Emergency Kit

Emergency Kit (144 Hour Kit – upgrade from 72 Hour Kit)

Posted on August 12, 2008. Filed under: Emergency Kit, Emergency Preparedness |

I do not know who to give credit to for this, so I apologize, but since I am offering the info for free and admitted I didn’t do it – I hope that is enough

Emergency 6-Day Survival Kit

The purpose of a survival kit is to enable your family to have the essential needs while staying in an emergency shelter or while you are away from your home. There are no assurances that there will be food, drinking water, first aid supplies, clothing, or other items available following a disaster. You must assume there will be no water, electricity, heating, air, sanitation, or telephone facilities (cell phones may also be down if towers are effected).

Your kit should enable your family to survive as comfortable as possible for at least 6 days. Your entire kit should be able to be carried by hand by one or at most two family members. The important point is portability, not inclusion of all items to meet every possible need.

Remember to tailor you kit to your family needs. There is no universal list of mandatory, recommended, or discouraged items. If you family cannot live without something for 6 days, put it in the kit. Once you have the basic essentials, you can keep adding the comfort items until you run out of room.

Keep your kit in a suitcase or other container that any member of our family can pick up and carry. Be sure to keep the kit handy to the door or even in your car trunk. You may need to pick it up and run on a moment’s notice.

The following are suggestions of how to prepare a 6 Day kit in eight weeks. The plan is broken down in a weekly format to assure affordability. Please note that food items should be easy to open without the aid of can openers (cans make kits heavier) and can be used without the aid of electricity. They now manufacture meats in plastic pouches (Tuna, Tyson chicken) and cans with pull tops (Vienna sausage). These are items even small children can open.

Remember, the purchases of these items weekly are only suggestions. If Week Two purchases work better for you during Week Four, then modify the plan accordingly. The only item required in Week One is something to put your kit in. You may start out with your kit in a garbage bag and in Week Three purchase a backpack/suitcase. The important thing is to START your 6-Day Kits NOW. Also, check around your home for alternative containers. Old school backpacks work great for the children. Or check garage sales and thrift stores for rolling luggage.

Week One

* Container – suitcase, backpack or bucket with lid

* Add 6 Food Items (breakfast bars, peanut butter, melba toast)

* Small Ziploc bag with 4 quarters – for use in vending machine

* $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s small Ziploc bag – make sure you have small bills

Week Two

* Change of clothing – suggested surgical scrubs, or elastic waist jogging suit, change of underwear, diapers and feminine needs. (Just a little side note – surgical scrubs have a drawstring waist and are great for adults whose weight could change or sisters that are in their childbearing years.)

* Sewing kit can be purchased or make your own by placing thread, needles, small scissors, and buttons in a Ziploc bag – Mom and Dad’s pack

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag.

Week Three

* Add 6 Food Items (granola bars, protein bars, tuna, small cup of fruit)

* Bar of soap, wash cloth, hand towel in a gallon plastic bag

* 3 gallons of water (note: Emergency Essentials sells 8 oz packets of water that is easier and lighter to carry. They sell them in a case of 64 and the cost is less than $20)

* Flashlight with batteries in a Ziploc bag (might consider solar, wind up or pump up flashlights)

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag.

Week Four

* Blanket or sleeping bag

* Add 6 food items (power bars, raisins, chocolate bars, Vienna sausage)

* Toilet paper, wet ones and hand sanitizer

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag

Week Five

* Radio – solar, wind up or battery operated. If battery operated, be sure batteries are stored in Ziploc bag. This is in Mom and Dad’s packs only

* Pocketknife, swiss army knife or leatherman. This is another item to be packed in Mom and Dad’s pack only for safety reasons.

* Matches in small Ziploc bag, Mom and Dad only – also store dryer lint in a waterproof container to help start a fire

* Toothpaste and toothbrush

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag.

Week Six

* Emergency tool kit (pliers, screwdrivers) in Mom and Dad’s pack

* Kleenex in pocket packs

* Paper and pen

* One garbage bag

* Roster for each kit with names, addresses and phone numbers of remote family members and all personal cell phone numbers. This is especially needed in children’s packs in case of separation. Note: you may want to include this in school backpacks in case emergency happens while children are at school and relocated.

* A meeting place should be included on this roster in case of separation.

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag.

Week Seven

* A gallon Ziploc bag with paper plated, napkins, utensils, and straws/

* First aid kit – purchased or homemade – Mom and Dad’s pack only

* Insect repellant (suggested wipes or pump sprays – not aerosol)

* Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag

* Add $10.00 to Mom and Dad’s Ziploc bag.

First Aid kits should include the following items:

* Essential medications (i.e. prescriptions or any special over the counter medications for adults or children)

* Pain killers – like Aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin and if you have children remember the children’s pain killers