EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time and can leave families finding themselves having to evacuate their homes. It is important that your family takes the proper steps required before an emergency occurs to help prepare for such an event. A crucial step in preparing for an emergency is having/owning an emergency survival kit.

Emergencies can disrupt household utilities such as electricity, gas, and water for extended periods of time. Families should have enough supplies to remain self sufficient for up to 72 hours during or after an emergency event, a sample list of recommended items are highlighted below.

Emergency Survival Kit Items

• Non-perishable food (canned goods, granola bars etc.)
• Manual can opener
• Bottled water (4 litres per person, per day)
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Radio or crank radio (to listen to news bulletins)
• First-aid kit
• Candles, matches/lighter
• Extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)
• Important papers (identification, insurance information)
• Clothing and footwear (one change of clothes per person)
• Blankets or sleeping bags (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)
• Toilet paper and other personal supplies such as shampoo, hairbrush, tooth brush and toothpaste, soap and a towel and face cloth (one for each person)
• Medication
• Backpack/duffel bag (or something else to carry the emergency survival kit in, in case you have to evacuate)
• Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
• Playing Cards
• Be sure to check the contents of your emergency survival kit at least twice a year to ensure the freshness of your food and water.
• Ensure that all members of your household know where your emergency survival kit is located within your home.

Additional Information

It is very important to customize your emergency survival kit to ensure that everyone in

your family has all the essentials to be comfortable for up to 72 hours after an emergency.

If you or someone in your household has a disability or special need, please take a look at the Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs at www.ontario.ca/beprepared for additional information on what to include in your emergency survival kit and family plan.

Ensure the needs of all members of your household are met when preparing your emergency survival kit. If you have babies or toddlers be sure to have sufficient diapers, bottled milk, formula/food, along with crayons and paper in your kit. These items will be important if you had to evacuate your home on short notice.

If you have pets at home, be sure to include them in your family emergency plan. Build a pet emergency survival kit and keep it with your family kit. For more information on how to prepare pets for emergencies please visit our website at www.ontario.ca/beprepared