Better safe than sorry, you say, but what happens when you think you're prepared but you're really not? What happens when that dusty emergency kit you never opened, the one you bought years ago, finally gets put to use? You don't want to find yourself stumbling through a bag full of unfamiliar supplies, most of which are no good. The bottom line is, it's not only important to have an emergency kit, it's important to be familiar with the items inside and how to use them. It's not the kit that's important, it's the supplies.
According to FEMA, it's not enough to simply pack emergency supplies into a bag. In fact, the most important aspect of the emergency kit is maintenance. In order to keep your emergency kit supplies fresh and in working order, make sure you keep your kit in a cool, dry place to avoid food spoilage. If you pack boxed food, make sure you secure the box in an airtight bag to protect from pests. Check canned goods regularly; if they become swollen, dented, or corroded, throw them out immediately and replace.
A good rule to follow, is always replace food and water supplies every six months to insure freshness. Whenever you check your emergency supplies, make sure you update your kit to parallel any life changes. Such life changes can include an added family member, change in geographical location, new food allergy, etc. Keeping your emergency supplies up to date with your current lifestyle could turn a useless emergency kit into a life-saving one. When updating your emergency kit, Survival-supply.com sells plenty of emergency kits and supplies including emergency bags of all sizes, food, water, first-aid supplies, whistles, flashlights, and other valuable tools. Always remember to test gear such as whistles, flashlights, jumper cables, and radios on a regular basis.
The last thing you want in the event of an emergency is to carry the weight of useless supplies. We all like to think that we know exactly what we would need in the case of an emergency. But the fact of the matter is, we don't. A good way to make sure that you don't leave out critical supplies in your emergency kit is to review other emergency kits. Survival-supply.com has a large variety of already packed emergency kits. By looking at these pre packaged kits, you'll know if you're missing important supplies.