Do You Have A Go Bag Ready

You never know what may happen that forces a sudden change in your daily life. So be ready with a go bag.

Our daily life is one filled with routines and a reliance on having things we need available close by.

However, we only need look at events around the world and how fast the routine and normal can change.

From the war in Ukraine that rapidly has seen the routine and daily lives of millions forced into a rapid change and need to flee their hokes communities and country for safety to the recent heatwave devastations across Europe and the UK with the destruction of homes from fires.

Impact events that disrupt or force rapid change from our daily lives and routines can occur from many sources at any time.

The news often makes us feel its remote and far away and will not impact us.

But we need only look to the impact of weather events such as flooding or the recent fires from heatwaves as natural impact events that have displaced people rapidly from their homes.

My family like may around the world has looked at the need to be ready form impact events.

We have a go bag ready and close by at all times have a resilience plan including if something happens what we will do were we will meet up if we are separated.

It may sound a bit "tin foil hat time" but you only need look at events from flooding to fires as events that have occurred regularly in the UK through to events from air disasters to terror attacks.

The pandemic has shown haw fast things can change as has the impact of war.

Having a go bag is not going to prevent any of these but if does mean that if you and your family have to for any reason leave your routine and normal space where you have everything to hand suddenly you have a go bad with some of the essentials on hand to help you get through the first few days of any such impact event.

What is a go bag?

Well as the name suggests it’s a bag that is packed and ready to grab and go when its needed.

Any expectant parents will have a form of go bag on hand ready for the rush to the maternity room when the words “its time” are uttered. They grab that bag and go on the mad dash to the maternity room.

So a go bag for the unexpected impact event is just the same its packed with the items you may need in the event you are not able to be in your home for a period of time or have access to things.

What is in a typical Go Bag?

Pack the things you would want if you had to leave in a hurry.

Use a backpack or something sturdy

Copy important documents — insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, proof of address — and keep them in a waterproof zipper bag

Extra set of house and car keys

Copies of ATM/credit cards

Cash (in small denominations!)

Bottled water and energy bars

An LED flashlight

Battery-operated or hand-cranked AM/FM radio

Batteries and chargers

List of your medications and dosages (for everyone in your house)

First-aid kit

Toiletries

Notepad and pen

Contact and meeting place for your household and a regional map

Lightweight raingear or cover and a Mylar blanket

Items to comfort you in a stressful situation

If you have a disability or access and functional need, make a plan that will meet your needs. Some common items to pack include:

Back-up medical equipment, like glasses or canes

An emergency health information card (listing your name, address, emergency contact, and relevant medical information like medications you take)

A mobile phone with GPS and a solar charger for it.

Everyone should have a Go Bag — and make sure your Go Bag meets your personal needs.

Pets need Go Bags, too!

They should include:

A current color photo of you and your pet (in case you’re separated)

Copies of medical and vaccination records

Proof of registration/ID information, adoption, proof of purchase and microchip information

Physical description of your pet, including species, breed, age, sex, color, distinguishing traits, and any other vital information about characteristics and behavior

Animal first aid kit, including flea and tick treatment and other items recommended by your vet.

Food and water for at least three days

Food and water dishes. (fabric foldable will use less space and be lightweight)

Collar and sturdy leash

Cotton sheet to place over the carrier to help keep your pet calm

Comforting toys or treats

Poop bags

A Go Bag is no big secret or mystery it’s just as it says on the tin or rather on the bag It is just a bag that's there ready to grab if you have to leave your home and routine in a hurry.

Hopefully it can sit in the corner of a room or in the boot of your car never needed but if at any time an impact event happens you can grab and go.

It’s part of any basic resilience plan to have the items you need in an emergency in a place you can access them rapidly.

If you don't have a Go Bag give some serious thought to what you would do if a sudden impact event forced you and your family to suddenly have a change in your location or routine.

Be Ready Be Prepared Be Resilient