Build an emergency kit with Black Friday deals
Every home should have an emergency kit — and the holiday shopping season is a great time to build one while saving some cash.
(Graphic by Solano News Update)
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to be prepared for the possibility of anything.
For years, public safety officials have urged Californians to have an emergency supply kit ready in case of a wildfire, earthquake or other natural disaster. Already this year, Northern California has seen more than its fair share of disasters, emphasizing the need to be prepared for any emergency.
Building an emergency kit doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it might seem — and the Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping season is a great time to pick up on some essential items while saving cash.
Using the federal government’s emergency preparedness checklist, here are some basic items every emergency kit should have — and how to land a good deal during this holiday shopping season:
Emergency Radio
A self-powered emergency radio can be a critical lifeline immediately following an emergency: During a natural disaster or other civil emergency, public officials often relay information over traditional AM/FM radio — and it isn’t uncommon for television stations to simulcast their audio broadcast over radio stations, too.
The Eton ARCFRX3 ($40 at Amazon, normally $70, pictured above) was built in partnership with the American Red Cross and features a digital AM/FM tuner with NOAA Weather Radio that is powered by an internal battery charged through a hand crank. It also offers a flashlight with emergency beacon and a USB port for charging a smartphone or tablet.
Want something a bit simpler? The Eton ARCFRX2 ($18 with coupon at Amazon, normally $22) offers many of the same features as the ARCFRX3 but in a smaller form, including a hand-crank, flashlight and USB charging port. It’s not as durable as its bigger sibling and the battery won’t last quite as long, but it’s still a great radio for a backpack or small emergency kit.
It’s important to pick up a radio that is capable of picking up both AM and FM signals, and Eton radios are highly recommended because their sensitive digital tuners are capable of locking onto weak, distant signals, making them more reliable than cheaper, off-brand radios on the market.
Backup Charging Batteries
Backup batteries are one of those things that you don’t think you’ll ever need until suddenly you do — and an emergency is one situation where you don’t want to find yourself with a cellphone that’s nearly run out of juice.
Anker is a company that started out making backup batteries for cellphones, and they’ve become a trusted household name in cellphone accessories like batteries, charging cables and other peripherals.
The Anker PowerCore 10000 ($17 at Amazon, normally $20) is one of the best on the market and is more than enough to fully charge most smartphones at least twice. Many Android phones will be able to take advantage of the battery’s fast charging feature, which helps provide much-needed power in a short amount of time while Apple phones will enjoy nearly triple the amount of use time when paired with this battery.
Looking for something that will last a bit more, or want to reliably charge multiple devices at once? Upgrade to the Anker PowerCore 20000 ($30 at Amazon, normally $45), which offers double the battery capacity.
When shopping for an emergency battery, look for one that has multiple USB ports, which let you charge more than one device at a time. Also review the battery’s capacity, which is listed in milliampere hours (mAh) — the higher that number, the bigger the battery. You’ll want to compare the number of mAhs in a backup battery with the battery capacity of your smartphone or tablet — if your phone has a 4,000 mAh battery, a 20,000 mAh backup battery will charge your phone from empty to full a total of five times.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is one of the most important parts of any emergency supply kit. A good first aid kit will contain many of the essentials needed to render medical aid for minor to moderate injuries sustained during or after a disaster or other emergency.
The American Red Cross offers some great tips on what every emergency first aid kit should have — from bandages and gauze to gloves and other protective gear. Some companies even offer kits that are pre-assembled with all of the basic necessities.
The TrekProof TripWorthy First Aid Kit ($12 on Amazon, normally $20) comes with a sturdy travel bag and all of the essential items needed to render medical aid in a pinch. It weighs just one pound, making it ideal for people who want to carry all of their emergency gear in a backpack or duffel, and its small design makes it easy to fit in a cabinet or drawer with other supplies.
The First Aid Only 57-Piece Kit ($13 on Amazon, normally $22) is also a great buy. It comes in a plastic case that can be hung from a wall or cabinet and is durable enough to be placed in the trunk of a car or bed of a truck for on-the-go access. It’s also OSHA complaint, making it ideal for businesses and warehouses.
Whether you buy a pre-assembled emergency kit or make your own, there are a few basic things you should include: At least 25 adhesive bandages (Band-aids), antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin), aspirin tablets, sterile gauze pads, tweezers, a small pair of scissors, gauze or cloth adhesive tape and a large pair of gloves (even if they’re too big for your hands).
Fireproof Box or Safe
Keeping essential documents like passports, birth certificates, homeowners insurance paperwork and medical documents in one place helps ensure they’re on hand and ready-to-go in an emergency situation.
One way to keep all of these documents in a safe space is by placing them in a fireproof box, which protects them from fire exposure and other hazards like wind, water and dust.
A sturdy fireproof box, like the SentrySafe 1170 Fireproof Box ($40 at Amazon, normally $87), is one that can withstand high temperatures in excess of 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit for a sustained period of time (in the case of the SentrySafe 1170, more than half an hour).
Another good option is The Good Stuff Fireproof Bag ($20 at Amazon, normally $40), which is both fireproof up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and waterproof.
When choosing a fireproof box, bag or safe, look for one that is deep and wide enough to securely hold printer paper-sized documents like birth certificates and insurance information in a way that the papers can be inserted into the box without being folded or otherwised creased. For added peace of mind, scan important documents using a computer, then move the files onto a durable thumbdrive like the Verbatim ToughMax 32GB Flash Drive ($8 at Amazon, normally $13) and place it in the box.
Other items to consider:
Battery-powered flashlight: Choose one that runs on conventional consumer batteries (AA, AAA, C or D). LED flashlights are more batterry-efficient than traditional bulb ones and provide just as much, if not more, illuminance. The GearLight High-Powered LED Flashlight ($14 at Amazon) is a durable torch that runs on just three AA batteries.
Fire extinguisher: Look for one that is rechargable and capable of extinguishing a large type of fires, including ones caused by grease and electricity. The First Alert Standard Home Fire Extinguisher ($18 at Amazon, normally $33) provides ample capacity to extinguish small-sized blazes and sports a bright red metallic finish that makes it easier to find in low-light conditions.
Safety whistle: A loud noisemaker is crucial when it comes to signaling for help during an emergency situation. Most cheap, plastic whistles will get the job done, but a safety whistle is specifically designed to meet the needs of emergency situations. The Fya Safety Whistle 3-Pack with Lanyard ($6 at Amazon) comes in a variety of colors, including bright orange and red.
Filtered drinking straw: It’s important to have at least one gallon of fresh drinking water per person, per day stored in case of an emergency. When that supply runs out, a filtered drinking straw like the LifeStraw ($13 at Amazon, normally $20), can provide fresh drinking water from any source in a pinch.
Emergency blanket: It could be several days before help arrives after an earthquake, fire or flood. An emergency blanket, like the Extra-Large Thermal Mylar Space Blanket ($20 on Amazon for four, normally $25), can help keep you and your loved ones safe and warm until help arrives.
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