Recent events in the world have brought to light how sudden and unexpected emergency situations can be. With that being said, it doesn’t mean that we have no way of being ready for them! It’s never too early to start preparing for something that could happen unexpectedly. Let’s talk about emergencies and the top 10 ways we can prepare for one.
What is Emergency Preparedness?
Emergency preparedness are steps taken to lessen the impact of an unexpected situation before it happens. This can look like a number of different things, and can be done by individuals, communities, or governments. Its purpose is to not fully remove any negative effects of the disaster, but to make them more manageable and survivable. Emergency preparedness can make it easier to eventually return to normal life. It can be the difference between surviving and thriving!
Why is it Important?
Emergency preparedness allows us to lessen the impact of unexpected natural disasters, accidents, or loss of income. While it’s almost impossible to completely prevent any negative result of unfortunate circumstances, we can make them easier to cope with and bounce back from if we prepare in advance. That doesn’t mean that we constantly have to look out for bad situations. It simply means that there are a few steps we should be taking to make our lives easier, in case something bad does happen.
10 Ways to Prepare
While we can never know for sure what the future holds, it’s worth it to take a few steps to prepare for the unexpected. Here are a few ways you can set yourself up to better deal with emergencies of the future.
1- Have an Emergency Fund
Emergencies can look like more than just earthquakes or fires. A loss of income can also make it hard to survive. That’s why it’s so important to have an emergency fund saved up! We recommend doing your best to have enough saved to cover six months of living expenses. While this may seem like a lot, this amount will allow you to have plenty of time to find a new job without having to compromise. Remember, this fund shouldn’t necessarily allow room for frivolous purchases. It should just be enough to cover rent, food, bills, and medical needs. It may take a while to save this amount, but it’s a good goal to work toward!
Remember, if there is a natural disaster, or similar type of emergency, you may not have immediate access to your bank account. Because of this, it’s never a bad idea to have a small amount of cash on you at all times.
2- Emergency Supplies
Along with having an emergency fund saved, it’s also a good idea to have emergency supplies stocked up. There are a lot of resources online that teach you how to make 72-hour kits or that sell food storage. Just remember to update these supplies often! An expired can of peaches won’t do you any good if a disaster strikes. Rotate your food and supplies often. You can use them before they expire, then replace them with new ones. That way nothing goes to waste!
See if there are any classes online or within your community you can take. Not only will they teach you more about what supplies you should keep on hand, you might learn other valuable skills. You can also meet others in your community who are preparing, which can help you later on! There is strength in numbers.
3- Coping Techniques
While it’s vital to have the funds and supplies needed during an emergency, it’s just as important to keep a cool head. That’s why it’s necessary to have a good selection of coping mechanisms in your toolbox! Regularly practicing meditation, breathing techniques, and using supplements and oils are all great ways to stay calm in the middle of an emergency. Try and learn a few different things to know what works best for you!
We recommend using the Cinnamon CBD Oil during times of high stress. Our Calm CBD Roll-On is also a great tool to keep in your emergency kit. Not only is it easily transportable, it’s also very useful when it comes to promoting a peaceful and relaxing environment!
4- Have a Plan
One of the most important parts of preparing for emergencies, is having a plan. Talk with your family and know what you’re going to do if a disaster happens. Prepare a meeting point in case you get seperated, discuss where emergency kits and supplies are going to be, and assign roles to each family member. If everyone has a responsibility to focus on, it may be easier for them to remain calm in the face of uncertainty and stress. This can be as simple as putting the pet cat in its travel kennel, or as complicated as being in charge of turning the gas lines off. Whatever it may be, make sure everyone knows their responsibilities beforehand, as well as how to complete them.
5- Know the Area
When preparing for emergencies, it’s important to know what is likely to happen in your area. For example, you would be more likely to prepare for tornadoes in somewhere like Oklahoma, rather than tsunamis. Knowing what is likely to happen around you can help you be prepared for more specific circumstances.
It’s also important to know where emergency centers are located around you, such as hospitals or urgent care. Emergency situations don’t always look like natural disasters. Know your area, memorize emergency phone numbers, and make sure those you live with are also informed.
6- Learn New Skills
Like we mentioned earlier, it’s a great idea to learn useful skills in advance. There are both community and online classes that can teach you different topics that will help in an emergency. Things like CPR, basic first-aid, budgeting, food storage, etc. are all great things to learn. It’s also something you can pass on to family members or people you live with, so everyone is better equipped to handle an emergency!
7- Communicating After
During natural disasters, you don’t know what normal services will be available to you after everything has happened. Because of this, it’s important to have a plan for how you will communicate your safety with your friends and family. Social media is one option, since you only need access to wifi and not cell towers. It’s also never a bad idea to have an emergency cell phone and charger in your 72-hour kit if this is a viable option for you!
8- Practice Makes Perfect
Once you have your plan created, it’s important to go over it often. When the unexpected is happening, we may find ourselves going into shock or forgetting small details. The more you practice your emergency plan, especially if you have children involved, the better you’ll be able to follow it when the time comes. Gather your family every few months and practice!
9- Stay Optimistic
Something we may not think about when it comes to natural disasters, is that it’s important to stay optimistic. When preparing for emergencies, we shouldn’t let them scare us. The purpose of being prepared is to make the emergency or disaster easier on us. We can’t prevent bad things from happening, so there’s no point in letting it ruin our day-to-day lives! Do everything you can to prepare, but know there will be some things that are unexpected. All we can do is our best. The rest is out of our control.
10- Help Others
Before hard things happen, and especially as they are happening, it’s imperative that we remember to help others when we can. Once your own safety and needs are taken care of, turn to everyone else. Remember, just like in an airplane, we have to put our own oxygen masks on before we can help others, so don’t feel bad about making your own needs a priority. But, once those needs have been taken care of, it’s time to help everyone else. A strong community will be essential when things get hard.
Even though there are some emergencies you can’t prepare for, it doesn’t mean these should be the main focus of your life. We here at Nature’s Ultra want to help you live your best life possible! Click here for more resources on Nature’s Ultra, and stay tuned to our blog to stay up to date on the latest information.