You'll find the printable version below, as you scroll down, but you can read what supplies you'll need to keep for your home kit right here. How To Use This Supplies ListThe list is meant to be a guide for you, a checklist of sorts, to help you remember what you may need and to make sure it is on hand at all times.I suggest printing out a copy of the list for yourself and placing it in your first aid kit that you create, or purchase, so you can make sure you keep all the necessary supplies in stock as they're used, or as they expire and need to be replaced with fresher versions.It is best to, to make sure you have a chance to replace older supplies before the emergency itself occurs. To get the full scoop on organizing medicines in your home check out the, which is part of the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home Challenge. The first aid kit you keep handy in your home is meant to deal with minor first aid issues, and should be separate from the kit you keep with your emergency supplies.That's because you should have some easily accessible first aid supplies in your home that aren't necessarily mixed in with your disaster supplies.You do need a first aid kit within your though, and the list below can give you good guidance for what should be as well.Further, the list below is merely a guide. Each family's needs are unique, so you may need to add or subtract items as circumstances change in your home, including as your children age (or new children are born).
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Occasionally, Mother Nature likes to remind us who’s really in charge. Where once I was in the “it won’t happen to me” crowd, I now find myself deep in emergency preparedness research and preparation, and I’ve found that packing a 72-hour kit ranks atop most emergency preparedness plans.But how do you pack effectively and what exactly should you be packing? In this 72-hour kit checklist, we explore questions you should consider prior to packing and break down your pack into things you need, things you’ll want, and what’s nice to have in an emergency situation. You can also take a look at pre-made 72-hour kits you can buy and then consider what you want to add to them. What to ask yourself before you pack your 72-hour survival kitConsider your family’s situation.
Pack backup eyeglasses, as well as a first-aid kit, baby wipes and a multipurpose tool with a knife and can opener. Clothing Pack a few days’ worth. Include layers you can add or remove, plus lightweight rain gear and waterproof boots. Collecting the contents for a survival medical kit is actually the second step in building your own first aid kit. You need a bag or pack to put all the supplies in. Whether you use a bag, a box, a basket, or an entire emergency vehicle, you must store your medical kit properly, and as orderly as possible.
How many people are in your family? Does anyone in your family need special consideration? Do you have an infant? All of these things will determine what you want to pack in your 72-hour survival kit. Keep in mind that your pack should be as minimal as possible—the more you pack, the heavier your 72-hour kit will be. What you absolutely need in your 72-hour kitEvery 72-hour kit should be catered to the owner’s individual needs.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to putting a pack together; however, the base needs are the same. These items are things that you cannot go without in your 72-hour kit. Water. Non-perishable food. Fixed-blade knife. Flashlight. Waterproof lighter or matches.
Sleeping bag or blankets. First aid kit. Medication. Cash.
Change of clothesDownload our PDF for a printable checklist.Water and non-perishable foodWater—Water should be #1 on the list for every 72-hour kit; it is the most basic and most important thing you need to survive. However, storing enough water for you and your family quickly becomes a problem. The is one gallon per day per person. One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, so if you’re like me and packing for a family of three, 72 hours worth of water becomes 75 pounds of water—not exactly realistic to carry.Instead, we recommend packing three one-liter bottles of drinking water per person (6.6 pounds per person) and getting a to add to your backpack. LifeStraw removes 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and protozoa from any water source and can filter up to 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of contaminated water per filter. We should clarify that this reduced water recommendation is strictly for limiting the weight of your 72-hour kit if you need to evacuate. In many emergency situations, you will not have to evacuate your home and may simply be without power or running water.
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We recommend storing the maximum amount of drinking water—at least one gallon per person for three days—in your home food storage. Only for emergencies where you need to evacuate do we recommend reducing water weight.Non-perishable food—Don’t just get non-perishable food; look for “non-cook” items for your survival pack, as well. You don’t want to have to rely on a stove, fire, or any other cooking mechanism in an emergency situation. If you don’t have to cook, you don’t need cooking supplies, which means you can save space—and more importantly, weight—in your pack.You need enough food for three meals per day per person for three days. Remember, these meals are meant to help you survive, but you should pack items that you know you and your family will actually eat, especially if you’re packing for a small child. We suggests packing any of the following non-perishable, non-cook food items:. Crackers/cereal.
