Every family should have a survival kit in case of disaster or emergency. We don’t like to think about such events, but it is important to be prepared should the unthinkable occur. Putting together a home survival kit is not difficult to do, and you can purchase ready-made survival kits as well.
If you’d like to put your own survival kit together, here is a list of basic necessities that should be included:
First Aid
- Gauze, bandages, elastic bandages
- Medical tape
- Scissors
- Topical disinfectant (like peroxide)
- Antibiotic cream
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Antihistamine
- Ibuprofen or other pain reliever
- Topical pain reliever
- Prescribed medications
- Wound closure strips
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Tourniquet
*Purchase these items in packets instead of tubes where possible.
Water
- Single serving bottle of drinking water (one for each family member-save the bottles)
- Collapsible container for collecting and filtering water
- Water filtration tablets or filters
Foods
- Baby Formula
- Non-perishable packets like hot cocoa, instant soup mix
- Sports drink mix (to restore electrolytes)
- Energy bars, granola bars, trail mix
- Hard Candies (to keep blood sugar from dropping)
- Tea or coffee packets (caffeine for instant energy)
Personal Care Items
- Contacts (with solution) or extra glasses
- Antibacterial Soap
- Antibacterial waterless hand wash
- Antibacterial wipes
- Toilet paper (in airtight bag)
- Paper towels (remove roll, flatten, place in airtight bag)
- Feminine products
- Diapers
Protection from Exposure
- Sunglasses
- Weatherproof matches
- Compact tent
- Rain poncho (one for each family member)
- Emergency Blanket(s)
Tools (in case you get trapped by debris)
- Cut resistant gloves
- Small crowbar
- Small hand saw
- Knife
- Flashlights
- Radio
- Extra batteries
A great way to keep all your items together and make your survival kit manageable is to place all flexible items into a Space Bag, and remove the air with your vacuum hose to make it compact. This bag can then be placed into a container that holds tools and other items to keep everything within reach should you need the survival kit. Space Bags will not only keep you kit compact, they will also protect your emergency items from debris, moisture, and insects.
*See my article on storage bags for more information.