Crisis prevention: checklist for every crisis

The Corona pandemic has clearly shown that even in tranquil Germany, a crisis situation can quickly catch up with us.

If a zombie apocalypse is not just around the corner, however, we can certainly arm ourselves against crises and easily take precautions for emergencies.

What does crisis preparedness mean?

The term "crisis preparedness" or "emergency preparedness" refers to the actions one can take to ensure their own safety before, during and after an emergency or natural disaster.

Examples of a crisis include natural disasters such as floods, snowstorms, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Man-made crises can include explosions, fires, or chemical and biological attacks.

What is included in crisis preparedness?

In the event of a crisis, you should keep six important points in mind:

1. Health

2. water

3. Food

4. hygiene

5. First aid

6. Power failure

To protect yourself and your family in the event of a crisis, you should therefore take precautions in every category. It is particularly important to have an emergency supply of food, because in crisis situations supermarkets may be closed and normal food purchases may become impossible.

Since life without drinking water is not possible, you should pay special attention to securing your drinking water supply as part of your personal crisis preparedness.

Your personal crisis prevention checklist

To help you prepare for an emergency, we would like to provide you with information and recommendations on how to best prepare for a crisis situation.

There are some things and equipment that can prove to be vital, while others are less important. So let's take a look at this ultimate emergency supply list:

⒈ Food supplies

When shopping for food, be sure to buy products that have a long shelf life.

Your supply may include, but is not limited to:

• pasta

• rice

• Durable bread

• Long-life sauces

• preserves and preserves

• nuts and seeds

• Perishable Vegetables

• Perishable fruit

• Coffee, tea, fruit juices

• grain products

• Long life milk

• Spices

• oils

• fats

💡 Tip : If you're looking for more inspiration, you can also think about what you would take on a camping trip.

⒉ Emergency drinking water supply

Sufficient (drinking) water is the be-all and end-all of good crisis preparedness.

For example, you can store tap water in canisters and buy water filters to purify drinking water. To store enough water for 14 days, you should calculate as follows:

• 1 person = 50L

• 2 people = 100L

• 3 people = 150L

• 4 people = 200L

⒊ First Aid Pharmacy

In the event of a crisis, the most important thing is good basic medical care.

You can easily ensure this with an appropriately equipped medicine cabinet. This is best done in a specially designed box to protect the products from external influences.

You should also have these items on hand in everyday life to ensure your health:

• Analgesics and antipyretics

• Medication for diarrhea, nausea and vomiting

• Electrolytes to compensate for fluid losses

• clinical thermometer

• splinter tweezers

• hand sanitizer

• disinfectants for wounds

• Bandage material (gauze compress, bandage scissors, plasters and bandages, triangular cloth)

⒋ Hygiene items

You should also pay attention to your personal hygiene during a crisis situation.

This will help you prevent illness and simply make you feel better. Therefore, keep a few important things ready for emergencies:

• toothbrush

• toothpaste

• soap

💡 Tip : In case of emergency, you may run out of running water and therefore the toilet will not flush. For hygienic reasons, you can use a composting toilet in such cases.

➡️ You can find out more about the composting toilet in our blog post "Camper toilet".

⒌ Emergency equipment

In an emergency situation, electricity is usually not vital at first, but it can still be very helpful.

Therefore, in the event of a crisis (and also in the event of a power outage in everyday life), you can obtain certain emergency devices that ensure a continuous supply of energy.

These include, for example:

• power bank

• Solar camping light

• solar generator

• power generator

Conclusion: Crisis prevention made easy

It often happens faster than you think that you get into a (minor) crisis situation.

In Germany, these are usually floods or severe storms. That's why we've focused on crisis preparedness at home in this text. There, the last thing on your mind might be to acquire a mobile toilet.

But without a water supply, doing one's business can become very unpleasant and, at a certain point, simply unhygienic. Especially in city apartments, it can therefore pay off to have a compact composting toilet in the storeroom - simply for the small (or large) emergency 😉.

Crisis Preparedness FAQ

What is the best gear for times of crisis?

What should you always have at home in case of a disaster? Long-term food is particularly suitable as an emergency supply, as this food can be stored for a longer period of time - and completely without refrigeration.

What does it take to survive 14 days?

For 14 days, an adult needs, among other things, the following food: 30 l of water, several kilos of grain products and also vegetables and fruit. Nuts, fats, oils and spices, and dairy products should also be part of the supply, as well as canned food.

What to do in case of a complete blackout?

To be able to manage without electricity in case of an emergency, you should have candles, matches, a camping stove, gas cartridges and wood at home.