Trail mix/dried fruit. Granola bars. Canned beans, meat, tuna, Chef Boyardee—Avoid “pop-top” cans. These can leak or explode in your pack.To see pack-friendly items like those above, go Gear and equipmentBackpack—One of the more common mistakes for 72-hour kits starts with the backpack. Choose a backpack that has multiple compartments in which you can divide your survival gear. Sifting through an unorganized pack, where everything is jumbled into the same large compartment can be frustrating and time consuming. By subdividing your stuff into different pockets you can access what you need quickly.
Amazon has a variety ofto choose from.Can opener—Since you’re packing canned food (no “pop-tops”), you’ll need a way to get into the cans. This might be part of a Leatherman tool, like, or a separate can opener, it’s up to you.Knife—Many people will pack a Leatherman tool and call it good, but we suggest having multiple cutting tools in case one is misplaced or doesn’t work for the job. Having a knife with a large, fixed, non-foldable blade, may come in handy if you find yourself needing to cut through large items or cut for a long time. Check Amazon prices on the.Flashlight—Make sure to pack a durable, lightweight flashlight.
Check Amazon prices on the.Emergency two-way radio—Keeping yourself informed and having the ability to communicate during an emergency is invaluable. Amazon has countless options on affordable two-way radios like this with a 36-mile range. We really like this model because it also works as a NOAA weather radio and automatically scans for weather alerts.BiC Lighter—We don’t recommend lighting fires in the aftermath of a disaster because you never know if a gas line has been damaged and may be leaking. However, every disaster situation is different and you may find yourself in need of a fire.
Add a few to your pack, in case you need to build a fire. We recommend a BiC lighter over waterproof matches for a, mostly because they can start thousands of fire, don’t add much weight to your pack, and can still be used to create a spark long after the fuel runs out. Matches are virtually weightless, so you can still throw them in as a backup if you prefer.Extra batteries—All of your emergency electronics need power, and 72 hours is a long time to go between charges. Make sure to have an ample supply of backup batteries for your flashlights, radios, and any other emergency electronics you decide to pack.
You might even consider ordering a from Amazon for your phone.Gloves—You’ll need to do most everything by hand in an emergency situation so you want to make sure you have good protective gloves to keep from getting splinters or blisters. Gloves can also be used to sheathe a pair of scissors or other sharp utensils you may have in your pack.Tent—It’s important to know that a two-man tent probably won’t fit two people and their packs, especially if you want to be comfortable. You’ll probably only need one tent for the entire family, but you need to plan for its size accordingly. If you have four people in your family, we suggest going with a 6–8 person tent so you’ll have room for everyone and their packs.
Also, make sure to store your packs inside the tent at all times. You don’t want bugs or other animals getting into them.Poncho—Like many other items in your survival kit, ponchos are a versatile survival item that can be used for. We suggest finding a quality poncho made from rip-resistant nylon, rather than going for a cheap plastic version. Something like is a relatively cheap option on Amazon.Blankets—Blankets have and you’ll definitely want to have one in your 72-hour kit. We really like these on Amazon.
Personal suppliesFirst aid suppliesMedications—Make sure to cover the basics to deal with pain, in case you or someone in your family is injured during the emergency. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, children’s medication, any other personal medication prescribed (enough for three days).Toiletries—Toilet paper, toothbrush/toothpaste (travel size), feminine hygiene products, contact solution (travel size), etc.Dust mask—The likelihood of dust and debris is high in any emergency situation. Make sure to have some dust masks in your pack to protect your lungs. You can get a on Amazon for super cheap.Change of clothes—Because we can never know when a disaster will hit, be sure to pack a change of clothes for each season. A pair of shorts doesn’t do you any good in the dead of winter; likewise, a heavy sweater will make you overheat in summer months.Underwear—This is a given; plus, your mom will be proud you remembered a clean pair.Cash—Depending on the disaster, your credit cards may not work. Keep enough cash on you to survive for a week.
Other valuables to have:. Credit card. Prepaid phone cardInfant needs—If you have an infant you’ll need to pack all the necessary items like diapers, wipes, formula, medications specific to the infant, etc. What you’ll probably want in your 72-hour kitThis is where you start to differentiate each survival pack based on who it’s for. Most of these items may seem like “cannot go without” items but depending on your pack, these are things you could theoretically live without—but probably don’t want to—for 72 hours.Dishes/utensils—Cup, plate, knife, fork, spoon set.
