72-hours, is your family prepared? Do you have a 72-hour kit? We all know an emergency or a disaster can happen anywhere, anytime.

Everyone shares responsibility to be prepared should a disaster strike. Sometimes it can take up to three days before emergency responders are there to help. Your 72-hour kit can make a big difference to you and your family’s survival.

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency has helpful advice. One event, Disaster Alley will be held at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, May 6. If you and your family attend, you will learn good preparedness advice from the Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Search and Rescue, HAWCS (Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety) and other agencies.

Link to Alberta Emergency Management Agency
http://www.aema.alberta.ca/emergency-preparedness-week

Link to Disaster Alley
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/cema/Pages/Disaster-Alley.aspx?redirect=/disasteralley

A 72-hour emergency kit is easy to prepare. It contains items such as food and water, bedding and clothing, flash light and fuel, pen and paper, a pocket knife, rope, duct tape, a whistle and much more. Remember to pack a first-aid kit and toiletries, pet food and supplies, garbage bags and toys for the kids.

To learn more, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency has an excellent list you can follow that itemizes the important items for your kit as well as other tips like making note of emergency numbers, etc.

Link to the AEMA list
http://www.aema.alberta.ca/72-hour-emergency-kit

There are also retail outlets who sell 72- hour emergency kits. Do a Google search and you will find Canadian Safety Supplies, Canadian Red Cross, Costco and Canadian Tire who sell kits of one kind or another. Make your own kit or purchase one for you and your family. It just may save your life!