Emergency plan for medication and medical equipment

If someone relies on medication, medicine that needs a fridge or equipment that needs power, a little planning ahead makes a disruption much less stressful.

Who this plan is for

Two adults. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:

Who	Energy a day	Drinking water a day
Adult × 2	4,500 calories	6 L

Water and food for 2 adults

	3 days	7 days
Drinking water	18 L	42 L
Food energy	13,500 calories	31,500 calories

What a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment should add

Backup plan for powered equipment Essential
A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity.
Essential medication Essential
A supply of any medication your household relies on.
Plan for medication that needs a fridge Essential
Know how you'd keep it cool during a power outage.

Also on Canada's official kit list

Canada's kit list includes a corded phone, chargers, a flashlight, a radio and spare batteries.²

Everything else every home needs

Food: food for everyone, manual can opener
Water: drinking water
Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet paper and bathroom products, personal hygiene supplies
Power & warmth: flashlight, spare batteries, charged power bank, battery or wind-up radio, blankets or sleeping bags, camping stove, warm clothing
Health & safety: first aid kit
Plans & essentials: emergency contacts, meeting point, utility shut-offs, some cash, important documents, insurance details

See the full household checklist for what each one involves.

A sample shopping list for 3 days

One way to reach 13,500 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.

Item	How many
Canned chili	7
Canned soup	8
Baked beans	7
Microwave rice pouch 250g	4
Canned tuna	6
Crackers	1
Peanut butter	1
Dried fruit and nuts	2
Granola bars	1
Canned fruit	4

Allergies, dietary needs and children

Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.

Food	Typical allergens	Typically suitable for
Canned chili	varies by recipe	check the label
Canned soup	varies by recipe	vegetarian
Baked beans	none of the main allergens in its main ingredient	vegan
Microwave rice pouch 250g	none of the main allergens in its main ingredient	vegan
Canned tuna	fish	check the label
Crackers	cereals containing gluten	vegan
Peanut butter	peanuts	vegan, gluten free
Dried fruit and nuts	tree nuts	vegan, gluten free
Granola bars	varies by recipe	vegetarian
Canned fruit	none of the main allergens in its main ingredient	vegan, gluten free

Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.

Canada names 11 priority allergens: eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, sesame, soy, sulphites, tree nuts, and wheat and triticale.³
Packaged foods must declare priority allergens and gluten sources by plain source names in the ingredient list, a 'Contains' statement, or both.⁴
Companies may add a 'May contain' warning for possible cross-contamination; it is not a substitute for good manufacturing practices.⁴

Young children

Questions

How much water should a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment store?

18 L for 3 days or 42 L for a week, for 2 adults, at 3 litres per person per day.

What extra does a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment need?

Backup plan for powered equipment: A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity. Essential medication: A supply of any medication your household relies on. Plan for medication that needs a fridge: Know how you'd keep it cool during a power outage.

Sources

We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.