Useful supplies and equipment at home

PREPARING FOR CRISIS SITUATIONS

Determine which tools and reserves your family needs to cope independently for one week. Take into consideration the possibility that due to a crisis situation you cannot leave home, goods are not available at shops, and other vital services are not functioning (electricity, water supply, etc.)
Think about where and how to store your stockpile to ensure that it can be easily accessed by you and your family.
It is advisable to pack supplies that are not used every day in a separate bag (See Chapter “Evacuation”). It is reasonable to keep some of the supplies necessary for evacuation in your car, such as a mobile charger, road map, snow shovel.
Update your supplies regularly.
When stocking-piling any combustible material (such as liquid fuel, gas, firewood), follow the fire safety regulations and conditions for their storage.

If you are not able to use the central domestic water in the event of a disruption to the water supply, store drinking water in the amount of at least 2 litres per person per day and water for cooking in the amount of 1 litre per person per day.
Keep the drinking water in a sealed glass or plastic package in a cool and dark room.
For drinking water bought in a sealed package, follow the storage times.
If you get a notice of water disruption in advance, store tap water in a clean and sealable container. You may keep it in a cool and dark place for up to one week.

Keep at least a one-week food supply for your family at home.
When storing food, take into consideration the special needs of all family members (allergy, food intolerance, food for small children, etc.).
Store food that allows for a varied diet. Make sure that the food supply contains enough carbohydrates, fat, proteins and fibres.
Make sure that half of the food supply does not need any preparation (canned food, crackers, biscuits, nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars, sweets, etc.).
Stockpile food products that can be kept at room temperature. Favour food that can be stored for at least six months.
Keep the reserves in a dry place. Make sure that the packages of reserves are strong and moisture proof.

Keep first aid supplies and such medicines at home, which you know how to use.
Fill multiple prescriptions for drugs or other regularly used medicines, so that you have at a least one-week stockpile at home.
Stockpile medicines at home that you might need in case of sudden illness (such as painkillers, antipyretics, drugs for digestive problems, drugs for cold and allergy, burn care products).
Check the expiry dates of medicines on a regular basis and, if necessary, replace them with newer ones.

Power bank, keep it charged.
- If possible, buy a solar-powered power bank or a charger with a crank.
- In a crisis situation, use the power bank only if you cannot charge the devices with electricity.

Battery-powered radio and spare batteries for multiple use. Also, a solar battery or dynamo powered radio fits.
- Check on a regular basis the expiry dates of spare batteries and, if necessary, replace them with newer ones.
- Do not keep batteries inside the radio, if not used regularly.

Candles and matches for multiple use
Candle lantern, gas burner, camping stove or outdoors grill device, which can be used for giving light as well as heat or cooking
- Only purchase those items that are suitable for use at home.

Flashlight and spare batteries for multiple use. Also, a solar battery or dynamo powered flashlight fits.
Battery-powered lamp or lantern, which can be used as flood lamp.

In a crisis situation every person must get 1900 kcal of energy per day and children up to 2 years of age 1000 kcal per day.
The body’s need for water is 28–35 ml per each kg of body weight.
It is recommended that the following food be stockpiled for an adult:
- different canned food (fish, meat, mixed and leguminous canned food);
- instant soups, instant purees, and cereals, which are easy to prepare;
- ready to eat pasta, vegetable, cereal or leguminous dishes with meat, which can be also consumed without being heated up;
- cereal (crispbread, salty or neutral cracker);
- food rich in carbohydrates (biscuits, caramel, canned fruits, dried fruits, halva, honey, condensed milk).
- View the recommendations given on the website of the Ministry of Rural Affairs on how to stockpile food for a crisis situation, by searching on the Internet for the keywords “Maaeluministeerium” (Ministry of Rural Affairs) and “kriisireguleerimine” (crisis management).