An emergency grab bag checklist

This is general information, not medical advice.

Most emergencies give very little warning. A bushfire alert, a flash flood, a long blackout or a 2am trip to hospital all have one thing in common: nobody thinks clearly while it is happening. A packed bag means the important things come along, whoever is helping.

Work through this list with the person, not around them. It is their bag, and the comfort items matter as much as the paperwork.

Medications and health

• At least several days of every regular medication, in a pill organiser or original packaging
• A printed, current medication list with doses. Our guide to managing medications at home explains how to keep one
• Glasses, hearing aids with spare batteries or a charger, and dentures with their case
• Continence products, if used
• Any small equipment, such as a blood glucose meter or puffer and spacer
• A copy of the one-page emergency information sheet from the fridge

Documents

Keep copies in a waterproof sleeve or zip-lock bag:

• Medicare card, pension or concession card, and private health insurance card
• Contact numbers for family, the GP, the pharmacy and the care provider
• Copies of any advance care directive and the names of powers of attorney or guardians
• A recent photo of the person, which helps if they become separated from family

Our resource on documents worth sorting covers which originals to keep safe at home.

Practical items

• A torch with fresh batteries, and a battery or wind-up radio for emergency updates
• A mobile phone charger and, if possible, a charged power bank
• Some cash, in case card machines are down
• Bottled water and a few easy snacks that suit any dietary needs
• Spare house and car keys

Comfort items

These are easy to forget and make the biggest difference in a hospital ward or an evacuation centre.

• Two changes of comfortable clothes, a warm cardigan and sturdy shoes or slippers with a good grip
• Toiletries and a small towel
• Something familiar: a photo, a prayer book or beads, a favourite small blanket
• Puzzle book, reading material or headphones with familiar music

Before an emergency

• Know the warnings. In NSW, the NSW SES has guidance on preparing for floods and storms, and Hazards Near Me alerts can be set up on a family member’s phone for the older person’s address.
• Have a plan for leaving. Who will collect them, and where will they go? Write it on the emergency sheet.
• Power-dependent equipment. If the person relies on equipment like an oxygen concentrator, tell the electricity retailer and ask the GP or supplier about a backup plan.
• Heat and cold. Long power cuts in summer or winter are risky on their own. See staying safe at home in heat and cold.

Keeping it current

• Check the bag at the start of summer and winter
• Swap medications when prescriptions change and check expiry dates
• Recharge the power bank and test the torch
• Keep the bag in the same place, near the front door or in the bedroom wardrobe, and make sure family and support workers know where it is

How Aldera helps

With the person’s agreement, a support worker can help put the bag together and check it during regular visits, and the One Story record notes where it is kept and what is in it. If plans or medications change, your Care Lead makes sure the whole Care Circle knows, so whoever is there on the day can pick up the bag and go.