Saturday, November 22, 2014

How To Choose Emergency Tools For A Disaster Kit

By Eric Holm


Emergency preparedness is something that is required at every stage of living. No matter where you are, being prepared to face emergencies is always necessary. Emergency alertness is something that is ignored often and not taken seriously. We all live under the impression that our surroundings are so equipped that we can access anything irrespective of the time or place. We forget that staying alert to emergencies is our duty. Now the question arises how we can remain alert and prepared. A good medium to start with is buying an emergency kit and a few extra emergency tools. Having just food and water ready to meet emergencies is not always sufficient. There are other important things too that are to be considered. Tools and generators ready for emergencies are not to be overlooked.

Standard garden equipment and other items stored in the average garage or shed may not be adequate in an emergency situation when lives are at stake. Survival tools are just as important to the disaster kit you assemble for your home as basic supplies like clean water and food. You must think about how you will survive if you are suddenly without running water or power of any kind. In some cases, you could be without those services for days. An assortment of rescue tools can help you survive even the harshest conditions.

Something like an ordinary adjustable pipe wrench becomes a survival tool during a natural disaster. Water and gas pipes are vulnerable to leaks in the wake of an earthquake or hurricane. The wrench should be used to turn off the water and gas to the house until you can verify there are no breaches in either system. Leaks in a gas pipe can cause dangerous fumes to build up and there could be an explosion or fire. A leaky water pipe could flood a house and cause even further damage to the property. Add an assortment of screwdrivers to your kit. These will be handy for a variety of minor repairs. Search tools like axes, pry bars and saws will come in handy when there is a lot of debris to clear away. First responder gear kits will always contain these tools. If an accident occurs on a road or highway, traffic cones and flares are crucial for alerting oncoming traffic of danger.

Having an emergency tool kit will ensure that you are prepared to help your family survive a disaster. You may even have the opportunity to help neighbors and friends. Many disasters will cause the power to go out and leave victims without lights and the ability to cool and heat the home. A generator is an effective alternative power source that is sufficient for some lighting and keeping the refrigerator working so food does not spoil. Gas or diesel units are most often seen on construction sites and provide power for lights and power equipment. Some diesel generators are strong enough to power an entire house. Another option is a generator that uses natural gas. This is also a high output unit and needs liquid propane or natural gas to operate. It is possible to use select circuit wiring to limit how much of the home receives power from the generator. A certain area of the home or specific appliances can be addressed without having to worry about providing power to the whole house.

Put yourself in a position to take care of your family in any emergency by assembling a disaster kit and storing it in a convenient location. Check the contents from time to time to make sure all items remain in good condition.




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