20 Weeks to Personal Preparedness

Week #

Action Item

Done

Week 1

Get portable containers e.g. plastic storage containers, backpack, suitcase, box etc. You will need one for each family member, plus one for your pets and one for the family unit. Plan how to transport your containers: wagon, shopping cart, wheelbarrow. Select an accessible location for the container storage and inform all family members where they will be kept.

Put in Personal container - personal first aid kit

Put in Family container - one family sized first aid kit







Week 2

Post emergency phone numbers near each telephone. Organize your out-of-town contact person, someone far enough away that will not be affected during a major earthquake. Teach each family member to use these numbers and emphasize their importance.

Allow for 4-6 litres of water per person per day. Make plans to be able to transport the water if necessary (wagon, cart, wheelbarrow).





Week 3

Plan and practice family evacuation drills using two different escape routes from each room and meeting outside at an appointed place. Put message paper and pencil into your mailbox.

Put in Personal container - one 6 ounce can of tuna or chicken and eating utensils (knife, fork, spoon)

Put in Family first aid kid - first aid manual, sanitary pads (for bleeding injuries), burn medication 







Week 4

Personal Prescription:  Get one full prescription allocation extra, store in the appropriate personal container. To recycle, when current dose is renewed, put new prescription into kit, remove and use the old dose. When it runs out, renew, replace new prescription into personal kit and use old, etc.

Put in Personal container - one small can opener, one can of meat or meat substitute and one box of raisins or other dried fruit

Put in Family first aid kit - small bottle acetaminophen, asprin, ibuprofen and medicated ointment







Week 5

Put in Personal container - three granola bars, three 8 ounce cans of fruit juice

Put in Family first aid kit - cotton swabs, sore throat lozenges, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, adhesive bandages, adhesive tape, contact lens supplies, eye drops





Week 6

Put in Personal container - 2 large (30-40gal) plastic garbage bags (to be used as poncho’s, ground cover or blanket), 6 medium (13 gal) plastic garbage bags, plastic cup, plate, bowl and 6-10 small paper plates

Put in Family container - battery operated radio and extra batteries and favourite family books





Week 7

Put in Personal container - one small package of tissues, one can of nuts, one small container of nut butter and honey

Put in Family first aid kit - diarrhoea remedy, elastic bandages, gauze, bandages, ipecac syrup, upset stomach remedy, motion sickness remedy, additional gauze pads





Week 8

Put in Personal container - one change of clothes, underwear, socks, shirt, pants, sweater, hat, work gloves, jacket and sturdy shoes

Put in Family container - 10-20 foot rope, bar of soap and soap dish





Week 9

Put in Personal container - ½ pound of instant powdered milk and one envelope of powdered juice drink 

Put in Family container - water purification tablets or medicine dropper and small bottle of liquid chlorine bleach (odourless)





Week #

Action Item

Done

Week 10

Put in Personal container - 6 safety pins of assorted sizes, 1 towel, 1 washcloth and 1 small bar of soap, flashlight, batteries, 1 pkg of glow sticks

Put in Family container - large bucket with tight fitting lid to be used as a toilet, folding shovel and small axe





Week 11

Put in Personal container - 3 sticks of jerky, three 8 ounce cans of fruit

Put in Family container - spare car and house keys, copies of personal documents, medical history, inventory of possessions





Week 12

Put in Personal container - ½ pound trail mix, vitamin/mineral supplement tablets

Put in Family container - small hammer, nails, saw, electrical tape, duct tape, signal flares





Week 13

Put in Personal container - bedding, sleeping bag or blanket with cotton sheet, plastic sheet for ground cover

Put in Family container - 2-3 tarps of various sizes, tie down ropes, large spikes to secure tarps into ground





Week 14

Put in Personal container - brush/comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant

Put in Family container -  sunscreen, hand lotion, fingernail clippers





Week 15

Put in Personal container - 1 tube of lip balm, 10 quarters for telephone calls

Put in Family container - multi-head screwdriver, pair of pliers, adjustable wrench





Week 16

Put in Personal container - 6 individually wrapped handi-wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, stored in a plastic bag

Put in Family first aid kit - needle and thread





Week 17

Put in Personal container - (those over 12 years) 12 waterproof strike anywhere matches and small piece of sandpaper, one candle in jar, one small pocket knife or paring knife

Put in Family container -  small amount of detergent, dishsoap, dishpan





Week 18

Put in Personal container - 1 package rice cakes, paper and pencil, 1 small game, e.g. cards

Fill out medical release forms for each minor child in family, encase in plastic bag and put into child’s associated container.

Put in Family container - 1 large canned ham/meat substitute and canned vegetables





Week 19

Put in Personal container - 1 can pork and/or beans, 3 fruit rolls, three 8 ounce cans juice

Put in Family container - cooking pot and frying pan





Week 20

Locate containers in easy to access areas of your home where they won’t be destroyed by the house or possibly a garage, garden/ wood shed.