72-hour Kits

“I've got a little list — I've got a little list”
– lyric from Gilbert & Sullivan’s, The Mikado

A friend and regular reader asked me recently about lists for making 72-hour kits. There are many sites online with check off lists and I’ve listed some of the best in my blog posting Survival Kits. The Red Cross has recommendations; see Red Cross - Get A Kit. However I’m not comfortable with the idea a master list – everyone’s situation is different (e.g. see Eyeglass Repair) and there are many purposes to which a kit may be applied.

Do you want a kit for every day home emergencies? (First Aid) A car kit for emergencies when traveling? (Stocking your car for Winter) A home kit to wait out a flood, tornado, etc until emergency personnel arrive? (Waiting for the Cavalry, Waiting to Be Rescued). A kit to grab when fleeing the house with little or no notice and heading to a shelter, hotel or friends house? (Fire at Night) Or a kit for surviving on your own in the wilderness? (Principals behind a good Survival Kit and You call that a knife?).

My favorite book for making a survival emergency kit is "Build the Perfect Survival Kit" by John D. McCann. He starts with the basics – what do I need to survive and how much space do I have to pack? With answers to those questions he can recommend items to include (Multipurpose Supplies). He describes kits ranging from wallet/purse sized (What’s Important in Your Wallet?) to a big box in the back of your pickup truck or boat.

It is also important to ask, “What emergency am I preparing for?” Beyond the basic first aid supplies, each emergency type requires different tools. See Right tool for the Right Job for more details.

A well-packed "bug out" kit goes beyond clothes, first aid and food (Meals Ready to Eat and other Options). Don’t forget emergency cash & papers (What's in Your Go Kit). When packing family kits do you make them the same or unique? (All your eggs in one basket)

Bottom Line

So what do I recommend?

1. Start with a complete survival kit for every car. This is where you’re most likely to be stranded without help or supplies due to a flat tire, dead engine or stuck in snow. You need food, water, warmth, rain gear, trash bags, and books/games. Stored water will freeze and may break open in cold winter areas so don’t pack “full” bottles. Also if you are forced to flee your home, odds are you’ll take the car. So the car kit can serve as your “flee the house” kit also.
2. Next are Home supplies. Build a well-stocked medicine cabinet for first aid. Establish an emergency cupboard with flashlights, facemasks, work gloves, tool kit, and other misc. supplies to deal with power outages, frozen pipes and other home emergencies. Build a three-month food & water storage so your family can shelter in place. (72 hours is too short. One week is the minimal recommended.)
3. Then maintain your kits. See Protecting your Go-Kit Contents and Don't forget to follow-up