Preparing an Emergency Kit

Keeping an emergency kit in your home is important. In an emergency situation, the kit will ensure that you and your family will be able to meet your basic needs while you wait for help to arrive. If you are forced to evacuate your home, you can bring the kit along with you.

Your kit should contain enough items, including food and water, to survive the first 72 hours of a disaster. Print out this page and check off each item as you complete your emergency kit.

Basic Emergency Kit

Keep your emergency kit in an easy-to-access location. Check its contents each year. Replace batteries and the water supply as needed.

Place the following items in a backpack, storage bin or large canvas bag:

• Drinking water — two litres per person per day, for at least three days
• Non-perishable food — enough for at least three days
• Hand can opener
• Battery-operated radio — spare batteries
• Flashlight — spare batteries
• First aid kit — bandages, gauze sterile pads, scissors, tweezers, safety pins, antiseptic, pain medication
• Personal care items — tooth brushes , towels, soap, toilet paper, plastic bags
• Blankets
• Cash and coins
• A set of house and car keys
• Whistle — to signal rescuers of your presence
• Candles
• Lighter and/or matches
• Multi-purpose pocket knife
• Dust masks — to filter contaminated air
• Important personal documents — Photocopies: I.D., home and automobile insurance policies, medication and eyeglass prescriptions, safety plan and emergency contact list.

Also think about including the following:

• Particular needs of your family — medication, medical equipment, special food
• Babies — infant formula, disposable diapers, baby bottles
• Pets — food, medication, leach

Emergency Kit for Your Automobile

If your automobile breaks down in winter or if you're in an accident, you will find having the following items in your vehicle useful:

• Shovel, snowbrush and scraper
• Sand or salt
• Traction mats
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• First aid kit and manual, scissors to cut seat belts
• Highway flares or warning light
• Water bottles and non-perishable food
• Booster cables
• Matches and candles in a metal box or plastic bag — to stay warm, heat a drink or for light
• Blankets
• Warm clothing and spare boots
• Road maps
• 25-cent coins (at least 2) or a calling card — if you don't have a cell phone
• Joint report — order your copy from the Groupement des assureurs automobiles by calling 514 288-4321 or 1 877 288-4321 (toll free) or online at http://www.infoinsurance.ca/en/, under Documents

Prepared Kits

You can purchase prepared kits from the following organizations:

• Canadian Red Cross,
• St. Jean Ambulance,
• Salvation Army,
• local businesses.

Last Updated: 2009-04-30