72-Hour Emergency Kit

Store four litres of water per person per day.

Ideally, you should replace the water bottles every time you change your clocks. If necessary, you can use the water in your toilet tank or hot water heater.

A minimum of three days’ food that won’t spoil and requires minimal preparation, such as canned or dried food and energy bars.

Check food expiry dates when you change your clocks and replace as needed. If you stock canned food, include a manual can opener in your kit. If you include a camping stove, do not use it indoors.

Include any prescription medication that you or your family members take.

Ideally, you should swap the medication out regularly for fresh medication. If you cannot store extra medication in your kit, make sure you take it with you in an evacuation. You may also want to include vitamins and medications to guard you against getting sick.

If you receive medical treatments from a clinic or a hospital, ask your health care provider what you should do in an emergency.

First Aid kits should be easily accessible in your home and vehicle and should generally include:

Wind-up flashlight/radio combination models are available from many outdoor retailers. If you are using a battery-operated flashlight or radio, be sure to stock extra batteries and replace them every year.

You could be without power in your home for days, or you might have to evacuate. It is important that you are able to use your cell phone to call for help or to receive information. If phone lines are too busy, you can still receive updates and alerts on your mobile device.

These supplies will help you shelter-in-place.

A whistle will help attract attention if needed.

Consider including moist towelettes, garbage bags and toilet paper.

Blankets or sleeping bags are much warmer than survival blankets. You may want to pack both, but survival blankets do not replace real blankets.

Have an Emergency Contact Information List as part of your family emergency plan. Store this information and important documents such as a Home Inventory Checklist in your 72-Hour Emergency Kit. Consider including digital copies of important documents, music, photos, and anything else you might want to keep. Review documents periodically and ensure that they are up to date.

You should include cash because debit and credit cards may not work in an emergency situation or if the power is out. You might need coins in case you have to use a payphone or coin-operated laundry facilities.

If applicable, stock your kit with baby food, diapers, formula, extra clothes, and baby wipes. If you have a pet, have an evacuation plan for your pet, water, food and toys.

You may want to consider including non-power consuming entertainment for children and adults, such as games, card or books.

There are additional items you should consider adding to your kit depending on your specialized needs. These items will be suited for your individual situation and should be carefully considered when making your 72-Hour Emergency Kit. Be sure to include any food tailored to dietary restrictions, and that your kit is wheeled and easily accessible.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

People with hearing loss:

• Writing pads and pencils for communication
• Visual cue cards with pre-printed phrases you would use during an emergency such as “I use American Sign Language”
• Additional hearing aid (if you have one) and extra batteries
• Portable visual notification devices to know if someone is knocking on the door or calling on the telephone

People with vision loss:

• A talking or Braille clock
• Assistive technology you use to access information such as emergency alerts
• Spare glasses
• Extra white cane
• A 72-Hour Emergency Kit for your service animal

In addition to these items, you should ensure that your 72-Hour Emergency Kit is easily identified and accessed. Consider labelling emergency supplies with large print, fluorescent tape, or Braille.

People with reduced mobility:

• A tire patch kit
• Seal-in-air product
• Inner tubes
• A backup battery
• A manual lightweight wheelchair as a backup to a motorized chair
• A power outage backup plan
• Heavy gloves for making your way over glass and debris
• The make, model, and battery type of a powerchair (if you use one)
• Contact information for battery suppliers

People with other disabilities and medical needs

• A list of your medications including name, dose, frequency, and the name of the prescribing doctor
• Written information about how to administer your medications, what equipment you use, allergies, and your emergency medical contacts
• Supply of food items appropriate to your dietary restrictions
• At least a three-day supply of medication and medical supplies. Make sure to replace the supplies before they expire and ask your pharmacist the best way to store them.
• Extra MedicAlert ®identification
• Backup power options like batteries or a generator for any life support or essential medical devices