Now is a good time
By Denise
@petatonicsca (7070)
Japan
November 27, 2019 2:18am CST
Are you changing out your clothes for winter clothes? Are you sorting through your cupboards trying to find that one can of cranberries or pumpkin you know is in there somewhere?
This is the time of year (plus in the spring when I get out summer clothes) when I check my emergency bag, also called a bug out bag or go-bag, to make sure there is seasonally appropriate clothing in there. (I now have a flannel shirt and long pants.) Also I check for any expired food, eat it and buy more to put in the kit. I have nuts, dried fruits and a bottle of water in my bug out bag, plus one change of clothes, hand wipes, work gloves and a radio/flashlight that can be powered by a crank.
I was made to think about that yesterday when there was a large earthquake in Albania, where many people had to go outside in the cold in the middle of the night, and some houses and apartments have collapsed, so many people are stuck with just the clothes on their back (this is one reason I wear pajamas that look like clothes so I don't have to wander around in pink stripes or something.) I saw video clips of people in Armenia posted on Twitter. I noticed that some women had not only their purse but also a fairly large bag. I am assuming they are smart and prepared so they just had to grab and run.
Of course an emergency bag also is good for any kind of emergency, such as flooding, fires or earthquakes, so probably there is no country that would never need one. I was very happy in the last big typhoon that if I needed to get out of my house I could grab my bag and have a change of clothes, food and water, communication, etc. (I didn't have to use it but it made me feel better knowing it was available.)
So, now is a good time; seasonal clothing, unexpired food and water, first aid kit, anything else you think of... doesn't have to cost much or anything if you already have the supplies in your house!
"Don't be scared... be prepared." (I was a Girl Scout-- their motto is "Be prepared.")
Or in Nike's words, "Just do it."
3 people like this
4 responses
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
27 Nov 19
Emergency bag is a must and all should have it. Good suggestion dear
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 19
This is an excellent idea. I always think about 'out of date' food in such a kit but of course you can just eat it and replace it twice a year. Here, it would be bushfires that could see us have to evacuate. I will be doing as you suggest. We do have a hard drive which we would grab if we had to leave in a hurry.
@JudyEv (382036)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Nov 19
@petatonicsca That's very sensible. I guess I worry a bit about keeping bottled water too long too.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
28 Nov 19
I used to forget about eating up the food but now I do it regularly summer and winter break. I only buy things I will eat anyway that have good shelf life.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
27 Nov 19
We are lucky that we do not have winter here although during the cold months of December and January the jackets and sweaters are the order of the day.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
28 Nov 19
I didn't know you had cold at all! Tokyo has all five seasons (spring, rainy, summer, fall and winter.)
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
28 Nov 19
@petatonicsca oh it's only now that I learned of that 5 seasons in Japan. Thank you for the added knowledge.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Nov 19
It's always good to be prepared. It's good you are prepared in cases of emergency.
