Personal Care, Sanitation, Tools, Car Kits, Infant & Toddler Needs

Personal Care & Sanitation



Sanitation can be a monumental problem and turn into a living nightmare if advanced preparations have not been made prior to an emergency.



Home plumbing may not function as a result of disrupted water and sewage lines due to freezing, flooding, or other adverse circumstances. Without running water, the problem of sanitation and personal hygiene is immediate and acute.



When planning for sanitation needs during a time of emergency, there are two primary requirements individuals and families must prepare for: 1) the establishment of a supply of drinkable water, or the means of purifying water, and 2) the establishment of toilet facilities and provisions for the associated waste removal and disposal.



Right after an emergency, or during one, you will probably not have the time and tools to prepare a complex emergency sanitation system. If there is a delay of several days in restoring sewage service to your neighborhood, you may find that disposal is a big problem. Your first task is to make some temporary toilet provision for your family, especially the children. Almost any covered metal or plastic container will do. You can use a covered pail, a 5-gallon bucket, or a small kitchen garbage container with a foot operated cover for an emergency toilet. Anything that has a cover and will hold the contents until you can dispose of them will serve for sanitary purposes at first.



How to convert a flush toilet into an emergency toilet or build a makeshift toilet.

1. Line the inside of a toilet bowl, 5 gallon pail, or another appropriately sized waste container with two heavy-duty plastic garbage bags. Make a toilet seat out of two boards placed parallel to each other across the bucket. An old toilet seat will also work. Or purchase a toilet seat that fits onto a 5-gallon bucket from a camping store or emergency preparedness retailer.

2. Place kitty litter, fireplace ashes, or sawdust into the bottom of the bags.

3. At the end of each day, the bagged waste should be securely tied and removed to a protected location such as a garage, basement, outbuilding, and so on, until a safe disposal option is available. Having a dedicated waste container for this purpose may be a good idea.

4. After each use, pour a disinfectant such as bleach into the container to avoid infection and spreading of disease. Cover the container tightly when not in use.

5. Residents may dispose of the waste in a properly functioning public sewer, or septic system, or they may bury the waste on their own property. Bury garbage and human wastes in the ground to avoid the spread of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit two to three feet deep and at least 50 feet from any well, spring or water supply. LOCAL REGULATIONS MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM BURYING HUMAN WASTES. LISTEN TO THE RADIO FOR INSTRUCTIONS, OR CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. If the garbage cannot be buried immediately, strain the liquids into the emergency toilet, wrap the residue in several layers of newspapers and store it in a large can with a tight-fitting lid. After two or three days, place the can outside until it can be buried. The best choice for a disinfectant is a solution of one part liquid chlorine bleach to ten parts of water.



Emergency Toilet and Sanitation Supplies

o Portable Chemical Camping Toilet

o 5 or 6-gallon bucket with a handle and tight fitting lid.

o Garbage can liners, heavy duty, twist ties; or “Double Duty” toilet liners & enzymes

o Metal Garbage Can (10-gallon capacity, for storage of waste until you can bury or dispose of it.)

o Liquid Bleach

o Enzyme Deodorant Packets

o Baking Soda (to help neutralize and eliminate odors)

o Toilet Paper

o Feminine Hygiene Supplies

o Toilet Seat Covers

o Length of black plastic to help construct a privacy screen or shelter

o Waterproof rubber gloves

o Spray disinfectant/deodorizer

o Portable folding shovel

o Liquid/Gel Sanitizer (like GermX or Purell)



Keeping Clean

o Instant Hand Sanitizer Gel

o Bar Soap or Camper’s All-purpose Biodegradable Liquid Soap

o Plastic Wash Basin (that fits into your plastic 5-gal. bucket, serves as a basin; an empty 1-gal. ice-cream container is perfect.)

