Settling down in the comforts of our home tends to make (some) us complacent when it comes to safety hazards. Furthermore, not being able to foresee unfortunate events should encourage everyone to be more vigilant and ready. To start with, make sure to gather around important documents such as birth & wedding certificates, passports, and property titles and store them on a dry safe. You can also put these documents on waterproof containers (like Ziploc) before storing them inside your emergency baggage. Second, no matter the size of your residence, make sure to identify where to exit in case of an emergency. Also, inform the rest of the household, especially children. Lastly, make it a habit to check every nook and croon of your home every now and then for safety precautions. The basic home evaluation you need to check includes structural safety checks, issues with plumbing, gas tank leaks, and electrical wirings. Make it a habit to conduct daily checks, especially gas tanks and electricals—two main causes of fire and other mishaps.

For your emergency evacuation pack, make sure to gather the following supplies and tools:

Food and Water supply

• At least a gallon of water per person
• Nonperishable/canned goods

First Aid, Hygiene

• First aid kit with plasters & bandages, sterile gauze dressings, tweezers, scissors, adhesive tape, alcohol, thermometers, medicinal creams, iodine (Betadine), and over-the-counter medicines such as painkillers (paracetamol, aspirin) or ibuprofen, cough tablets, and antihistamine tablets.
• Towelettes
• Clean, dry clothes
• Hygiene kit with soaps, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, dry & wet tissues

Others

• Portable radio
• Batteries
• Flashlight
• Whistle
• Swiss knife

Note: Adjust the quantity depending on days. Preferably, good for 3 days.   In addition, here are some safety tips and reminders on what do before, during, and after the following catastrophes:

Fire Safety Reminders

At home, make sure to unplug electrical devices when leaving the house and ensure the LPG tank is shut off.  

Safety reminders during Earthquake

For those who live by and near the coast, watch out for tsunamis:  

Flood Safety Tips