Thanks for the great replies everyone. Sorry it’s taken so long to respond. Because of the nature of what we do and how many people there are that come through here in the course of time, we are always well stocked with most of the supplies mentioned here. Blankets, towels, cleaning products – bleach, soap, trash bags, lots of paper plates, Styrofoam cups, batteries, etc. We have enough food for a few thousand meals on hand at any given time. I’ve talked to the decision makers about some of the ideas given here. The thinking is that our everyday supplies will be plentiful enough for any practical emergency (and probably are), but because the designated emergency supplies are stored right alongside the regular supplies, if the regular supplies are damaged/destroyed/inaccessible, then so would the emergency supplies.
The first aid situation is improving greatly. Even before I said anything we had a staff training day where one of our local police officers, also cross trained as a paramedic, gave us all a crash course in first aid. He even focused on what we’d likely see in the inner city environment we are located in: trauma wounds such as stabbings and shootings, and keeping someone alive long enough after a drug overdose for medical assistance to show up. One of the staff here who is also a registered nurse has also been giving us additional instruction and updating/increasing the quality and size of our first aid kit. This was probably the biggest of my concern.
I don’t think I’ll really get much for dedicated emergency use, so I’m thinking about putting together a cheap EDC kit of the whistle, light, knife, and maybe/or not a fire starter (most probably wouldn’t carry the fire starter though) to give to all the staff for Christmas. I’m looking at the CountyComm $1 lights. Are there any other good sources for cheap yet good lights, knives, and whistles? Thanks again for the replies everyone.
-Jeff