o Wash Cloth

o Bath-sized towel

o Pre-moistened Towelettes

o Shampoo (trial size)

o Shaving Kit

o Toothbrushes

o Items like: mouthwasth, denture cream, powder, cleanser, dental floss

o Spray bottle (can be used as a makeshift shower, especially for small children)

o Rubbing Alcohol

o Bleach & Laundry Detergent (powdered form, small vendor box—buy at a laundry mat)

o Paper towels (keep them dry in a plastic bag)

o Scrubbing sponge

o Liquid dish detergent



Items for Small Children

o Baby lotion

o Baby Powders

o Diaper Ointment

o Disposable Diapers

o Nursing Needs

o Special Bedding



Other Personal Care & Comfort Items

Camping mirror, clothes pins, comb, cotton balls, deodorant stick, dust mask, earplugs, extra pair of contact lenses with solution, extra pair of prescription glasses, foot powder, hair products, hairbrush, hand lotion, insect repellent, Kleenex tissue, lip balm, nail clippers, disposable razor, cotton-tipped applicators, reclosable plastic bag, shaving cream, sun block/cream, toothpicks, Vaseline.



TOOLS/REPAIR KIT

The objective of a repair kit is to have various materials on hand to make emergency repairs. Think of it as a “first-aid kit” for your 72-hour emergency kit items. These repair items may also come in handy for making emergency repairs around home, if needed.



Include only a small quantity of each of the items so you will be able to include a wider variety of repair materials. This way your repair kit will be compact and lightweight. Repair items can be placed in containers having several separate enclosures, built-in dividers, or compartments.

o Bungee Elastic Cords or Rubber Tie-downs

o Dental Floss

o Foil, Aluminum (can be used as an emergency insole or to keep tinder dry, or as a windbreak for a small fire. Many more uses.

o Garbage bags (heavy-duty, 32-gallon size)

o Glue, instant

o Hardware (assorted nails, tacks, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, snap-hooks, etc.)

o Knife (Multi-tool, multi-blade, multi-function Swiss-type, with honing kit, stone & oil for sharpening knife)

o Laces

o Latex gloves, pair

o Pins, safety (for repairs, pinning fabric or clothing, replacing buttons, securing shelter to rope, etc.)

o Plastic bags (assorted, reclosable type)

o Pliers, small pair (adjustable with wire cutter: many uses, including undoing knots in rope to pulling tent pegs.)

o Rope, nylon (50-feet) – Makeshift clothesline, construction of shelter, many repair uses.

o Rubber bands (assorted, heavy duty)

o Scissors, small pair

o Screwdriver set, small and compact

o Sewing kit (pocket size) - - Containing needles, pins, seam ripper, thread, thimble, buttons, small scissors, paper tape measure)

o String (heavy-duty cotton or nylon)

o Duct Tape, and Gaffer’s Tape (Black stage tape) – Multiple uses including emergency bandage tape, tent repair, clothing repair, and many, many more uses.

o Tape, electrical

o Tool set, small & compact

o Wire (length of both heavy and lightweight; all purpose type)

o Wrench (small, adjustable crescent type)

o GAS SHUTOFF WRENCH



AUTO EMERGENCY KIT

Disasters don't just happen when we are at home so be prepared when you are on the road. Plan on creating a kit for each vehicle you own. There are many items you could include in your kit, but below are probably the most essential. Add to it and customize for your needs and for the season of weather.

Survival:

o 1 Back Pack Carry Bag

o 2 Gloves (1 Pair)

o 2 Dust Masks

o 2 Emergency Food Bricks or MRE’s

o 20 Drinking Water Packets or water for two to three days

o 1 2-gal Water Bag or Water Container

o 1 32-oz Water Bottle

o 1 Hand-charged Flashlight

o 1 AM/FM Radio w/ Head Phones

o 2 Batteries

o 2 Hand Warmer Packets

o 2 Reflective Emergency Blankets

o 2 Emergency Candles

o 2 Emergency Ponchos

o 1 Box Waterproof Matches

o 1 Emergency Whistle

o 1 or more Light Stick(s)

