In August 2007, David George, a 53-year old rancher was forced to spend an entire week up a tree in a remote crocodile-infested swamp area in a Northern Australian outback. How did he get there? Get this: he fell off a horse. Dazed and injured, he climbed back the saddle expecting his horse to take him home. Instead he was taken into that swamp, which turned out to be a favorite hang-out place for crocodiles. The crocs stalked him until he was found and rescued. Whew! Talk about endurance. For sure, the Aussie learned two important lessons. First, he did not have a pretty smart horse. Second, he should always have an emergency kit.
As clearly shown in the mentioned incident, having an emergency kit is a must especially for people who spend so much time outdoors. In case you encounter something terrible along the way, the kit will help you survive until you are rescued. Even if you're not the type who loves the great outdoors, keeping an emergency kit can also be very useful. You don't know when the Lord of Misfortune will pay you a visit, whether you're at home or in the office. In case of a typhoon or other disasters, an emergency kit will ensure you of your safety and might even extend your life.
David George endured hot days and cold nights up a tree while the crocodiles below were probably praying for the blessing to finally fall. He was able to survive because he had a sandwich with him. That was all he had. Although he was able to survive, experts say that an average person can only last 40 days without food and seven days without water. George was just on the brink of demise when he was rescued. However if he had a proper emergency kit, he could've survived longer even if the rescuers had arrived a little later.
The items to be included in an emergency kit can be found in most people's homes. It's just a matter of finding time to put them together. The most essential items to include are food and water. Make sure that the food you include won't spoil. Two liters of water is sufficient for a person for a day. Dried foods and energy bars are excellent items. If you choose to include canned food, you must also include a manual can opener.
Aside from food and water, you also need to include other household items. Don't forget to include a flashlight with batteries. An emergency radio will also be very useful. Make sure you also have a first aid kit. You should also consider your special needs such as prescription medications and infant formula. Cash can be very helpful as well. You will also need a whistle in extreme cases. Remember Kate and Jack in the motion picture Titanic? You can use it to attract attention in case you get stranded in the middle of the sea or in other similar situations.
Do not include items that you don't need. They will just add weight and will make it harder for you to move around. You will still have to let them go if worse comes to worst.
Having a kit can draw the line between life and death. Choose the items to include wisely. If disaster happens, your kit is your life. You can survive a bad situation if you are always prepared. Even if you are stranded up on a tree while crocs are looking at you as if you were a piñata, you can just sit and wait for your rescue. Just make sure you don't fall.
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