Caitríona Redmond: Could you survive 72 hours in an emergency?

The EU wants all citizens to be prepared, how much work will it take?

The EU recommends that we have fully-charged power banks for mobile devices and torches. And Milton liquid is a relative cheap disinfectant to have to hand.

The EU’s new Preparedness strategy is aimed at encouraging citizens and member States to be prepared for anything.

As part of that new strategy, we are asked to have enough stocks or equipment to let us manage for at least 72 hours in case of emergency.

Then, just a few weeks after the launch of that strategy the power cut out on the Iberian peninsula and the plans seemed more like prophecy to some. But for those of us in Ireland impacted by powercuts following Storm Éowyn, it was sound advice, although that 72 hours seems a little too short to prepare for.

While there’s no official list for Ireland yet, an awful lot of the items we should be adding to an emergency box or place are no-brainers.

Keeping all your identification and essentials like medication and financial documents in a go-bag is something we should all do anyway. These should be kept in an easily accessible, safe place that is ideally fireproof so it can be grabbed or protected if something happens to your family home.

Experience has conditioned me to store a lot of dried food at home (at least three months’ worth).

Children are the main reason for a well-stocked medicine cabinet and first aid kit that is in constant use and requires regular top-ups.

I don’t think that my home is unusual in that regard either.

While there’s no official list for Ireland yet, an awful lot of the items we should be adding to an emergency box or place are no-brainers.

If the Iberian power cut and the M&S cyber-attack has taught us anything, it’s that cash is important when the existing systems we rely on fail.

I’m certainly considering how much cash I need to have to hand in the future.

As we all live in an increasingly digital world, most of us rarely carry paper money or coins. Cash is king in the case of an emergency however, and we should be considering a small stash if the power — and consequently the internet — cuts out long term. 

How much you want to put aside is entirely up to you; if you’ve a big stash of everything else you may need for several weeks, this could be as low as €100.

No need to hide your money in the mattress though. Make sure it’s near that go-bag and easy to reach, but also keep cash in your wallet in case you are away from home and need cash in an emergency.

The EU recommends that we have fully-charged power banks for mobile devices and torches, which is great advice.

You may want to consider alternative power methods such as wind-up torches, and solar-powered battery packs which can be charged again and again even if the mains power is out of action.

Wind-up or battery-operated AM/FM radios are also a great investment and handy for use in the garden or if you are camping, even if the power is up and running.

I’d add simple washing-up liquid to the list. If you depend on your dishwasher to get your dishes sparkling clean, you’ll have a stash of dishwasher tablets that will be rendered useless in a power cut.

Think about how you’d wash your clothes in an emergency; if you only normally use washing pods, then having a small box of washing powder to one side would be a good idea.

Milton liquid is a traditional way of sterilising baby bottles and can also be used as a disinfectant. I consider it a vital item to have to hand in case of emergency and it’s relatively cheap to pick up and has a very long shelf life.

Don’t forget your car either. A small bag in the boot could contain battery packs and baby necessities. Though if you’ve got a baby, you likely have multiple baby bags in different locations already.

Think about things like a foil blanket, high-vis vest, torches, and some energy bars.

Address books may feel like a thing of the past but it’s certainly a good idea to have a written record of family telephone numbers and addresses. If your phone doesn’t work, then you’ll be without those essential contact details.

As we became a digital nation in the past 30 years, some of what we have begun to neglect would still have clear benefits in an emergency event.

Knowing our community, neighbours (and their skills) and looking out for one another is vital.

Being prepared is another way of being resilient and in Ireland, that’s something we are very adept at, even if it requires a little bit of planning.

Redmond recommends

We are all familiar with a water filter jug or tap which improves water flavour and can filter some impurities. A straw filter which is a portable water filter system which uses hollow fibre membrane technology to clean water-borne diseases and dirt. 

My favourite brand is the Life Straw due to their proven results and international charity work. One Life Straw will filter up to 2,000 litres of clean water and reduces the need to store water in plastic bottles.

A damp box of matches is useless and stick lighters can run out of fluid. Consider investing in a fire steel or rod instead. These sticks are made from magnesium ferrocerium and will spark in all weathers, including in a downpour. Both items can be purchased from your local camping stores or online.