Emergency survival guide

It’s important to have water, food and clean air when there’s an emergency. If there is a member of the family with special needs, your medical kit should cotain that medication. You should also keep important family documentation in a safe place.

But let us review the recommended supplies which you should include in your basic emergency kit:

- WATER (1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation)
- FOOD - at least a 3 day supply of non-perishable food
- BATTERY POWERED RADIO - for weather report and other emergency broadcasts. I recommend a CRANK radio (so you can power it up yourself)
- FLASHLIGHT (can be a radio-combo) with extra batteries
- FIRST AID KIT
- WHISTLE to signal for help
- DUST MASK (or a cotton shirt to filter air)
- WRENCH or PLIERS for turning off utilities
- CAN OPENER

You should also consider warm clothing like a jacket, long pants, a long sleeve shirt and quality shoes. Don’t forget a hat, gloves and a sleeping back plus a warm blanket for each person.

If you live in place with a constant cold weather, it’s difficult to maintain your basic water, foot and shelter needs. It’s essential to have good clothing so you can protect yourself from damages related to cold. There are many accessories to help you like lightweight protectional gear, goretex outerwear and quality shoes. A windbreaker is also recommended. Always keep in mind to minimize your warmth output from your body. For example over 40% of your body heat goes out through your head. So be sure to protect those areas.

Here are a few basic principles to keep you warm in cold weather:
- Keep clothing clean
Sanitation is alway important, but also clothes matted with dirt and grease lose their insulation value. Heat can escape easily through crushed or clothing or filled up air pockets
- Avoid overheating
When you overheat, your body starts to sweat. This sweat decreases the insulation quality of your clothes. Always adjust your clothing so that you don’t sweat too much. Open your jacket a little bit or remove an inner layer of your clothing.
- Wear loose clothes in layers
If you’re wearing your clothes too tight you may restrict blood circulation that could trigger cold injuries. It can also decrease the volume of air between the layers - reduced insulation value. So always wear many layers of clothes and wear them loose.
- Keep clothing dry
If possible, always wear water repellent outer clothing. This will keep snow and frost from your inner layers. But your clothes may get wet from time to time. Dry them hanging them on your rucksack when there’s sun and wind out there.

Remember, a cold weather environment can be very harsh. Give a good deal of thought to selecting the right equipment for survival in the cold. If unsure of an item you have never used, test it in an “overnight backyard” environment before venturing further. Once you have selected items that are essential for your survival, do not lose them after you enter a cold weather environment.

Our body is losing water through sweating, urinatig and defecating. We lose about 2 to 3 litre water per day in a normal climate. Heat exposure or intense activity will increase the water output. Anway, it’s essential that you replace this water.

Here are some dangerous things that could happen to you if you don’t intake water.

• at 5% of water loss you became thirsty, irritable and weak
• at 10% you will have headaches, will be unable to walk and there will be some tingling sensations in your limbs
• at 15% your vision will be blurred, you will urinate painfully and have a swallen tounge.
• over 15% water loss will result in death.

That’s why it’s very important that you prevent dehydration. You can last at least for a week with only 0.5 Litre of water per day if you stay inactive and cover yourself from the sun or freezing temperatures. But when there isn’t an emergency situation, the regular water intake should be 2 to 3 litre per day.