This weekend nearly the entire South coast of Australia bore the brunt of two extreme weather systems converging and releasing strong winds and heavy rains. South East Queensland was hit late Friday afternoon and all day through to early Sunday morning causing damage and flooding to properties and roads and unfortunately several deaths.
Living in South East Queensland tropical weather patterns are a common occurance with severe weather conditions and sometimes even cyclones hitting our shores. At First Aid Accident and Emergency we know how dangerous the elements can be and believe in proactive preparation rather than reactive recovery which is why we have put together this list of what you should have in your ‘Weather Safety Kit.’
Place the following items into a spare container or box and have clearly marked ‘Weather Safety Kit.’
- Torch
- Battery powered radio
- Spare Batteries
- Candles
- Matches
- Rain ponchos
- Old blanket
- Basic First aid kit (bandages, band-aids, antiseptic cream, pain relief medication)
If you have enough warning prior to the storm hitting it is is ideal to put several things in place such as:
- Securing all outdoor furniture and property
- Close all doors and windows
- Fill up several water bottles
- Charge phones
- Have pets inside
- Have your tool box handy for any emergency repairs
- Fill up your car with petrol
- Sandbagging if necessary
If you have young children it is important to calmly explain what is happening and even make a bit of a game from getting everything prepared to prevent them from getting scared. It’s also a good practice for them to get into knowing how to keep safe in storms.
