When bad things happen, first responders can become overwhelmed during the initial phase of a mass casualty. As we saw yesterday in Boston, a horrific terrorist attack injured over 170 people in an instant and left several dead. There will be times when police, fire, and rescue personnel will be delayed in coming to your aid if you and others are injured, meaning you are your own first responder.
Image courtesy of The Telegraph
This means taking steps to prepare for unlikely yet traumatic events like a terrorist attack. I wrote yesterday that disaster can strike Any Time, Any Where so you need to plan accordingly. What steps can you take? Well, consider the following and see what you can apply today.
Your Person – Items you carry with you or on you:
- Cell phone with helpful apps installed (ex. iTriage)
- Small flashlight
- Handkerchief, bandana, or scarf
- Belt
- RoadID or other information
- Knife or multi-tool
- Small first aid kit
Your Office – Some things to have at work:
- Food
- Water
- First aid kit
- Cell phone charger
- Change of clothes
- Athletic shoes and socks
- Reflective tape
- Extra cash and coin ($20 should be enough)
- Water bottle
- Paper towels or napkins
Your Home – Products you should have where you live:
- Food
- Water
- First aid kit
- Emergency lights, candles, and flashlights
- Battery-powered AM/FM radio
- Extra batteries
- Lighter
- Extra cash and coin (lock it for safekeeping)
- T-handle Water Meter Key
- Water filter
- Wrench and/or pliers
- Manual can opener
- Bleach
- Matches
- Paper and kindling
Your Car – Keep these items in your car:
- Food (MREs, Datrex rations, granola bars)
- Water
- First aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Tow rope
- Spare tire (inflated and in good working order)
- Chemlights
- Electrical and/or duct tape
- Lighter
- Signaling mirror
- Blanket
- Flashlight
- Fire extinguisher
- Space pen
- Pad of paper
- Batteries (fully charged)
- Tire pressure gauge
- Rags
- Knife or multi-tool
- Extra wiper blades
- Tools (screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, etc.)
- Quart of oil (get the correct viscosity for your engine)
Other useful items to have handy include:
- Applicator-less tampons (read this for reasons why)
- Maxi-pads (see above)
- Tape (athletic for non-waterproof, duct or electrical tape for waterproof)
- Hand sanitizer
- Hard hat
- Leather gloves
- Safety glasses
- Lifehammer
- Respirator
In time, I’ll go into greater depth on how to prepare various kits and what each one should contain. Consider this post a quick and dirty starting point, the key is to begin today because you may need these items tomorrow. I encourage every reader to do what I do, search for information from a wide variety of sources and make adjustments over time. This is an ongoing process and will never be “done” since new information will emerge over time.
The good news is that most of us will never experience a terrorist attack, massive earthquake, tsunami, tornado, hurricane, or other catastrophic event. However, bad things can happen unexpectedly so its wise to prepare to mitigate the damage they can cause. Take steps now to increase your preparedness and remember that the journey you embark upon will reward you even if you never have to employ what you have learned.