Find bags that can be easily carried by each person in your family. I found these bags at WalMart for $10 a piece. The “Back to School” clearance sales are a good time to look for back packs! |
It sure looks like a lot of stuff, but better safe than sorry! 🙂 |
Here is a list of all the items in each kit:
4-8 water bottles (it is recommended to have about a gallon in each 72 hour kit- adjust as you want for you and your family)
2 granola bars
2 oatmeal bars
1 bag of trail mix
2 packages of crackers
2 packages of pretzels w/ cheese
1 package of tuna
1 package of chicken salad w/ crackers
1 bag of beef jerky
1 can green beans
1 can chef boyardee meat raviolis
candy (laffy taffy, hard candies, tootsie pops, etc.)
1 bag famous amos cookies
Gum (anything but mint flavored, so everything else doesn’t taste like mint)
2 ponchos
Flashlight w/ batteries
Matches
Lighter (just in Dad’s bag)
Candle
Can opener (just in Dad’s bag)
Plastic utensils (2 of each utensil)
Radio w/ extra batteries
Pen
Paper
Pocket knife
Duct tape
Scissors
Work gloves
Book of Mormon/Bible (or other book)
Playing cards
Crossword puzzle/word search book
Kleenex packet (could also be used as toilet paper?)
Comb
Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Soap
Lotion
Chapstick
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Feminine hygiene products (just in Mom’s bag)
Razor (I’m sure in an emergency situation I won’t be shaving my legs, but who knows! Maybe I’ll want to look good!)
Wash cloths (Dollar Tree has the cloths that are in a tiny package and expand in water!)
Hand Sanitizer
Sun screen (just in one bag to share)
Tylenol, Tums, Allergy medicine (just in one bag to share)
Fingernail clippers
First Aid Kit (Dollar Tree had these in a nice plastic container that was filled with different kind of bandages, then I just added some Neosporin, tweezers, wet wipes and disposable gloves to it.)
www.houseofhudspeth.blogspot.com
Ashley
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Our family usually gets the prepackaged food (3600 kcal) and water (12x125ml) packs in our bags so we can grab n go. Living on the west coast gets us prepared for any earthquake!
Check out www.72hrs.ca for free emergency preparedness information and guides.
Portable radio. This ought to be a battery powered radio.
Spare batteries
Flashlights.
Blankets.
Extra trousers and shirts.
Extra medication.
First aid kit.
Pocket knife.
Water. One gallon per day is recommended for every member of the household.
Waterproof matches.
Sleeping bags.
Emergency candles.
Emergency Survival Supplies
Also, Offthe's right, you really need more water.
Way to get started.
Thanks for sharing!
Canned food should be the pull top kind. If you get separated from your kids or something happened to the adults they need to be able to open and eat what's in there bag.
I agree with everyone that suggested more water as it may not be just for drinking you might have to was out a wound.
The Razor... is for the men and it should be the flat head kind with extra clean wrapped razors to double as a sterile cutting type of tool.
Also in each bag you should have those small cans of pull top fruit cocktail in it's own juice as it's refreshing because it's liquid and everyone will need the sugar energy if they are walking or hiking. Let's say have a small can of green beans and one of fruit cocktail.
Also have phone numbers of loved ones BOTH in the same town/city as well as ones outside of your area that family members can call if you need help or get kids get separated :) It is good to have a simple plan written out for "What our family does if we get separated" For example does everyone call Grandma? If so what is the phone number/address of Grandma? These are the things that kiddos don't know and us adults can forget in the panic of crisis.
One last scary point... have pictures of your family in case you get separated and need to show pictures to ask if anyone has seen them.
regards,
Rothco
Toilet Paper and Wet Wipes are essential for hygiene for 3 days.
Scratch the razor.. you probably wont have enough water to shave your legs, you will need it for drinking.
List of Emergency Numbers might be something to consider.
Light sticks can bring a lot of comfort at night.
A whistle is advised in case you need to attract attention.
Love the backpacks.
It is totally up to you! We just liked the idea of being able to grab them and go in case you needed to leave in a hurry.
