Common Emergency Preparedness Mistakes People Make in the UK
Whilst prepping is very common in America, many people in the UK prepare in ways that are unnecessary or impractical. With much of the readily available information and advice being from the USA, this can be confusing when you are a beginner.
Some common mistakes made are…
1. Buying food you never eat
People often buy expensive pre-packed survival rations or unfamiliar canned food.
Better approach:
- store normal foods you already eat
- rotate them through your regular meals
2. Forgetting lighting
Power cuts are the most common UK emergency.
People often rely only on phone torches. This drains your phone battery very quickly and then you will be without means of communication.
Better solution:
- keep 2–3 LED torches and spare batteries
- add a headlamp so you can use both hands
3. No manual tin opener
Many people store tinned food but forget a tin opener.
During power outages electric can openers won’t work and many cans, especially supermarket own brands do not have the in-built ring pull.
4. No backup heating plan
In winter power cuts, homes can get cold quickly.
Simple options (which you more than likely already have at home):
- extra blankets
- thermal clothing
- sleeping bags
- hot water bottles
You do not need extreme solutions.
5. No emergency cash
Card systems sometimes fail during:
- cyber incidents
- power outages
- telecom disruptions
Around a year ago I went to the supermarket to do my usual weekly shop. Whilst shopping there was a problem with card payment processing and the store could not take any card payments. Customers were abandoning their trollies full of food, calling their families to see if they could bring in some cash and running to the local ATMs (which were also down!). I went straight to the front of the queue with cash!
Keeping £50–£200 in small notes is usually enough for short term disruptions.
6. No way to get information
Internet and mobile service may fail.
A battery or wind-up radio lets you receive government broadcasts and weather updates.
A multi function wind-up radio/charger/alarm/flashlight is the perfect item to purchase if funds allow. (I got mine from TikTok shop for around £15 click here to see my TikTok profile and then click on showcase to see the exact one I purchased) You’ll then have a radio to receive updates, a flash light AND a phone charger that do not need a constant supply of batteries! Just wind the handle and go!
