Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 A home is not only a place to rest after a day\u2019s\nactivities, but also somewhere to meet a range of everyday needs. From\ncooking and cleaning to maintaining health and dealing with unexpected\nevents, certain items should be available to make life at home more\ncomfortable.<\/p>\n
However, not everyone realises the importance of preparing household\nsupplies in advance. As a result, when a minor problem arises \u2014 such as\na small injury, a power cut or running out of food \u2014 residents may have\nto go out to buy what they need.<\/p>\n
To avoid this, you can start preparing essential supplies according\nto your family\u2019s needs. These items do not have to be expensive or\nbought all at once, but should be kept somewhere easy to reach.<\/p>\n
So, what essential items should always be available at home? Here is\na list.<\/p>\n
1. First-aid kit and personal medicines<\/strong><\/p>\n A first-aid kit is one of the items that should be available in every\nhome. It can be used to provide initial treatment for minor wounds or\ninjuries.<\/p>\n The kit can include plasters, sterile gauze, bandages, wound\nantiseptic, disposable gloves and small scissors. You could also add a\nthermometer to check the temperature of a family member who feels\nunwell.<\/p>\n In addition, keep any medicines that family members need,\nparticularly if someone regularly takes prescription medication.<\/p>\n Store medicines according to the instructions on the packaging, out\nof children\u2019s reach, and do not use them after their expiry date. Check\nthe first-aid kit regularly so that used-up or damaged supplies can be\nreplaced promptly.<\/p>\n 2. Drinking water supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n Drinking water is a basic necessity that should be considered both\nfor daily use and in an emergency.<\/p>\n Make sure there is enough drinking water for the household. The\namount can be adjusted according to the number of residents, daily needs\nand local conditions.<\/p>\n You can also store bottled water as an extra supply in case of a\nwater disruption or an emergency that makes it difficult to access\nshops.<\/p>\n To maintain its quality, store water in a clean, covered container\nsuitable for drinking water. Check the expiry dates of packaged products\nand follow their storage instructions.<\/p>\n Food supplies are also important to ensure the family\u2019s needs are met\nwhen you have not had time to shop or are facing an emergency.<\/p>\n Options include rice, dried noodles, tinned food, biscuits, dried\npulses and other foods with a relatively long shelf life.<\/p>\n Choose foods the family normally eats so that supplies are not\nwasted. Check expiry dates and store food according to the instructions\non the packaging.<\/p>\n For food that requires a tin opener or other equipment, make sure\nthat the necessary tools are available. You can also prepare some food\nthat is easy to eat when electricity or cooking facilities are\nunavailable.<\/p>\n 4. Torch and spare batteries<\/strong><\/p>\n Power cuts can happen at any time, whether because of a network fault\nor weather conditions. A torch is therefore one of the items that should\nalways be available at home.<\/p>\n A torch can provide light when the lights are not working,\nparticularly at night. Choose one that is easy to use and keep it\nsomewhere known to all family members.<\/p>\n Remember to keep spare batteries if the torch uses disposable ones.\nIf it is rechargeable, make sure it has enough charge and check it\nregularly.<\/p>\n A rechargeable emergency lamp is another option. Avoid relying on\ncandles as the sole source of light, as an unattended naked flame can\ncause a fire.<\/p>\n 5. Household cleaning equipment<\/strong><\/p>\n A clean home helps create a comfortable environment for daily\nactivities. Cleaning supplies should therefore be available and easy to\nreach.<\/p>\n Items to keep include a broom, mop, dustpan, cleaning cloths, brush,\nsponge and cleaning products suitable for the surfaces to be\ncleaned.<\/p>\n You should also have hand soap, washing-up liquid and other cleaning\nproducts according to your family\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n Keep cleaning products in a safe place, out of children\u2019s reach and\nseparate from food and drink. Do not mix different cleaning products,\nespecially chlorine-based bleach with cleaners containing acid or\nammonia, as this can produce hazardous gases.<\/p>\n 6. Bathing and personal hygiene supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n Toiletries are everyday essentials that should not be allowed to run\nout without replacements being available.<\/p>\n Items to keep include bath soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste,\ntowels, tissues and sanitary pads for family members who need them.<\/p>\n If there is a baby, an older person or a family member with specific\nneeds at home, also prepare additional supplies as required.<\/p>\n You can make a list of frequently used items to help identify when\nnew supplies need to be bought. This helps ensure basic needs are met\nwithout having to shop at short notice.<\/p>\n 7. Cooking equipment<\/strong><\/p>\n Having suitable cooking equipment can make it easier to prepare meals\nat home.<\/p>\n Basic items to keep include a kitchen knife, chopping board, spatula,\nserving spoon, saucepan, frying pan and tableware.<\/p>\n Also make sure the cooker can be used safely. If you use a gas\ncooker, check the regulator, hose and connections regularly. If you\nsmell gas, do not light a flame or operate electrical switches; take\nsafety measures in accordance with the relevant guidance and contact a\nprofessional if necessary.