St. John Ambulance is urging Vancouverites to take safety into their own hands and get emergency ready with the launch of their dedicated emergency preparedness blog, 15 Easy Steps to Emergency Preparedness at EmergencyReady.ca.
We are sharing this article on how to prepare for an emergency with and how to stock up on non-perishable food items so you can weather the storm with less stress.
Fueling your body in an emergency is very different from your everyday diet. The focus is on meeting your basic needs rather than on satisfying any cravings and preferences. Of course, non-perishables and other emergency-friendly foods have come a long way over the years. Thankfully, it’s possible to gather convenient and nutritious items for handy meal options in the case of an emergency.
One golden rule of emergency preparedness is the 72-Hour Rule. It could take 72 hours or more to receive any assistance or instructions about the location of your local emergency reception centre. So your kit should be stocked with enough food to sustain you for a minimum of 72 hours – ideally one week – whether it’s your home, grab-and-go, vehicle, or workplace emergency kit. It’s also important to select food options that don’t require a lot of water for preparation.
When you think non-perishables, you probably think canned beans. And when it comes to your home emergency kit, canned foods are definitely among your best options (just don’t forget to also include a manual can opener). But, there are plenty of other choices, and camping stores are a great place to explore some ideas.
We’re all busy, so stocking up for an emergency doesn’t always make the grocery shopping list – which is why we’ve created one for you. If you do a big a grocery shop once a week, an easy way to get your pantry emergency-ready is to simply add to your weekly shopping lists. Plan on making some chili on Friday? An easy way to funnel that into your EP plan is by picking up a few extra cans of beans. Also try to plan your emergency menu one meal at a time, and discuss options with your family. That way, you can conserve your food resources.
These easy fixes are your best lines of defense to, slowly but surely, grow a stockpile of food that you can count on in an emergency. The list below is a great way to get started. We’ve also shared a video with some tips on how you can get your emergency preparedness food in order.
Top Tip: Remember to Rotate!
- Rotate according to shelf life.
- Rotate the same time of year.
- Purchase foods you like so rotating won’t be hard.
- Use food on camping trips.
- Check your food often to make sure it’s still good.
If you’re wondering how much food you’ll need in terms of calories, Health Canada has a great breakdown of estimated energy requirements broken down by age and gender.
| Suggested Daily Servings | |||
| Children (2-13) | Teens (14-18) | Adults (19 +) | |
| Veggies and Fruit | 4-6 servings | 7-8 servings | 7-8 servings |
| Grains | 3-6 servings | 6-7 servings | 6-8 servings |
| Milk and Alternatives | 2-4 servings | 3-4 servings | 2-3 servings |
| Meat and Alternatives | 1-2 servings | 2-3 servings | 2-3 servings |
Dairy and Alternatives
- canned milk
- cheese (in wax)
- milk alternatives in shelf-stable packaging
Protein
- canned tuna and/or salmon
- canned baked beans
- canned soups/stews
- protein powder
- jerky
- nuts
- instant soup mixes
- protein bars
- peanut/almond butter
Grains
- granola/cereal bars
- instant oatmeal
- crackers
- whole grain cereal
- granola
Fruits and Vegetables
- canned fruit
- dried fruit
- canned veggies
- canned vegetable soup
Drinks
- juice packs
- herbal teas
- instant coffee
- powdered chocolate mix
- Chicken, beef, or vegetable bouillon
Video: Food Kit for Disaster Preparedness
NCDHD Health Department – Very detailed 5-month shopping list
