Tags: preparation | emergency | kit | pandemic | covid-19

Here's What You Should Have in Your COVID-19 Emergency Kit

packs of pills, a face mask, and a coronavirus graphic
(Sergei Semenov/Dreamstime)

By    |   Tuesday, 14 April 2020 05:08 PM EDT

Like a good Scout, it is crucial to be prepared, especially in these precarious times. While many of us feel helpless during the shutdown, putting together an emergency kit to ensure the safety and welfare of you and your family might be a lifesaving project.

Here is a checklist of items to have on hand, according to MarketWatch:

  • Detergent.
  • Paper Towels.
  • Face masks and gloves.
  • Hand sanitizer.
  • Cough drops.
  • Acetaminophen, to reduce fever.
  • Thermometer, any generic brand will do.
  • Chicken soup, a proven immune buster and cold and flu fighter.
  • Gatorade to replenish lost electrolytes.
  • Avocados that provide healthy fat and nutrients.
  • Bananas and apples for nutrient-back snacks.
  • Honey to help soothe a sore throat.

These are just some of the essential items doctors say we should have on hand. And according to Cleveland.com, you might also want to add children's pain reliever, a month's supply of your regular medications, and pet supplies to your list if these indications pertain to you.

If you have very young kids, extra diapers, formula and baby food should be on the list, as well as personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, and tampons.

And if you have a patient with the virus, the most important step is to isolate that patient in their own room, preferably with their own bathroom and cleaning supplies, Columbia University’s David Buchholz told The Wall Street Journal.

"Finally, part of any preparedness plan is to be self-sufficient," says Bill Gentry, director of the community preparedness and disaster management program and an associated professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health, in an article published in U.S. News & World Report. "Have gas in your vehicles, some cash on hand, and check on your family and neighbors. Stocking up on all of these items keeps you from having to go out if you get sick or a family member gets sick."

Lynn C. Allison

Lynn C. Allison, a Newsmax health reporter, is an award-winning medical journalist and author of more than 30 self-help books.

© 2025 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.


Health-News
Like a good Scout, it is crucial to be prepared, especially in these precarious times. While many of us feel helpless during the shutdown, putting together an emergency kit to ensure the safety and welfare of you and your family might be a lifesaving project.
preparation, emergency, kit, pandemic, covid-19
322
2020-08-14
Tuesday, 14 April 2020 05:08 PM
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