Nine must-have gadgets UK households urged to stockpile in Iran conflict – full listing
Government emergency preparedness guidance highlights essential items to stockpile as Middle East tensions escalate following Donald Trump’s threat to unleash ‘Death, Fire and Fury’ on Iran
This is what you need if war comes to the UK(Image: Getty)
The West is bracing itself for the fallout of Donald Trump’s threat to unleash “Death, Fire and Fury” on Iran, leaving the UK to contemplate what this conflict means.
Following Trump’s suggestion that the US’ relationship with the UK has soured, a Downing Street spokeswoman stated on Sunday: “The Prime Minister spoke with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.
“The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region.”
The global price per barrel rocketed above $100 on Monday before dropping to around $90 a barrel after Trump’s assertion that “the war is very complete, pretty much”. With the cost of living being a significant worry for UK households, the government also provides advice on what to stockpile in case of an emergency, reports the Mirror.
It suggested considering what you might need during an emergency lasting several days, such as a power outage or water shortage, or situations where you are instructed to stay at home or evacuate your property. It’s recommended to keep these items in a single, easily accessible location in case the lights aren’t working.
These items could be conveniently stored in one place in your home, ideally somewhere easy to find if the lights go out. All such items could be kept in a “grab bag.”
Ensure you have enough of any necessary medication to last for several days. In your vehicle, you might want to pack items that will help you cope with winter conditions.
These could include a torch, an in-car phone charger, warm clothing and blankets, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink, a first aid kit, and a shovel.
Here’s everything else you might need:
- A battery or wind-up torch – torches are safer than candles. A portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
- A battery or wind-up radio to receive updates during a power outage – a car radio can be utilised, however, in severe weather it might be safer to stay indoors.
- Spare batteries for torches and radios and a backup battery for any medical equipment you depend on.
- A first aid kit (or some first aid supplies) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water supply is disrupted.
- Bottled water – there is no standard quantity for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people consume different amounts. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be required for preparing baby formula, for medical devices, and for pets.
- Non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking, like ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, the quantity you need will depend on your personal circumstances.
- Don’t overlook food for pets.
- Baby essentials such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ready-to-feed formula is ideal as you may not have the ability to boil water or sterilise bottles.
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