It's almost that time of year again. With all of the dry weather we've been having and with fire season almost upon us here in Oregon, what better time to think of our emergency plans and go bags? Here are some practical go bag tips to help get you started (just keep in mind every family and their needs are different, so make sure to plan with your family in mind).
What's a Go Bag?
Simply put, a go bag is something with emergency supplies that can easily be grabbed upon leaving your home. Typically, they are in backpacks. It will include everything from food and water to a change of shoes or clothes. Each member of the family should have a go bag, when possible, that they can safely carry.
Keep It Light
When we think of emergency situations, it can be easy to stuff our go bags full of everything we can think of, but keep in mind it is supposed to be quick to grab and light enough to be carried. We've heard of friends whose packs were so heavy that they almost keeled over when it was put on their backs.
The Essentials: Food and Water
At the top of the list are food and water. It is recommended to have three days of food and water for each person in your household. We found the food and water to be one of the trickier things to plan since both can take up considerable space and weigh quite a bit. Here are a few suggestions to meet that challenge.
For food, ration bars can be a good fit, literally. They often take up very little space and have a long shelf life. There are a lot of different brands out there, so be on the lookout for one that will fit your family's dietary requirements. Do they taste good? Maybe. You can always buy one to sample if you are unsure. One pack we tried had the taste of bland lemon shortbread cookies. You won't crave them, but they will do for an emergency.
The next challenge was water. We went with the emergency water packets and a water filter straw. If you choose to go with traditional bottled water, be sure to check it periodically for leaks.
Other Essentials
A change of clothing and shoes, if possible, is helpful to have in a go bag. Pick items that fit well and are comfortable for you. In our area, it's good to have versatile pieces of clothing since the weather can, at times, change quickly.
Toiletries should also be in your go bag. The basics, like a bar of soap, hand sanitizer, or sanitizing wipes can fit in a relatively small space. Prescriptions and medications your family may need should also be included in your emergency kit.
Other helpful items to include are a hand-crank NOAA radio (some even have cell phone charging ports built right in), waterproof matches, a whistle to call for help, flashlights with spare batteries (store the batteries in a separate container to prevent them corroding in the flashlight), and a first aid kit.
Again, with all of the items, these are only suggestions, and you will want to make sure that they are appropriate for each member of your family. For more help on how you can be prepared for an emergency, check out ready.gov.
We hope everyone stays safe and healthy,