Essentials for extreme conditions

MANILA, Philippines – There is a Chinese proverb that says, “The best time to prepare for a calamity is when there is none.” It is foolish to look at the other nations around us still reeling from major earthquakes and disasters, and not prepare for it ourselves. Nobody wants to go through a calamity, but choosing to prepare for the worst possible scenarios will give us a measure of security and peace of mind in the months ahead.

The knowledge of basic survival needs like fire, shelter, signaling, water, food and first aid kit can go a long way in ensuring you and your family’s well-being. It is essential that each individual prepares a 72-Hour Kit that will sustain them for the crucial days following the disaster.

The 72-hour kit is a comprehensive list of things you will need for survival. It should comprise about 30% of your body weight and it is important that every member of the family has one. The kit includes food, water, personal documents (properly kept in a waterproof ziplock bag) and toiletries. You can also invest in items like space blankets which retain better heat, sleeping bags, swiss/tool knife, solar panels etc.— all of which you can find in your nearest Mountain Hardwear store. You can ask the Mountain Hardwear personnel to help you locate these items for your kit.

It is also very important that you know how to react when disaster strikes. Should you bug-in or bug-out? There are several considerations that you must take into account when making this decision, namely: sustenance, security, shelter, sanitation and sanity. If you do decide to bug-out, create an evacuation plan with possible routes going to the designated area of safety and have a family meeting to discuss and prepare for this thoroughly.

The more informed we are of these matters, the less people that needs to be rescued and the faster the nation’s recovery will be.

This infographic is prepared by Coach Manny Batungbacal together with the UPM SAR (University of the Philippines Search and Rescue) and PGH EMT (Philippine General Hospital Emergency Medical Technician) based from their collective experience when it comes to responding to calamity stricken areas both locally and internationally. – Rappler.com