How to prepare and deal with a disaster

-

Disasters can happen unexpectedly or people can be given a notice of a disaster like hurricanes. Preparation for emergencies is key. Most grocery stores will run out of food and water quickly when there is an announcement of a lockdown.

The key food items to look for when shopping for emergency food supply is how long the food can be stored and does it require any water or need electricity to cook.  You also want to look for foods that meet the needs of everyone who will be eating the food including pets. Ready to eat foods that don’t need to be refrigerated or cooked is best. You also want to look for food that will not increase your thirst or need for water like salty or spicy food.

Water supply is important to store and maintain. Typically, you want to consider 1 gallon of water per day for each person and pet. Store as much as possible when planning ahead to keep as an emergency storage. If you know the power will go out, there are tips to store water. Fill the bath tubs up with water to use to flush the toilet, any kind of cleaning, or anything else you may need for water. Fill up as many containers, bottles, or anything you have with drinking water. Coolers can be used to fill up with ice to keep food cold after four hours. Freeze as many refrigerated items as you can to keep them at a safer temperature longer. Have manual can and bottle openers, utensils, plates, and cups. Camp stove is a good idea if it is possible to use depending on the situation.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep it cold as long as it can be. Refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours if doors are kept closed while a freezer can last up to 48 hours.

These are a few tips to remember when preparing for an emergency of any kind. Food and nutrition is important to remember to decrease the risk of food waste, foodborne illness and going hungry. Being prepared will help reduce the stress of leaving the house into danger and have a peace of mind that you are prepared for an emergency.

 LS

United States Department of Agriculture. (2017). USDA offers food safety tips for areas affected by Hurricane Irma. Retrieved from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2017/nr-090517-01

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Food and water needs: preparing for a disaster or emergency. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/prepare.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you struggle with pre and post exercise nutrition?

-
Image
What should i eat before and after a workout? First things first…carbohydrates, proteins and fats are important for the body before  and after exercise. Exercising muscle preferentially uses carbohydrates from stored glycogen, but fats are also an important fuel source for energy production during exercise. Fats and carbohydrates are the two major fuel sources during exercise. Fats must be translocated and broken down from their storage form before they are used. Typically there is enough carbohydrate stored as muscle glycogen for exercise but as muscle glycogen stores decline, the skeletal muscle will then use some amino acids (basic components of all protein). More specifically, the amino acid leucine is used for energy.              It is important to consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates exercise to delay fatigue and minimize gastrointestinal distress. It is also important to consume enough fluids to prev...
Read more

Child Malnutrition

-
New approach to childhood malnutrition may reduce relapses, deaths http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150211124024.htm               Moderate acute malnutrition is experienced by 35 million children worldwide. A new study led by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has suggested that feeding children until they have met target measures of arm circumference and weight may be more important than a set 12 week feeding time. However, researchers have found that the current targets, set by the World Health Organization (WHO) may not be sufficient and raising these targets slightly could significantly reduce the risk of relapse in malnourished children; a condition that has a 37% relapse rate. The study took place in rural Malawi and was comprised of 2,349 moderately malnourished children aged 6 months to 5 years old. Children were evaluated 12 months after treatment; 1,967 rec...
Read more

Harvest of the Month

-
Image
Harvest of the Month  August – Corn Good source of  fiber Carbohydrate source for energy Antioxidants Contains vitamins and minerals ½ cup or 1 ear = 80 calories   http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=90 September – Watermelon High in vitamin A and vitamin C Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support 1 cup cubed = 46 calories http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31 October – Apples High in fiber Vitamin C Abundant amount of antioxidants 1 medium = 95 calories  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=15 November – Squash and Pumpkin High in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B2, B3 & B6 Many minerals  High in fiber Multiple antioxidant properties  1 cup = 76 calories  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=63 Decembe...
Read more