Tools & Miscellaneous:

o 1 Folding Saw

o 1 Multifunctional Tool

o 1 Hammer w/ Tools In Handle

o 1 Phillips Screw Driver

o 1 Standard Screw Driver

o 10 Cable Ties

o 1 Folding Shovel w/ Sheath

o 1 Roll Duct Tape

o 1 PVC Tape

o 4 Plastic Moisture Resistant Containers

o 3 Trash Bags

o Crow bar

o Ice scraper

First Aid & Personal Items:

o First Aid Kit

o 1 Instant Cold Pack

o 1 Reading Light

o 4 Sanitary Pads or your preference

o 2 Tissue Packs, Toilet Paper

o 1 Hand Sanitizer

o 1 Shampoo

o 1 Conditioner

o 1 Shower Gel

o 1 Lotion

o 2 Dental Kits

o 1 Shave Kit

o Essential medications, extra eyeglasses

o Cap, gloves, scarf

Documents, Cash, & Written Materials

o $100 - $200 in cash, small bills, and a roll of quarters and dimes

o Accident report form

o Auto insurance card w/ 24-hr. phone number

o Car owner’s manual

o Car registration

o Car repair handbook

o Checkbook

o Copy of your Family’s Emergency & Evacuation Plan

o Driver’s license

o Emergency Phone Numbers

o First Aid, Emergency Preparedness handbooks

o Maps – Up-to-date local, state and national road maps.

o Spare major credit card or ATM card



INFANT & TODDLER NEEDS

Babies and toddlers have very specific nutritional needs and their kits should be custom-designed for them. So, here are the basics of what should be in every baby 72 hour kit:

Water

Formula

Bottles

Jarred baby food and snacks, finger foods

Disposable diapers

Wipes

Change of clothing

Blanket

Infant medication

Sling for carrying baby

Diaper rash ointment

Soap for bathing and laundry

Thermometer

Pacifier

Contact Info

Favorite things: book, toy, blanket

There may be lots of moms out there who nurse their babies who are thinking, “I don’t need to have formula if I am breastfeeding.” That may be true, but it is better to be preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. What if you didn’t have enough to drink and were unable to produce enough milk? What if you were separated from your baby? By having water, formula, and bottles on hand, you can know that the nutritional needs of your baby will be met.



There are also people out there who use cloth diapers. So, why recommend disposables? In emergency situations, you are dealing with limited time and resources. While I think it is a good idea to keep some cloth diapers in your kit, there is no guarantee that you will have a place to store, wash, and dry cloth diapers. Plan to keep a minimum of 3 days worth of disposables in your infant kit.



I also like to keep an infant fever reducer in my infant kit in case my child is teething or fighting a fever. A sling can be helpful if you are required to carry your baby and are unable to use a stroller. A sling can be a lifesaver for your back and arms. It is also important to consider the emotional needs of your baby. Does she sleep with a stuffed animal or read a certain book before naptime? By providing your baby with comfort items, you can make a difficult experience much easier to deal with.



Toddlers

There are many similarities in caring for infants and children and in caring for adults in a disaster period. Similar needs are present for water, food, warmth, and shelter, though extra precautions should be taken for children. Essential needs include keeping children dry, clean, and warm; eating at regular intervals; establishing a routine that will help to make children feel more secure; and always trying to keep families together in a disaster situation. The emotional and psychological challenges children of all ages are likely to face is of particular concern.

Remember to rotate the items in an infant kit/toddler kit regularly, at least twice a year, since babies and toddlers grow so quickly. Keep pace with diaper sizes and clothing sizes.



This list is in no way exhaustive. Please customize and add according to your child’s needs.



Sugared Cereals (in small boxes or packets in reclosable plastic bags)

Cereals, instant, container

Formula, water, bottles, etc…

Vitamins

Baby spoon

Sippy-cup

Comfort blanket(s)/small sleeping bag or bedroll

2 Changes of clothes, socks, underwear, shoes

Plan clothes for seasonal needs, include cap, coat, jacket, mittens, etc…

Diapers/Pull-ups (figure 8-12 diapers a day for at least 3 days)

Plastic garbage can liners (used to contain soiled diapers)

Diaper/Baby wipes, ointments/powders

Plastic or rubber pants (two pair)

Flashlight or light sticks

Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer gel/lotion

Spray Water bottle

Toiletries (lotion, powder, bath towel, comb, shampoo, soap, washcloth, toothbrush, etc.)

Medications, OTC remedies

Whistle

Contact Information

Toy, comfort items