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Emergency Kit
Introduction
Even if you find it hard to accept that there might be a social or economic collapse in our future, it makes sense to prepare your family for any kind of emergency, be it a flood, earthquake, wildfire. The government, red cross and many other organizations are actively encouraging that we all create emergency survival kits. You should aim toward the following:
- 1-3 months emergency kit in the house. Locate it in a place easy to access in a disaster. Avoid upstairs or in the garage.
- 1-3 days emergency kit stored in each vehicle, and perhaps one easy to grab on the way out the door. These are also known as "Go-bags" or "Bugout Bags" or "Get out of Dodge bags".
- If you want to be fully prepared, have another go-bag at places of employment.
Emergency Kit Contents
| Item | Details |
| Water | 1 gallon/person/day, rotate every 6 months, smaller containers are easier to carry |
| Food | 3 days for go-bag and 2-weeks for home. Ready to eat or minimal hydration, e.g. cans, tuna, raisins, peanut butter,granola bars, energy bars, canned milk. For children include comfort food |
| Manual Can Opener | |
| First Aid Kit | Disposable gloves, sterile dressing. Cleansing agent/soap, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, adhesive bandages, eye wash, scissors, diarrhea medication, pain relievers, antacids, tweezers, adhesive tape, gauze rolls, gauze dressings, antihistamines, Rubbing alcohol, scalpel, Qtips for sterile applicators, first aid manual, thermometer (manual), safety pins, syrup of ipecac (to induce vomiting), iodine pads |
| Advanced First Aid Kit | Snakebite kit, splints, tourniquet, burn gel, echinacea, anti fungal cream, tea tree oil (natural anti fungal and antibiotic), silver nitrate (to cauterize bleeding), suture kit, epinephrine (if available) |
| Personal Medications | At least 1 month supply, if possible |
| Flashlight | Preferably windup, or carry spare batteries, LED flashlight uses less power, also LED headband lights |
| Radio | Covers emergency and civic broadcast bands. Preferably windup, or carry spare batteries |
| Batteries | Several of each type for misc equipment |
| Cash | At least $100 in small denominations |
| Important Documents | SSN card, credit cards, driver's license, medical cards, passport, other important documents and phone numbers |
| Water Purification | Unscented liquid household bleach, camping/hiking water purifier (like Katadyn or MSR), purification chemicals |
| Personal Hygiene | Toilet paper, soap, feminine supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shampoo |
| Protective Gear | Lightweight rain gear, poncho, leather or gardening gloves, sturdy shoes, dust masks |
| Local Map | Indicating evacuation routes, emergency shelters, family/friends meeting points |
| Personal Items | Prescription glasses, hearing aid, etc. |
| Sun Protection | Sunblock, sun hat, several pairs of sunglasses |
| Plastic Sheeting | Plastic sheeting, tarp, duct tape, can be used to collect rainwater or for shelter |
| Sleeping bag | Sleeping bag (not down, it is useless when wet) or blankets (wool, avoid cotton it doesn't dry out fast enough), space blankets, towels |
| Extra Keys | to house and car |
| Plastic Bags | Large trash bags for waste and sanitation, lots of different size ziplock bags for storing waterproof items |
| Children | Diapers, bottles, toys and activities |
| Mobility Items | Manual wheelchair, cane, etc. |
| Pets | Drinking water, food, bowls, cat litter, leashes, pet carriers, toys, vet records |
| Signaling | Whistle, signal mirror |
| Tools | Swiss army knife with lots of tools, utility knife, wrench for turning off water and gas, crowbar for breaking in or breaking wreckage |
| Paper and Pens | Paper, pens, sharpies, etc for leaving messages |
| Cooking Stove | Portable camping stove with several canisters of fuel, preferably the MSR multi fuel stove |
| Cooking Utensils | A couple of metal pots for the stove (for boiling water and food), plastic bowls and cutlery to eat with. Consider bowls with snap-on lids to store leftovers, camping “mess kit” is very compact |
| Fire Starting | Matches (kept dry), disposable liquid lighters, ferrocerium rod (magnesium starter), chemical rods |
| Lighting | Chemical light-sticks, candles |
| Books | Survival guides, professional literature about survival and emergency preparedness. I recommend: “When Technology Fails” by Matthew Stein |
| Seeds | Packets of dry seed stock for fruits and vegetables, non-genetic, i.e. organic |
| Firearm | and ammunition (kept dry) |
| Fishing and Hunting | Fishing line and hooks, lures, etc, snare wire |
| Compass | Dial should glow in the dark, or GPS device, with spare batteries |
| Needle and Thread | For repairing clothes |
| Rope or Cord | Thin nylon rope, nylon string, or parachute cord |
| Clothing | wool and polyester, not cotton, since they wick moisture and remain warm when wet |
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