Emergency Kit
This liquid is the most critical item in any kit; you should have at least one gallon per person per day.
What is water?
This three-word action is the recommended response during an earthquake.
What is "Drop, Cover, and Hold On"?
This is the most common heat-related illness; symptoms include heavy sweating, a rapid pulse, and muscle cramps.
What is heat exhaustion?
This condition occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 95°F (35°C) and can cause shivering and confusion.
What is hypothermia?
This term refers to the area of up to 100 feet around a home that should be cleared of flammable vegetation to act as a buffer.
What is defensible space?
This is the first thing you should check when arriving at the scene of an accident to ensure you don’t become a victim yourself.
What is scene safety?
To stay informed when the power goes out, your kit should include this device with extra batteries.
What is a battery-powered (or hand-crank) radio?
When a flood is imminent, you should always move to this type of terrain.
What is high ground?
This is the most serious heat-related illness; it occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature and can be life-threatening.
What is heat stroke?
This type of injury is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues, most often affecting the fingers, toes, and nose.
What is frostbite?
These wind-blown glowing pieces of wood or vegetation can travel over a mile and are a leading cause of home ignitions during a wildfire.
What are embers?
To treat a minor burn, you should run the affected area under this for at least 10 to 20 minutes; never use ice.
What is cool (room temperature) water?
This portable bag contains essential supplies for a family to survive for at least three days while on the move.
What is a "Go-Bag"?
This catchy phrase reminds drivers never to enter a street covered by water.
What is "Turn Around, Don't Drown"?
When the body is overheated, you should move the person to a cool area and apply these to the neck, armpits, and groin.
What are cold compresses (or ice packs)?
When warming someone up from the cold, you should avoid this common mistake, which can actually damage frozen skin tissue.
What is rubbing or massaging the affected area?
This term refers to the three distinct levels of evacuation readiness, often summarized by the catchy phrase "Ready, Set, Go!"
What are Evacuation Levels?
When a person is choking and cannot cough or breathe, you should perform this series of "abdominal thrusts."
What is the Heimlich Maneuver?
Important family documents like birth certificates and insurance policies should be kept in this type of container to prevent water damage.
What is a waterproof container?
During a fire, you should do this to avoid inhaling toxic smoke while moving through a building.
What is crawl low under the smoke?
During a heat wave, you should avoid drinks containing these two substances, as they can actually increase dehydration.
What are caffeine and alcohol?
To retain the most body heat in extreme cold, experts recommend wearing clothes in this specific way rather than one heavy piece.
What is in layers?
These are the types of "ladder fuels" that should be removed to prevent a ground fire from climbing into the tree canopy.
What are low-hanging branches and shrubs under trees?
For a wound with severe bleeding, this is the first and most important step to take until medical help arrives.
What is applying direct pressure?
These small tools, often stored in kits, can be used to signal for help if you are trapped.
What is a whistle? or mirror?
To prepare your home for this disaster, you should bolt heavy furniture to wall studs.
What is an earthquake?
This measurement combines air temperature and relative humidity to determine how hot it actually "feels" outside.
What is the Heat Index?
This weather measurement describes how cold it actually "feels" on your skin when the wind is factored in with the air temperature.
What is the Wind Chill?
This is the most critical area of "Defensible Space," extending 0–5 feet from your home, where you should remove all combustible materials like mulch and woodpiles.
What is the Ember-Resistant Zone?
This portable electronic device can automatically diagnose life-threatening heart rhythms and deliver a shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
What is an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)?