Check Amazon prices for something like that works great for a pack. Some people prefer to go minimalist on utensil sets, but with a lightweight set we prefer to not go without.Rope—Most sites suggest carrying 50 feet of rope but we’ve found that a actually has the same load capacity and can be stored much easier. Amazon lets you choose the length up to 20 feet.Duct tape—Duct tape seems to be the fix-all solution, and it really is valuable in all sorts of situations.
Check out some useful.Whistle—An emergency whistle will allow you to signal for help, alerting relief parties to your whereabouts.Hatchet—Hatchets provide multiple uses beyond chopping wood. Here are for your hatchet. This is a great utility tool for your 72-hour kit.Sleeping bag—Sleeping bags present an interesting size and weight problem and for that they’ve landed on our “probably want” list.
You can make do without one by wrapping yourself in multiple thermal blankets, or Amazon sells an awesome that weighs less than 4 ounces. It’s not as comfortable as a big fluffy sleeping bag but it’s light and will keep you warm at night.Sheets—Cloth and plastic sheets can come in handy for ground-cloths, tablecloths, bandaging, food covers, etc.Shovel—A shovel is another multipurpose tool that comes in handy in a pinch. A military folding shovel, like from Amazon, lets you dig, saw, chop, cut, pick, pry, hammer, and even open bottles. And it even folds so you can carry it easily.Bug repellant—Insects are ever-present in the aftermath of disasters. Pack some bug spray to protect yourself from irritating bites, painful stings, and bug-carried diseases.Disposable camera—A disposable camera will allow you to document the damage done to your home so you can later report it to the insurance company.
Don’t rely on your phone camera for this valuable documentation since it may lose battery or be damaged in the event. What’s nice to have but not necessary in your 72-hour survival kitCopies of legal documents— Birth/marriage certificate, wills, passports, identification. Copy of vaccination papers. Copy of insurance policiesPlaying cards—Because in all likelihood, you’ll do a lot of sitting and waiting.Gum—Chewing sugarless gum after a meal can. Watch out for mint-flavored gum.
The mint can seep into other items in your pack and flavor them. Nobody wants minty granola bars.Pen & paper—An emergency isn’t something we are used to dealing with and some emergencies might have strange or complicated information that you will want to write down and remember.
Information like addresses, milepost number, emergency contacts, etc.Powdered gatorade—This is a great way to rehydrate and add some flavor to your drinking water, especially if you are purifying your water with a LifeStraw. Just because your 72-hour kit is packed, doesn’t mean you’re preparedBeing prepared means you need to test your survival kit. Testing your 72-hour kit is one of the most important parts of emergency preparation. There are countless blogs with opinions on what to pack in your kit, but few mention testing them. Testing your kit periodically—once every 6–12 months—will ensure you’re familiar with your gear and let you solve any issues before they become real problems.What if you forgot to add a change of clothes? Or you find out that the recommended pocket-knife actually sucks?
Testing your kit gives you an opportunity to find what you’ve missed and make tweaks that will improve its usefulness. If you packed for an infant but now have a toddler, your needs are going to change. Also, take this chance to check battery life, switch out expired food items, and update your 72-hour kit, as needed. Other things to considerImmunizations up to date—Make sure you keep your immunizations up to date annually. Disasters cause all sorts of injuries and health concerns, and you want to keep yourself protected from any illnesses you might encounter.Young children—We mentioned infants earlier, but toddlers and young children can create unique challenges. Consider your children’s ages and personal needs and plan accordingly.Do you know how to use all of your equipment?—This will fall in line with your semi-annual kit testing, but make sure you understand and can use every item in your pack as it’s intended and more.Pets—Pets are like children and you need to plan for their specific needs as well.Organization—A neat, organized pack goes a long way to relieve stress in an emergency.
Being able to find what you need as quickly as possible is a must. It’s time to prepareNow, imagine you’re back in your house. You crawl out from under your dining room table, shaken and surrounded by what’s left of your now shattered chandelier. Emergency notifications are blowing up your phone and in the distance sirens signal that rescue and recovery efforts are underway.
But as you look over the jagged, chalky sheetrock that was once your living room wall, you realize you’ve got a long road ahead. You grab your 72-hour kit and begin searching for a safe place to wait it out until help arrives.What’s happened in Japan and Ecuador is both sad and eye-opening, and though my heart goes out to the people of Kumamoto and Muisne, I’m grateful for the opportunity to disembark the “It won’t happen to me” boat, and prepare for a possible emergency scenario closer to home.Click the button below for a printable checklist.