Bird Flu Kits and Other Emergency Disaster Supplies Everyone Should Own

Bird flu outbreaks have occurred around the world. While it is still unknown whether bird flu will ever strike the human population in the United States, the chance of any flu epidemic or other disaster --local or national-- is still present. No one wants to think about these disasters striking, but your chances of going through some form of natural disaster may be higher than you think. In a land with hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and floods, it is best to be prepared.

There are items that can prove very valuable during any disaster situation, including special items for flu epidemics. I will focus on the main items that are good for any disaster as well as the items specifically geared towards bird flu epidemics or other epidemics.

Some of the items are well known and sold in disaster preparedness kits. Others I have added because they are also useful to have on hand but typically are not part of a disaster preparedness kit.

What you should have on hand:

You should have sturdy, comfortable shoes. After a disaster, you may have to do a lot of walking and the conditions of the area may be hazardous (chemicals, biohazards, nails, boards, other debris). A good pair of shoes may prove extraordinarily valuable during and after a disaster. Shoes should have thick non-skid soles, be rugged enough for the weather in your region, and should fit comfortably.

You should have a CPR mask. These are masks designed especially for CPR. Some have a valve that fits in the patient's mouth and allows breath to go in but keeps contaminants out--provides a barrier against biohazards. Size and design varied. Some are designed to fit on a keychain.

You should have a flashlight. Batteries die-- I recommend a solar powered flashlight or a manually powered flashlight as a backup to battery-powered flashlights.

You should have N-95 masks. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends N-95 respirator facemasks for use, especially during a flu epidemic (including bird flu). You can find these masks online for around $30 for 20 masks.


You should have plastic sheeting.