Emergency survival kits should be in every home, says the government - this is what you need

Emergency survival kits should be in every home, says the government - this is what you need The "Be Ready" campaign tasks Brits with stocking up on supplies like food, water and warm clothes in the event of a natural disaster or threats from a foreign nation The British government is urging Brits to stock up on enough emergency supplies to survive for three days in the event of a crisis in a bid to strengthen national resilience. The "Be Ready" campaign tasks Brits with having enough supplies in the event of flooding, wildfires as well as war amid growing uncertainty over climate change and global tensions. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain needed to prepare for the threat of "state-sponsored terrorism" by Russia and other hostile nations that could target infrastructure around the country. He previously said: "terms like 'hybrid warfare' and 'grey zone threats' do not accurately capture or convey to the general public what I prefer to describe as 'state-sponsored terrorism'." "It's really important that we ask households and businesses, are they prepared? Are they ready? Do they know how they would respond in the event of everyday challenges that might manifest themselves?" People have been advised to have a supply of bottled water, money and food in the event of a crisis. Britain is not the only country that tasks its citizens with preparing for a crisis. The Swedish government encourages its citizens to store and keep between 21 to 45 litres of water per person, have enough dried and canned foods to last at least a week, woollen clothes, an emergency radio, a home pharmacy kit and cash. The British government has taken steps to prepare citizens including emergency alert tests, such as one in September last year. There are concerns of a severe weather crisis, such as when millions of Spaniards were left without power for hours in April last year, making it one of the worst black-out events in modern European history. Here is the list of items the British government is advising people have a supply of at home. Water supply Brits have been asked to keep a checklist of items in their home to keep them, among which is a three-day supply of bottled water. People have been asked to have three litres per person per day for drinking. Officials added more water would be needed for cooking and washing. While most bottled water can last indefinitely if left unopened and stored correctly, most manufacturers recommend it be drunk within two years to keep peak quality. Once opened, the water should be drunk within a day if kept at room temperature to prevent bacterial build up. People who want to best preserve the quality of unopened bottles should keep it in a cool and dark part of the house as heat can speed up plastic breakdown. Non-perishable food The "Be Ready" campaign tasks Brits to also have a three-day supply of non-perishable food in the event of a crisis. Food with a long shelf life that does not need to be kept in the fridge or cooked before eating is recommended. This includes: Tinned meat, fish, or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. It is recommended to buy food that you would typically eat. Unliked dried food, such as pasta, tinned options of not require boiling water or heat which might not be available in an emergency situation. They also have extreme longevity and can last anywhere between one to five years depending on the particular food. If you own pets, make sure to have a supply of food and bottled water for them to ensure they remain nourished. Hygiene Keeping clean and maintaining personal care is vital in a crisis situation. Hand sanitiser, wet wipes as well as hygiene and bathroom products can be used to clean different parts of your body while there is no running water. Bars of soap last longer than liquid soap and can be used with minimal water. Items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste can also be used to maintain oral health during a power cut instead of electric options. Having protective gloves can also be useful if you need to handle waste products. Light and warmth Keeping warm and having sources of light are essential should a family be faced with a power outage situation. People are encouraged to have a supply of torches, spare batteries, sleeping bags and warm clothes. Having these can keep people warm as temperatures inside can drop significantly in colder months once there is a power outage. Torches can also be useful if you need to navigate an area during the night or when it gets darker earlier. Communication devices There will be instances where keeping informed and alerting others to your condition could prove life-saving in the event of an emergency. The "Be Ready" campaign encourages people have an FM radio with batteries or wind up options to keep informed about the situation and to prevent misinformation. People have also been advised to have a charged power bank in order to have an emergency supply of electricity for various items. Money and documents Brits should have a mix of cash, coins and bank cards in the event of any emergency situation, according to the campaign. Having different options means you will be able to buy essentials when one system fails. Blackouts, cyberattacks and severe weather events can knock out card readers and online banking. Meanwhile, physical cash options can be used without electricity or the internet. Small businesses might only be able to accept cash options in such an event. People are also asked to have important phone numbers and information on hand in the case of an electricity outage. Keeping IDs and documents might also be useful if you need to confirm your identity. Medical and health First aid kits and first aid items are among the most important items to have on hand in the event of an emergency. Having the ability to tend to minor injuries could save a person's life as it might prevent infection. If a person lives with a pre-existing condition, they should also have easy access to their medication and additional medical supplies. Baby formula, such as ready-to-feed options, are also best as you might not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely. Nappies and wipes should also be available to maintain your baby's cleanliness in the event of a crisis. "Be Ready" The "Be Ready" campaign also urges Brits to consider the following steps in order to prepare for a crisis: - See what you already have: Check your cupboards first to see what essentials you already keep at home. - Plan for your household: Note down what you still need, remembering items your family relies on, such as medical supplies, baby formula or pet food. - Check it regularly: Set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items that need replacing, or update your kit if your household's needs have changed. - Connect with your community: Talk to your neighbours about what extra support you might be able to share during an outage, and swap contact details.