Are You Prepared To Make Your Child Drink Water?
If your kids are like mine, the last thing they want after whining “I’m thirsty” is water. Now imagine this same scenario during a crisis where the family is isolated for several days during a natural disaster without a drill instructor on hand for “motivation.” Trying to get children to consume more water is a challenging task under normal conditions. Younger children immune to the “real world” probably would find it fun to have the family camped out at home for a few days, not recognizing the seriousness of a particular situation. Having clean water on hand in the form of their favorite drinks may be the difference between an irritable child and a content trooper during a bad situation.
Maybe you’re like most of us in that getting prepared for some unthinkable disaster is not on your priority list. Evacuation plans, money, food etc. are popular thoughts, but what about your water supply contingency, especially for your children? The government recommends one gallon of water per person for three days. For kids, a liter or two daily is recommended depending on their age and activity. So if you have two children (under 8) and want a reasonable, safe plan, keep about 5 gallons of unopened water stored away for your family.
In addition to storing water, having the means to produce clean water is easy with portable filtration systems. You can buy a lightweight, easy to use filtration system that could be a lifesaver. The process of converting non-potable water to drinkable water is simple and would actually be fun for kids. Camping enthusiasts use this equipment all the time. I bet that after a quick demonstration, your child probably would want to generate clean water just for entertainment — mine do!
Once the clean water is available, adding a few powdered drink mixers is easy. Drink mixers not only add enjoyable flavors, they add vitamins, nutrition, and even electrolytes. Packets of mixers are inexpensive and, most importantly, last for decades — stock up! Imagine the process for a kid in a scary situation where they have the fun duty of making clean water that tastes great and provides sustenance for the whole family. This would occupy their downtime while keeping them healthy.
If you’re doing things right during a disaster, putting your kid’s mind at ease is going to be important. So having clean, sustainable, and desirable drinks on hand is one less problem you will have to contend with. It will not only keep your child hydrated and healthy, they’ll stay happy because mommy thought to bring their favorite drink while tucked away in the basement for a week.
