Dollarama has several items Canadians need for an emergency kit
Whether it’s a power outage, severe weather, or a different unexpected situation, Dollarama has several items that can help Canadians prepare for emergencies.
The Government of Canada has published guidelines on what to include in an emergency kit, reminding Canadians that emergencies can happen at any time.
“Be ready. With a little preparation, you can respond quickly to help yourself and others,” reads the statement.
The first step is to understand potential risks in your area and create an emergency plan accordingly. Your local, provincial, or territorial government emergency management organizations can provide more detailed information to ensure you’re better prepared for emergencies that could happen in your region.
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Next, make sure to build an emergency kit for your family and pets. Canadians are advised to keep basic supplies in case they need to get by without power or tap water, and to ensure they have enough supplies for at least 72 hours should they need to evacuate or shelter in place.
Emergency kit must-haves include food, water, medication, and flashlights, ideally packed separately in each person’s own backpack that’s easy to grab in a rush.
However, building an emergency kit doesn’t have to cost much.
We headed to Dollarama to see what affordable items we could find to help put together a basic kit, based on the government’s basic emergency kit checklist. As with any Dollarama run, selection and availability can vary by location, but here’s what we found.
File organizer
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Make sure you have both digital and physical copies of important documents in case of emergencies. Documents can include identification for each person, birth and marriage certificates, passports, citizenship papers, information on medication and dosage, emergency contact information, insurance details, and banking records.
Flashlight and batteries
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According to the government, emergency kits should include wind-up or battery-powered flashlights. Dollarama carries a couple of options for flashlights, as well as extra batteries.
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Pet supplies
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Make sure you also have emergency supplies ready for your pets, such as water, food, and medication. Dollarama stocks several brands of pet food.
Non-perishable food
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A basic emergency kit should have enough food for at least three days, and you can stock up on canned or non-perishable food at Dollarama. But make sure to check expiry dates every year, and don’t forget the can opener.
Basic tools
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In case of specific hazards or emergencies that could last for a longer period of time, the government advises including additional supplies such as tools, masks, hand sanitizers, garbage bags, whistles, candles and waterproof matches or lighters, pen and paper, as well as duct tape, scissors, and plastic sheeting. We found several of these at Dollarama, which could help ensure you’re better prepared.
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First aid kit
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You could either buy a full first aid kit or build your own. A first aid kit should include adhesive bandages, tape, gauze, antiseptic wound cleanser, and disposable gloves — most of which can be found at Dollarama.
While the store is a great place to pick up emergency kit essentials on a budget, some shoppers say certain items simply aren’t worth the money.