Health
Five Necessary Items to Have on Hand in Case of an Emergency
Emergencies are events that can strike at any moment, regardless of where we are. Therefore, it is always important to be adequately prepared to handle a disaster in case of an emergency. The first step to managing these events is to have the right materials on hand. Then, you must also be aware of how to put them to use in case a situation suddenly arises where they may be needed.
Use the following list to help you to gather the appropriate items so that you can be best prepared in case disaster strikes.
1. Fully charged cell phone
Keep your cell phone fully charged as much as possible. In case of an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is the battery life on your phone dying, making it impossible to give crucial details to the emergency staff that is on their way to help.
Read: 10 Common First Aid Misconceptions Debunked
2. AED defibrillator
An AED device can be an invaluable tool for saving a life. When a person goes into sudden cardiac arrest, not only does their breathing stop but typically, their heartbeat quickly stops shortly after. In this situation, having a defibrillator on hand that can use batteries to shock a heart back to life, at least temporarily, will give the patient vital minutes that could not only save their life, but that could also protect their brain power from being damaged by a lack of oxygen.
3. Flashlight
Because a disaster can strike anywhere and anytime, having a flashlight on hand can help you to see better to treat a victim during an injury or sudden strike of a disease.
4. Warm blankets
Keeping a victim who has been hit with a life-threatening illness or injury mild is crucial to their health. When the body goes into shock, it is not able to maintain adequate body temperature as it usually would. Having warm blankets on hand can help a victim to stay warm and calm while being treated for an emergency attack.
5. First aid kit
Read: 10 Common First Aid Misconceptions Debunked
Minor injuries may need to be addressed after the more significant symptoms of a disease are treated. In these situations, and for other small treatments, having a first aid kit on hand is a vital step to keeping wounds sanitary and cuts closed up from the risk of bacterial infection.
Being prepared in an emergency is of the utmost importance. Have these pieces of equipment in your car and on hand as much as possible so that you can be ready if tragedy strikes.