophen. If someone in the family needs special medication, add this to your kit.

   Label your supplies, and date all medicines. Check supplies periodically, replacing them as they are used and throwing away old or contaminated supplies. Do not throw old medicines into trash cans around the house, where small children could find and eat them. Instead, flush them down the toilet or dispose of them in some other safe way. Perishable items should be rotated regularly to reduce spoilage.

   After you have gathered your safety supplies and decided what you need to buy, divide up assignments. Assign some family members to buy items you need, and others to label the items. Buy things as you can afford them. It may take a while to get all the supplies you would like to have.

   After you have gathered and stored your supplies, you may want to have a series of family home evenings where you discuss how to use them.

1. Hold a family home evening and invite neighbors and extended family members. Learn together what to do in emergency situations.

2. Take a first-aid course from a school or organization in your community.

3. Assign a family member to periodically inspect your supplies to make sure they are kept current.

4. Take your first-aid kit along on a trip or campout.

5. Put together a kit of emergency supplies to keep in your car. You could include the following:

   • Standard first-aid kit

   • Reflector and flares in case your car stalls on the road or is involved in an accident

   • Flashlight and batteries

   • Blanket to be used for shock, cold weather, fire, or other emergencies

   • Tow chain

   • Fire extinguisher

   • Flat block to be used as a car jack support

6. Sing this song together to the tune of “Yankee Doodle.”

   Be Prepared

   Verse 1:

   Our prophet’s told us to prepare

   For famine and disaster.

   If we obey, our family will

   Live happy ever after.

   Chorus:

   “Be prepared,” our prophet said.

   Store your wheat and honey.

   Plant a garden; learn first aid;

   And don’t forget some money!

   Verse 2:

   When Father Noah built an ark,

   The people laughed and shouted.

   But when the rain began to pour,

   Those people never doubted.

   Chorus: Repeat

   Verse 3:

   We have been warned in latter days

   There will be floods and earthquakes.

   So put your house in order and

   Prepare before the dam breaks!

   Chorus: Repeat

   Verse 4:

   Please do not procrastinate.

   Excuses have no muscle.

   You’ll never find a better time

   Than NOW! So better hustle.

   Chorus: Repeat