Don't forget IDs, social security cards, marriage licenses, a list of insurance policies, a list of bills, credit cards, prescriptions, addresses and phone numbers for out of town contacts, a letter of instruction for the kids if they get lost, or cash.
Last but not least don't forget the pets. Have carriers, leashes, meds, bowls and ziplock bags of food on hand. I have a backpack for the cats and soft sided carriers with long straps for carrying if I have to walk them out. It's part of our no one left behind policy. ; )
I think I saw where someone mentioned a radio, that is such a great idea. When the tornado came through Tuscaloosa last year, there was no power, cell service and phone lines were down. The only way we knew what was going on, was through a radio. (It was almost 3 days before cell service was re-established and much longer before power was restored to some areas.) Battery operated are great, but if you can find a crank radio that would be even better. Batteries are great but they can be heavy to carry.
In addition to cash, a change of clothes, id's, important documents (such as health insurance cards, ss cards, home insurance info, and birth certificates) and photos of kids (in case you get seperated); I would also say, add a pair of flip flops. Just in case you have to leave in a hurry, sometimes shoes are the last thing you think of.
I have also scanned or saved all my favorite photos to a jump drive and keep them it in my wallet. That way I don't have to worry about losing precious pictures.
I was also thinking, along with the keeping pictures for everyone, you should have both a formal and unformal picture of close ups and distance. I look extremely different in "real life" than my primped and maybe Photoshopped family photos. If something happens, I already know my hair will most likely be in a pony tail/ braid, I wont be wearing makeup, and I definitely wont be in a dress. Along with this, maybe when we are rotating clothes/ food for the kits we should have everyone wear the outfit in the kit and take a picture (for the kit). That way our children will know to tell someone "This is my mom, shes wearing either this outfit or this outfit" and know how to easier identify us. I also plan on each family member having one of those "lost kid" kits police officers will usually hand out to children. This includes their fingerprints, photo, distinguishing characteristics, height, allergies, contacts, etc. I am assuming that small children will be too confused or unable to remember everything about their family..
I know when my brother got lost for 3 hours from home at age 4, he found some kids and they led him to their parents and when they asked him who he was or how to get a hold of his parents he answered "I don't know" to everything- even though we knew we had taught him our address and phone number. Through his confusion/ fear of never getting home, he didn't even know how to describe our mom and said he would know her if he saw her. Thankfully, the parents and patrolling police got him home safely.
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_K7%20B350_A_name_E_3-Day%20Lite%20Emergency%20Kit
When we did have an earthquake that was large enough to feel, we would have an "Earthquake Party" and eat a couple of the goodies from the emergency kit. It helps rotate the items when you replace them, and it gave them a positive to look forward to in regards to earthquakes.
Another thing we have known since we were wee kids is to grab hard soled shoes. If there is a natural diaster, flip flops are going to be shredded if you have to walk through debris. Hiking boots are best, but thick soled sneakers work as well. Along with the shoes everyone grabs a long sleeved jacket and wears pants, and then puts on their bicycle helmet. Do we look silly? Yes. Are we less likely to get injured? Yes.
One more suggestion for parents is to have temp tattoos made to put on the kiddos arm/leg that has all their info in case they loose their pack, get separated and/or forget their address. Check it out Tottoos.org (yes that is correct spelling =)
I hope none of us ever have to use our well prepared packs!!
Dawn
I saw waterproof totes on amazon that I would pack some extra food, gatorade, toilet tissue, sleeping bags, towels. I would grab the backpacks with all of the things you listed for sure and the extra waterproof totes (maybe with one of those compact dollies with straps and wheels) ONLY if its possible to bring it as well. **Like if we are able to drive to safety or a shelter.** If seconds count and there is rough terrain or high water I would leave it so as not to slow us down. Also, I live in Texas so I have been raised to never go into an emergency situation without a pistol and extra bullets. Just in case.
30 or more hours on a pair of AA batteries with twice the light output is normal for modern LED flashlights. And when the batteries get low, they still produce usable light for 30 more hours. Nice grab and go bags, Thanks!