Beyond CPR: 7 Emergency Supplies Every Family Should Keep Ready

Knowing CPR and first aid can give you the confidence to respond when an emergency happens—but knowing what to do is only part of being prepared. Having the right supplies nearby can make a big difference, too.

At Frost Rescue, we encourage families to think about preparedness before an emergency happens. You don't need an elaborate disaster bunker or hundreds of dollars in equipment. Start with practical supplies, know where they are, and make sure everyone in your household knows how to use them.

Here are seven things we believe every family should consider keeping readily available.

1. A Well-Stocked First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is one of the simplest places to start.

Cuts, scrapes, burns, sprains, and other minor injuries happen all the time. Keeping basic first aid supplies together means you aren't searching through bathroom cabinets when someone gets hurt.

Consider keeping more than one kit—one at home and another in each frequently used vehicle.

Frost Rescue Tip: Check your kits periodically. Replace anything you've used and look for medications or supplies that have expired or become damaged.

2. A Bleeding-Control or Trauma Kit

A traditional first aid kit and a trauma kit serve different purposes.

Bandages and antiseptic wipes are great for everyday injuries. A trauma kit contains equipment intended for more serious injuries, particularly severe bleeding.

Depending on the kit, this may include a commercial tourniquet, pressure dressing, trauma shears, gloves, and other bleeding-control supplies.

But there's an important part people sometimes overlook:

Buying emergency equipment isn't the same as knowing how to use it.

If you're going to carry bleeding-control equipment, learn how and when to use it before you're faced with an emergency.

3. CPR Barrier Device

CPR face shields and pocket masks are inexpensive, compact, and easy to keep with your emergency supplies.

Small keychain-style barriers can even travel with you rather than sitting in a cabinet at home.

While Hands-Only CPR is appropriate for many adult sudden cardiac arrests, rescue breaths remain an important component of CPR in situations such as pediatric cardiac arrest and drowning.

A barrier device can make a trained rescuer more comfortable providing breaths when they're indicated.

4. Reliable Flashlights

Emergencies have an annoying habit of happening at inconvenient times.

Keep dependable flashlights or headlamps somewhere they're easy to find—not buried in the back of a closet.

We especially recommend having one in your:

• Home emergency supplies

• Vehicle

• Hurricane kit

• Camping or travel gear

And don't forget the batteries or a way to recharge it.

5. Backup Power

Our phones have become much more than phones. They're how we receive weather alerts, contact family, navigate, access information, and call for help.

A charged portable power bank can be extremely valuable during power outages, severe weather, evacuations, and roadside emergencies.

During Louisiana storm season, make charging your backup batteries part of your routine when severe weather is expected.

6. Weather & Roadside Emergency Supplies

Heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, flooding, and power outages are realities of living in Southeast Louisiana.

Your vehicle should have basic supplies to help if you're stranded or encounter unexpected conditions.

Consider keeping rain protection, a flashlight, drinking water, a phone charger or power bank, first aid supplies, and basic roadside emergency equipment together in your vehicle.

A waterproof bag or container is also a simple way to protect medications, important documents, electronics, and emergency supplies from rain and water.

Never drive through floodwater. If you can't determine how deep the water is, turn around and choose another route.

7. Don't Forget Your Pets

Emergency preparedness should include every member of the family—including the furry ones.

Consider creating a small emergency kit for your pets containing items such as:

• Pet first aid supplies

• Food and water

• Essential medications

• Leash or harness

• Vaccination records

• Veterinarian information

• Contact information for a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital

If you ever need to evacuate, having everything together makes it much easier to get everyone out safely.

The Most Important Emergency Tool Isn't Something You Can Buy

We love sharing useful preparedness products, but there's something more important than anything on this list:

Knowledge.

The best first aid kit in the world isn't much help if you don't know what to do during an emergency.

Learn CPR. Learn first aid. Learn how to recognize life-threatening bleeding. Talk about emergency plans with your family. Know where your supplies are stored.

Preparedness isn't about being afraid of what might happen. It's about having the skills, confidence, and resources to respond if it does.

That's what we mean when we say:

Confidence to Save a Life Starts Here.

Ready to Get Prepared?

Frost Rescue provides American Heart Association CPR, First Aid, AED, BLS, ACLS, PALS, and other emergency training for individuals, families, healthcare professionals, schools, churches, childcare providers, and businesses throughout Southeast Louisiana.

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