17 Items the Red Cross Tells Every American to Have at Home — Most Families Own 3

17 Items the Red Cross Tells Every American to Have at Home — Most Families Own 3 A major storm, power outage, flood or emergency can change normal life within minutes. Yet many households discover they don't have even the basic supplies needed to manage the first few days without outside help. In this video, we’re breaking down 17 emergency preparedness items recommended by the American Red Cross and explaining why many families overlook them until it is too late. The Red Cross recommends building an emergency kit with essentials such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, first-aid supplies, medications, hygiene items, blankets, cash, copies of important documents and other supplies that help a household operate during a disruption. (redcross.org) Water is one of the most important items. The Red Cross recommends storing enough water for everyone in your household, including additional water for people with medical needs and pets. (redcross.org) Food planning is another area where many households fall short. Emergency food should be shelf-stable, easy to prepare and suitable for the people who will actually use it, including children, older adults and anyone with dietary restrictions. (redcross.org) But preparedness isn't about panic buying. The goal is having practical supplies ready before a crisis happens. A flashlight with working batteries, a way to receive emergency updates, basic medical supplies and backup essentials can make a difficult situation much easier to manage. One clarification about the title: the Red Cross does not publish a specific list called “17 items every American must own,” and there is no verified data showing that most families only own three of these items. The number format is used as a simple way to organize commonly recommended emergency supplies. In this video, we’ll go through all 17 items, explain what each one does, which ones are often forgotten and how to build an emergency kit without wasting money on unnecessary gear. How many of these 17 emergency items do you already have at home? #RedCross #EmergencyPreparedness #SurvivalKit #DisasterPreparedness