Crises happen all the time. From flooding, fires, earthquakes, landslides, road closures, police actions, gas leaks, power outages, etc. If you are one of the lucky ones that need medications numerous times a month, are you prepared with enough medication; just on the outside chance you can not get to your doctor or pharmacy? Think about it. It is up to you to prepare for each inevitability.
It is wise to have at least a three months supply of medication on hand. The reasoning behind this is that medication can be stored in a cool dry place and be readily available to you. The one thing to be aware of is if you have underage kids. They can get into things and you may need to store your medications in a lockbox, especially if they are narcotic pain relievers.
The other thing to do is talk to your kids about your medical conditions and the medications you might take. They can be invaluable, in case you are unable to speak for yourself. When my daughter was around the age of two she was taught how to dial 9-1-1. She was also taught how to speak clearly and slowly enough so the operator could understand her words. This was a good thing. As it turns out; when she was three yrs old; she put her practice into action. She stayed calm and got the emergency personnel to her dad. I was very appreciative of her quick actions.
Another reason to have at least a three months supply, is that in some cases, it can be cheaper. The more you buy, the less expensive, per pill it costs. This can be the case if you are paying in cash, or it was when I was much younger.
One issue that people sometimes forget is... money!!! How do I access my money, if there is a power outage? Well, think about having back up cash accessible to you.
Food and water can easily be stored. But, make sure you have the equipment to prepare the food. Remember; if electricity is out; your electric can opener won't be of much use. Better get a manually operated can opener. Since your dishwasher may also run on electricity (unless it is one of your kids), that too won't be able to be used. You may consider getting a supply of paper plates and plastic utensils.
First aid kits are a very wise thing to have on hand, and a fire extinguisher... One never knows. Make sure to rotate your first aid items every so often, so you have fresh, sterile items in your kit. Fire extinguishers can come in disposable or rechargeable. If you get a rechargeable extinguisher, make sure you keep track of how to and when it might need maintenance.
Prepare a "Go bag", for yourself and each of your family members (if applicable), with the things that you might need in an emergency. Include the medications you or your family members might need, money for necessities, food and water for a reasonable amount of time, manual household tools, paper plates and plastic utensils, a First Aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher. I didn't mention clothes, because that may be a regional issue to deal with. I wouldn't pack a swim suit if it was 20 degrees outside.
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