Putting Together Your 72 hour kit

	Home | Contact Us Jump to... 72 Hour Kits Chart Your Progress Chemical Emergency Communications Cooking Source Death Dry Packing Earthquakes Employment / Career Extras Extreme Winters Family Escape Plan Financial Fire Fire Starters First Aid Food Storage Gardening Heat Heat Waves Helpful Hints Hurricanes Important Papers Important Phone Numbers Insurance Light Lightning Nuclear Disaster Personal Hygiene Physical Preparedness Prepare by the week Pressure Canning Recipes Review Questions Sanitation Sewing and Clothing Shelf Life of Food Shelter Snakes / Animals / Insects Spiritual Preparedness Sprouts Storage Areas Stress Management Surprise Theft Tools Tornado Utilities Water Wills and Trusts       Putting Together Your 72 hour kit When there is a disaster, it usually takes 72 hours for any government relief to arrive in some areas. Therefore, it is important to have a 72 hour kit to sustain your family until help arrives. It can make a difference between a miserable, stressful time and a pleasant, fun experience. Here are a few suggestions. Your kit should be in a portable container located near an exit of your house. This is so you can grab it on your way out of the house in a serious emergency. Do not overload your kit....you may have to carry it long distances to reach safety or shelter. Each family member should have their own kit with food, clothing, water and light source. Distribute heavy items between kits. Enclose the extra clothing, matches, personal documents and other items damageable by smoke or water in plastic to protect them. A food saver that vacuum seals items works well for this. You will appreciate the dry clothing if you end up in rain or floods. Laminating documents and photographs protects these papers best. Keep a light source in the top of your kit, so you can find it quickly in the dark. Some people have a fanny pack along with their portable container or back pack. Flashlights fits well in fanny packs and are easily accessible. Personalize your kit. Make sure you fill the needs of each family member. Inspect your kit at least twice a year. A good way to be reminded to do this is to do it when you change your clocks in the spring and in the fall. Fix the clocks in your house and inspect your 72 hour kit. Rotate food and water. Check children’s clothing for proper fit. Adjust clothing for winter or summer needs. Check expiration dates on batteries, light sticks, warm packs, food, water, first aid items, etc. Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs. For example for babies, store diapers, washcloth, ointment, bottles, and pacifiers and other special supplies. Keep an index card attached to the outside of your kit for last minute items that you can not store away. For example, medications, eyeglasses, or anything that you need to remember at the last minute. When you are in an emergency, and panic, you will not remember anything....especially important items like medication. You are the only one that can make a list of important last minute items. Take time to do it when you are not in a panic. 72 hour suggestions & check list --- check the categories in this website for more information about each 72 hour kit suggested item. Water 3-5 gallons of water stored for sanitation and drinking Method of water purification Food 72 hour supply of food and water, snacks, gum Warmth and Shelter Windproof and waterproof matches Second method to start a fire Tent/Shelter Wool-blend blanket Sleeping Bag Emergency reflective blanket Hand and feet warm packs Poncho Hat or umbrella for sun Light Source Flashlight with batteries Candle Light Sticks Cooking Supplies Lightweight stove and fuel Utensils and Pans Matches Tools Pocket knife or multi tool knife Folding shovel Small hatchet or ax Rope (50 feet) Compass First Aid First aid kit and supplies First aid book or booklet Communication Radio with batteries or radio with alternate power source Whistle Personal Sanitation Personal hygiene kit (soap, toothbrush, comb, tissue, feminine items, razor, baby supplies, etc.) Clothing/Sewing A complete outfit of appropriate clothing for each family member. Include extra socks, underwear, hat, sturdy shoes, and gloves. (vacuum seal some items so they stay dry) Sewing kit (needle can also be used for splinters) Money At least $20 in your kit in SMALL bills and coins. Always include quarters for phone calls. Important Papers Copies of documents important to your family. (vacuum seal them to stay dry or laminate them or put on a CD/DVD. Important Phone Numbers Include a list of emergency phone number and/or important people to contact in case of emergency. (if you are unconscious it is important for the medical team to contact your family) Family Picture Laminate a family picture and put in each kit. Keys Attach an extra set of house and car keys to your kit in case you can not find your keys when there is an emergency and you need to leave quickly Stress Relievers Games, jump rope, coloring books, cards, game books, toys, paper and pen, reading books, hymn book, scriptures Portable Container Durable, water resistant duffel bag, frame pack or day pack, back pack, suitcase on wheels, etc. Anything that is easy for you to use and carry. ******************************************************************************************************************************** Picture of Family - have a picture of the family for each family member – if by chance you get separated as a family it is good to have a picture for identification and also to ease the pain of separation. Set of Keys – have an extra set of keys for your car and house that can be put in your wallet just in case you lock your other keys in the car when shopping OR if you need to leave quickly and you find yourself saying "I can’t find my keys!!!" Also you might put a set of keys in your 72 hour kit. Money $$$$$ - Some money should be in your 72 hour kit or in a place in your home that is easy to grab in an emergency. Small bills are best. When times get tough – no one will admit that they have change of a $20 or $50 and you will end up buying something at a very inflated cost!!! List of last minute items for your 72 hour kit – There are some things that cannot be stored in your kit. Attach an index card to the outside of your kit or on your refrigerator door listing these items. When there is an emergency – YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO THINK QUICKLY. Such items might include: eyeglasses, child’s favorite blanket or toy, book to read, medications. Games, toys & jump rope – If you need to leave your home and you have children, it is good to have, in your 72 hour kit or in your car, some items for children to play with. Children usually do not understand emergency situations so if you can keep them “entertained”, they seem to cope better with what is happening. Think of what small toys or games are easy to carry or put in your 72 hour kits. Jump ropes are good – children can get a lot of energy released with them, plus you have extra rope if needed. Scriptures and Hymn Book – Small copies of these books are nice to have if you need to leave your home or to have in your 72 hour kit. Large books are cumbersome. Just a suggestion. Books – If you need to leave your home, it is good to have, in your 72 hour kit or your car, some items for adults to keep them busy. If you have a book (soft cover), or a puzzle book or even a card game, time will pass faster and stress will be less. It is suggested that a whistle is kept in the car in case of emergency. It is suggested that a whistle is kept in each 72 hour kit in case any family member gets separated from the group. It is suggested that a whistle is kept on the doorknob of each child's bedroom door in case of fire.   IT IS EASIER TO HEAR A WHISTLE THAN A LITTLE CHILD'S VOICE.