Planning ahead for survival

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 230, 9 February 1988, Page 12

Planning ahead for survival

Surviving a major emergency vvill be easier for people who plan ahead by putting some basic items aside in a family survival kit. All households should have a survival kit which includes: * A battery powered radio and spare batteries. * Candles and matches. * A torch and spare batteries. * Two to three days' supply of tinned food - remember, pets get hungry

too - and a manual can opener. * Clean, corrosion-proof water containers. Stored drinking water needs changing every six months if it is in a cool dark place, or every two months if stored where sunlight reaches it. * A first aid kit and book. * Plastic sheeting and bin liners. * Old clothcs kept in a plastic bag. For those who do not get around to making their own survival kit, you can

buy a family survival kit from most New Zealand chemist shops. Designed to be opened only during emergencies, thcse kits come in two sizes and have "extras" such as dynamo torches, solar powered radios (large kit only), survival blankets and water purification tablets. They also contain comprchensive first aid kits and many olher civil defence survival items as listed on the back of thc tclephone book. Howcvcr, it is bcst to

check the list of items on the outside container as things like canned food and emergency clothing will need to be added. Whether you choose to buy or make your own survival kit, be sure that everyone in the house knows where it is kept so it can be grabbed at a moment's notice and, if necessary, found in the dark.