It sometimes is scary to note that administration offices and even schools no longer just have the usual first aid kits in their clinics. They now have switched over to survival kits which have medical supplies and other things that will help a person “survive” in case of an emergency or a disaster.

As they say, we can not prevent natural calamities from happening but we can prepare for it. Having a kit like this nearby (and for each member of the family) will be very helpful. For kids, make sure they have identification tags in the bag and in their body just in case they get lost.

First aid kit:

    * In a waist pouch or day pack:
          o one flashlight (electric torch) with batteries
          o spare batteries
          o one pair trauma shears (EMT shears/pennycutters)

          o two pairs nitrile exam gloves
          o one biohazard waste bag (any sturdy, sealable plastic bag will do)
          o one SAM splint (Structural Aluminum Malleable)
          o two triangular bandages
          o four 4"x4" gauze pads (lint/surgical sponges)
          o two rolls 4" gauze (roller bandage/cling)
          o ten adhesive bandages (sticking plasters) (Elastoplast/Band-aid type)
          o one roll 1/2" medical adhesive tape
          o two 5"x9" abdominal pads
          o one pocket face mask (keychain-style CPR mask)
          o one bottle 81 mg chewable aspirin
          o two 6" elastic bandages (Ace bandages)
          o six safety pins
          o six alcohol prep pads
          o six povodine iodine prep pads
          o one space blanket
          o one pen
          o one notebook
          o inventory list

In a waist pouch:

    * one AA flashlight (electric torch)
    * one AA transistor radio
    * one spare pack of AA batteries
    * one pack moleskin (thick adhesive-backed cotton felt used to protect against blisters)
    * anti-chafing ointment
    * one small sharp curved scissors (iris scissors or cuticle scissors)
    * one space blanket
    * one disposable poncho
    * 250 mL of water
    * one whistle
    * $100 in ten-dollar bills (enough for two nights in a cheap motel or an inter-state bus/train ticket)
    * $10 in quarters (most common coin for vending machines, toll booths, and pay phones)
    * two disposable butane lighters
    * one pack waterproof matches (lifeboat matches)
    * one pre-paid phone card
    * lists of phone numbers
    * one pen
    * one notepad
    * inventory list
    * consider: regional map
    * consider: laminated photocopies of important documents (e.g. marriage license, birth certificate, social security card, first page of passport)