After any natural disaster there are always health risks that must be dealt with. Getting to know the different natural disasters you are most likely to encounter is the first step in preparing for the different risks you may face.  Whether you are dealing with injuries, water contamination or mental trauma all health risks are serious and must be prepared for.

With all natural disasters there will be a range of injuries from cuts and bruises to more serious life threatening problems.  The first thing to do is have a stocked first aid kit that has a wide range of equipment to handle basic first aid.  If you find that your injury is more severe than you can handle find out where there is a nearby functioning medical treatment center.  Please note that in some disasters the hospitals may not be the place to get treated since they may have been damaged.  Keeping an emergency radio in your survival gear is a great way to know where you are supposed to go.

Contaminated water is always something to be aware of; the Center for Disease Control has some tips to stay safe including keeping away from standing water that may have been exposed to sewage.  Make sure you have safe drinking water and other uncontaminated water for hygiene purposes.  If you are dealing with contaminated water from a flood make sure you are properly disinfecting and drying your home and personal items out.  If you can’t disinfect an item, you may think about throwing it out in case mold or bacteria have already infected the item.

Mental trauma is not a health risk that is often talked about with natural disasters but is prevalent in every disaster.  This does not mean that you will have mental problems forever, just that you may be dealing with extra anxiety, lack of sleep, or depression from loss.  These problems are normal and will go away after the disaster is over but if they happen to persist then it’s a good idea to seek medical advice.  In the mean time having some pain killers with a sleep aid in your survival gear might go a long way to allowing your body to relax enough to sleep, this is in no way meant to be a diagnosis just a suggestion.  Including other items in your survival gear that will lower your stress and calm your children are great ideas to have on hand. If your mental trauma is more intense, like from the loss of a loved one, you may require other medical support.

These health risks are only a few of the possible risks you may face.  Make sure you think about all the possibilities when putting your survival gear together.  There are always more things you can add, but make sure your basics are covered so that you are prepared no matter what you and your family must face.