A year ago, on April 28, 2025, Portugal and Spain went dark. An energy blackout that would plunge the country into darkness for hours would highlight the “vulnerability of infrastructure” and the “immediate impact that this type of situation” can have on the population. 365 days later, there are still people who do not have any type of emergency kit. DECO Proteste therefore presents the essential products and appropriate preventive behaviors to take if the lights go out again.
What should or should not be done or done in case of It is a concern that we must have long before we are left in the dark.
For the one of the main recommendations is the emergency kit with essential goods – from water, medicines, non-perishable food, radio, batteries and chargers – which allows families to have autonomy for at least three days.
What should the survival kit include?
Before we think about what we should or shouldn’t have in our survival kit, we need to know where we are going to store our supplies, so the first step is choose a backpack.
The selection criterion is simple: the material must be resistant to store food and drink for at least three days.
As for food, you should choose foods that do not require cooking and that preferably not saltyin order to reduce the need to drink water, which should be saved on these occasions.
What should the backpack have?
- Water Bottles
- Energy gels (those used in sporting activities), biscuits and chocolates;
- canned food (tuna, sausages, legumes, baby porridge for the youngest, etc.) and pet food;
- Gas stove for camping;
- Whistle, if necessary to signal where you are;
- Heating blanket;
- Multifunction pocket knife and lighter;
- A few meters of rope (give preference to paracord material, which is light, resistant and helps to immobilize fractures or secure objects);
- Battery operated radio. In case of emergency, authorities communicate with populations through this means;
- Power bank with charging electronic devices;
- Small battery-powered flashlight;
- Replacement batteries;
- Watch that does not need to be charged from the mains. Most likely there will be no electricity in the event of a natural disaster;
- Water purification tablets, available in outdoor sports stores or online;
- Money, in notes and coins;
- Copy of the entire family’s citizenship card;
Next, as with all emergencies, it is necessary to include a first aid kit e some security objects.
What should a first aid kit contain?
- Compresses, bandages, disposable gloves, dressings, adhesives, scissors, tweezers, needles and safety pins; these objects help to make bandages;
- An antiseptic (such as povidone-iodine, present in Betadine), to disinfect wounds, and saline solution for the eyes;
- Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol;
- Antidiarrheal;
- Thermometer and tissue paper;
- Extra packaging for regularly taken medications (for example, for high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.);
- Surgical masks (three or four units per family member).
And who has pets?
For those who have companion animals there are still a series of contingents to be taken into account, which require a specific emergency kit.
- Food and water for a few days. Feed must be stored in airtight or waterproof packaging;
- One or two bowls;
- Collar with identification (animal’s name, owner’s contact and registered electronic chip);
- Leash or harness;
- The transport box (appropriate or size of the animal) and the cat litter box must also remain in an accessible place in the house, so that you can get them quickly;
- Copy of the animal’s documents (vaccine report, microchip number and registration in the Companion Animal Information System (SIAC), and emergency contacts (for example, the veterinarian);
- Medications that the animal takes;
- Blanket or familiar object, to help reduce stress;
- Sanitary bags, a pad or newspaper, and wet wipes.
And after the kit is prepared, what do I still need?
In case of emergency, the best tool is advance preparation. Therefore, after the kit it is important to define a family emergency plan.
The family emergency plan is nothing more than everyone knowing what to do in case family members are separated during the blackout.
What should I plan as a family?
- Set a meeting point outside your home;
- Choosing a common emergency contact, such as a family member outside your home area
- Ensure that all family members know where the emergency kit is and, Above all, they know how to use it.
And during the blackout, what should I do?
The first step is to keep informed through viable sources. Hence the battery-powered radio, so that whenever possible you can follow official communications.
It is worth remembering that incomplete or incorrect information can be spread on social networks or messaging applications, and that having access to valid information allows you to make safer decisions.
At home, the priority is reduce risks for when power returnsthat is, turn off non-essential appliances to avoid electrical overloads and keep the refrigerator and freezer closed, so that the temperature inside is maintained for as long as possible.
A food level, a prudence is the best advice. Taking into account the time without refrigeration, you need to be calm and analyze changes in smell, color or texture before consuming something.
It is important to highlight that, after 12 hours without power you should opt for non-perishable foodsas you preserve.
As for the cell phone must manage the battery carefully. Connecting mobile data only when necessary ensures that there is at least one communication channel available. In relation to power bankmust be managed as resource to keep devices operational.
What about travel?
According to DECO Proteste, the Travel should be limited to essentials only.
If you have electric carthe most prudent thing is to opt for alternatives, leaving him standing.
While you are in estradatake extra care, taking into account that the traffic lights may be off.
The truth is that despite all the preparation that can be done in advance, situations like or natural catastrophes can occur when least expected, but the anticipation allows you to reduce impacts.
Therefore, the emergency kit is an essential step towards guarantee security, autonomy and tranquility in times of crisis.
Because, more than avoiding a blackout, what is within everyone’s reach is know how to react to it. Preparation, information and calm make the difference between chaos and responsiveness and ensure that, when the light returns, the impacts are as minimal as possible.
