Preparing an emergency kit should be a family activity. A fun way to get everyone involved is by turning it into a game such as a treasure hunt. Here are a few ideas for getting started:
- Let your children pretend to be pirates. Mom and Dad can be ship captains.
- Crumple a brown paper bag and write on it all the supplies an emergency kit should have. This is the "treasure map" the kids will use.
- Mom and Dad should collect the various safety supplies and hide them around the house. This may require extending the game over a period of a few days. Items to be "discovered" can include:
- First-aid kit
- Battery-operated radio or TV
- Flashlight
- Bottled water
- Cash or credit cards
- Batteries
- Clothes
- Matches
- Canned food
- Waterproof bags/containers
- Sleeping bags
- Blankets
- Personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
- Games and books
- Tools
- Assign each item a point value. The pirate or pirate team that earns the most points or finds the most supplies listed on the treasure map wins a prize. Prizes could involve having the losing team make ice cream sundaes for the winnerrs.
