Over spring break my dad took me to an emergency preppers convention. Sounds a little strange, right? It was actually amazing, probably because my dad and I are big fans of emergency preparation and basic survival skills. We joke about being prepared for the zombie apocalypse, but we know that realistically all we need to be prepared for is a long power outage and tornadoes at our Illinois residence.
What does any of this have to do with college? Well, science shows that our brains don’t fully develop until our mid-twenties, which means that young adults struggle with decision-making, risky behavior and planning for the future and consequences. Besides science not being on our side, research shows that millennials lack basic survival skills compared to older generations, which many attribute to the abundance of technology and convenience we’ve grown up with.
I’ll start out easy with some things to have on hand in your apartment or dorm in case of a power outage. Ready.gov, which is an affiliate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a full list on their website, along with some awesome resources such as what to do in extreme cold (something very useful to us!) as well as information on all types of natural emergencies. Below is a dorm-friendly version of their basic emergency kit:
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A flashlight
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A mini-first aid kit (some things to include would be bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, hydrocortisone, extra medications if you have allergies or asthma)
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Some protein-filled snacks or if you’re really invested, some canned food (don’t forget a can opener!)
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Water bottles
Besides that handy little list, here are some other basics to stay safe and be prepared.
Always drink plenty of water!
Ladies, I think we all know how important water is for just about every aspect of our health, but it’s especially important to stay hydrated in hot weather. The summer is coming, so make sure you’re drinking roughly half a gallon of water a day.
Don’t forget to stock your car.
For those of you that drive on campus, have a separate kit just for your car. Some items to include would be a flashlight, basic first aid kit, jumper cables along with some other basic tools, water and food, a small radio, shovel, ice scraper, a warm blanket for winters and a car charger for your phone. Also make sure your car is in good shape, and if there are any problems that you’re aware of them.
Create your own emergency plan.
“Planning makes perfect,” is a personal motto of mine. Have an evacuation plan and know who to call in case of emergency, including a list of phone numbers if you don’t have them memorized. Be aware of campus resources as well as others within the Twin Cities, or wherever you reside. The Red Cross is a great resource for creating a family emergency plan.
Don’t forget about your pets!
For those of you with pets make sure you keep some extra food and supplies for them!
Prep for the most likely emergencies first.
Is there going to be an alien attack in the near future? Probably not. A four-day power outage or blizzard? Yes, very likely. While most people tend to think about “emergencies” as huge scale disasters, there are a few situations where having an emergency kit would also be useful. Would you be able to have enough food on hand if you lost your job? What if your house gets flooded or there’s a fire? Is there something in your neighborhood, such as a powerplant or an important government building? These little things can be just as devastating and it’s important to consider these when planning.
I know this seems scary, but emergency preparedness will ultimately make you feel more safe and confident that you can handle anything that comes your way. Taking little actions now can make a huge difference later.