Brace for disasters, ready a 'Go Bag' at home

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Red Cross  (PRC) has advised the public to brace for disaster and emergencies by having a 'Go Bag' or a 'lifeline kit' at home, which contains supplies that would last for 72 hours for a family with five members. 

 

PRC chairman Richard Gordon issued the statement the country observes the National Disaster Consciousness month this July, which is usually the start of the typhoon season in the country. 

 

"The PRC Lifeline Kit is a backpack containing everything from a first aid kit to a survival bag, which can be grabbed in the event of an evacuation," Gordon said. 

 

Keeping a lifeline kit handy in every home would avoid a frantic search for what items to bring at the last minute in case a family needs to leave their home for their own safety, he added.

 

PRC’s Lifeline Kit contains first aid kit, hygiene kit (bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and shampoo), five whistles, two flashlights, collapsible 20-liter water container, six bottles (500 ml) of water, six canned goods, two blankets, two mats, a mosquito net, a trash bag, a set of eating utensils (spoon, fork, plate, bowl), candles, two boxes of matches, a sealed plastic envelope (for important documents), and a guide book (with emergency numbers, an evacuation plan for the family, lists of medicines, legal documents, clothing, etc).

 

The survival kit can be personalized depending on individual needs. If a member of the family has hypertension, for example, a blood pressure kit and maintenance medicines can be included.

 

PRC conducts ongoing trainings in barangays, schools, and workplaces to prepare families for calamities and other disasters.

 

"For emergencies where an evacuation is necessary, families should discuss beforehand where to go, what to do, and how to meet up with other family members. Emergency contact numbers should be posted prominently beside the telephone and ideally, each room in a house should have a medical kit," Gordon said.