The school year is upon us and parents are getting their children all the necessary school supplies. This is also the perfect time to identify and purchase items needed for your emergency supply kits, especially for those students going off to college.
Recommended items to include in a basic emergency supply kit:
• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a 3 day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charge
For those going off to college and moving to an unfamiliar environment, parents can help make their student an emergency kit to take with them. The following safety tips will also help the student be prepared for an emergency:
• Understanding the man-made or natural disasters that may occur where the school is located.
• Take time to learn the campus emergency plan. What is the evacuation route, how will you be notified by the school to evacuate?
• Sign up for the college or university’s emergency evacuation plan.
• Have emergency contacts saved on your cell phone.
• Store the emergency kit under the bed or in the closet of your dorm room.
By adding emergency supplies to the school supply checklist, parents and students can make sure they are prepared for emergencies. For more information on being prepared and making an emergency kit, go to www.bismarck.org/EmergencyManagement