Wind up torches, power banks and three days’ worth of of food are among the items the government is telling households they should stock up on in the event of an emergency.
A new website guiding people on how to protect themselves from various major incidents such as flooding, power outages or even another pandemic has been launched.
The ‘Prepare’ website covers everything from evacuation plans for fires or flooding through to how to form a household emergency plan and the types of important documents officials suggest you collate to be able to grab at short notice.
It also calls on people to stock up on crucial items such as bottled water and tinned food - with minimum levels of three litres of drinking water per person per day suggested, but says 10 litres is recommended for more comfortable levels, such as for cooking and hygiene.
An ‘emergency kit’ families could build up at home - to be used or taken with them in the event of a problem - also lists things like a tin opener, spare batteries and a battery or wind up radio.
While the essential items it suggests households collect for a first aid kit includes waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape for dressings and tweezers.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden unveiled the website this week.
It also follows the launch and trials of the UK’s emergency phone alert system, which sounds alarms and sends text messages to people’s devices in the event of a major incident they should be aware of.
Mr Dowden says the measures are ‘about sensible safeguards, not stockpiling’ and he hopes having all the information in one place, will offer practical help.
A message on the website explains: “Emergencies happen every day in the UK and across the world. They can be caused by severe weather or other natural hazards, by deliberate actions, or as a result of accidents or infrastructure failure. They can be events that happen quickly and are over in a few hours, or they can develop and continue over the course of several days, months, or sometimes even longer.
“Below are a few simple and effective steps that you should consider taking to prepare for emergencies and the disruption they cause.”