<\/p>\n You may also want a bottle or tin opener if you often store packaged\nfood. Choose equipment according to your needs and the size of your\nhousehold to avoid accumulating items that are rarely used.<\/p>\n 8. Basic tools for minor repairs<\/strong><\/p>\n Small problems at home, such as a loose screw or furniture that needs\ntightening, can sometimes be dealt with using simple tools.<\/p>\n It is therefore useful to have a toolbox containing a screwdriver,\npliers, a hammer, a tape measure and a selection of screws or nails as\nneeded.<\/p>\n Keep the tools in a designated place so that they can be found\neasily. If possible, label the storage box so each tool can be returned\nto its place after use.<\/p>\n However, do not attempt to repair electrical wiring, gas leaks or\nstructural damage that could pose a risk unless you have the necessary\nexpertise. It is safer to call a professional technician for this kind\nof work.<\/p>\n 9. Extension leads and chargers<\/strong><\/p>\n Mobile-phone chargers are frequently used to maintain communication\nwith family and access important information.<\/p>\n Make sure you have chargers that are compatible with your devices and\nin good condition. A power bank can also be useful for charging a phone\nduring a power cut or while travelling.<\/p>\n If you need an extension lead, choose a quality product with a\nsuitable capacity. Avoid connecting too many high-powered devices to one\nsocket, as this can cause overheating and increase the risk of fire.<\/p>\n Arrange cables neatly to prevent people from tripping over them.\nCheck cables and plugs regularly, and stop using them immediately if\nthey appear damaged or smell of burning.<\/p>\n 10. Important documents and cash<\/strong><\/p>\n Important documents should be kept in an orderly manner so they can\nbe found easily when needed, for example for administrative purposes,\ntravel or emergencies.<\/p>\n Documents to consider include family cards, identity cards, ownership\ndocuments, certificates and insurance documents, if applicable. Keep\noriginal documents in a safe place and consider making secure digital\ncopies.<\/p>\n You can also set aside some cash for emergencies. This may be useful\nif ATMs, payment networks or digital services are disrupted.<\/p>\n Keep money and documents somewhere safe from water, fire and access\nby unauthorised people.<\/p>\n 11. Emergency supplies and important telephone\nnumbers<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to everyday household items, homes should have supplies\nthat can help the family cope with emergencies.<\/p>\n You can prepare a go-bag containing drinking water, long-life food,\npersonal medicines, first-aid supplies, a torch, spare batteries, a\nchange of clothes, a whistle and copies of important documents in a\nwaterproof container.<\/p>\n The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) advises the public to\nprepare basic emergency needs, including food and water, medicines,\nlighting equipment and important documents.<\/p>\n Keep the bag somewhere easy to reach and make sure all family members\nknow where it is. Check its contents regularly, particularly food shelf\nlife, battery condition and whether medicines are still suitable.<\/p>\n Remember to write down important telephone numbers, including those\nof family members, nearby neighbours, health services, the fire brigade\nand local emergency services. Keep a printed copy so it remains\naccessible if your phone runs out of power.<\/p>\n 12. Bins<\/strong><\/p>\n A bin helps keep the home clean and makes everyday waste management\neasier.<\/p>\n Use a bin that is easy to clean and has a lid, particularly for\nkitchen waste. You can also separate organic and non-organic waste to\nmake it easier to manage or send for recycling.<\/p>\n Keep bin bags in suitable sizes. Dispose of rubbish regularly and\nclean the bin to prevent odours and deter insects.<\/p>\n If possible, use separate containers for recyclable waste and\nhousehold hazardous waste, such as used batteries. Do not dispose of\nbatteries or electronic waste carelessly, as they can pollute the\nenvironment.<\/p>\n 13. Additional supplies according to family\nneeds<\/strong><\/p>\n Every home has different needs. Essential items should therefore be\nchosen according to the residents\u2019 circumstances and the local\nenvironment.<\/p>\n For example, if you have a baby, prepare nappies, wet wipes, feeding\nequipment and other care supplies. In homes with pets, remember to keep\nfood, water bowls and pet-cleaning supplies.<\/p>\n Families with a member who has a particular illness should ensure\nthat regular medicines and necessary medical equipment are available, in\naccordance with advice from health professionals.<\/p>\n If you live in an area prone to flooding or other disasters, tailor\nyour emergency supplies to the risks in your area. Appropriate\npreparation is more useful than buying a large number of items that are\nnot actually needed.<\/p>\n Essential household items do not have to be numerous or expensive.\nWhat matters most is ensuring that the family\u2019s basic needs,\ncleanliness, safety and preparedness are taken care of.<\/p>\n Start by checking what you already have, making a list of what is\nneeded and gradually filling any gaps. Keep each item somewhere easy to\nfind and check its condition regularly.<\/p>\n With these simple preparations, everyday life can be more comfortable\nand the family can be better prepared for unexpected situations,\naccording to BNPB and other sources.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/essential-items-to-keep-at-home-1792903889",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}