Home Survival Kit
Courtesy of the Government of South Australia and the CFS Country Fire Service
www.cfs.sa.gov.au
If planning to stay and defend your home organise a fire cupboard, box or bag at the beginning of the fire danger season. Pack it with protective clothing for all members of the family and ensure all household members know its location. Even if you are planning to leave you should still prepare a survival kit as part of your contingency planning.
Protective Clothing
- Gloves - sturdy garden or rigger variety, not rubber or synthetic.
- Sturdy shoes or work boots - with thick leather soles.
- Hat or hard helmet - with a broad rim for protection from sparks and embers.
- Long sleeved shirt and trousers - made from natural fibres to protect skin and body from radiant heat.
- Mask - such as a wet handkerchief or towel for face protection and to filter smoke. Special filter masks are recommended for asthmatics.
- Goggles or glasses - to protect eyes from smoke and embers.
Everybody should wear protective clothing, not just those fighting the fire.
Useful Items for Fire Fighting
- Hoses - 19mm garden hose or specialised fire fighting hose that is long enough to reach all corners of your house.
- Knapsac/Garden sprayer - to suppress small spot fires. (Be aware that when full knapsacks can be very heavy. Consider half filling it for greater portability).
- Metal buckets and mops - for protecting your home from ember attack.
- Towels - wet towels can be placed under doors and on window seals etc to prevent embers from entering your home.
- Protective woollen blankets - avoid using rubber backed picnic rugs.
- Ladder - made of metal and tall enough to allow you to check roof cavity and eaves.
- Torch - to help you check roof cavity. Ensure you have a good supply of spare batteries.
- Radio - listen to the radio for notification of 'Total Fire Ban' days and phase warnings.
- Spare batteries - for the inevitable!
Prepare your 'home survival kit' during the year then check it again before the beginning of the fire danger season.
Top
Evacuation Box
If planning to go in the event of a fire (or on any high fire risk day) you should take a pre-prepared 'evacuation box' with you to your chosen refuge. This box should be prepared well before the start of the fire danger season and stored in an easily accessible place. Both your family and pets need to be considered when preparing your evacuation box, for example:
Family:
- woollen blanket
- container of water
- first aid kit ME:
- photos and videos W-11 140 5S
- insurance documents
- other documents
- medications etc
Pets:
- pet food
- dish for water
- leash/cage
- medications
- vets phone number
Prepare an 'evacuation box' before the beginning of the fire danger season.
Vehicle preparation
During the fire danger season it is essential that some vehicle preparation is considered in case you are caught in the passage of a fire whilst travelling. Be sure that your car is in good order:
- Never travel with a faulty exhaust pipe or muffler.
- All vehicles should have a woollen blanket, container of water and a first aid kit.
- Asthmatics may need a special filter mask kept in vehicles.
- Vehicles should have adequate fuel, especially on high fire risk days if you plan to leave.
If you do need to shelter in your car:
- Drive your car into a clear area away from surrounding trees.
- Leave your headlights on.
- Roll up your windows and close off vents.
- Shelter below window level.
- Cover your body with woollen blankets to protect from radiant heat.
- Drink water frequently.
You may need to operate the windscreen wipers and drive back and forth from time to time to dislodge accumulating embers.
It will be a frightening experience but it is safest to remain in the car where there is protection from radiant heat.
If planning to go leave early and take your 'evacuation box' with you. Make sure it includes woollen blankets, water and a first aid kit - or keep these items in your car throughout the fire danger season.
Top