Emergency kits are boxes or bags with food, water, medication, equipment, and supplies you need to last you through life-threatening situations or situations where you can't get to the store.
You should have a first aid kit, flashlight, cellphone, chargers, backup batteries, maps, toilet paper, blankets, whistle, extra money, emergency contacts, and other personal hygiene products. When packing, remember people with additional needs, like asthmatic patients who need inhalers.
You should also add documents like passports, driver's licenses, and some tools. If you have a child, include warm clothes, a bottle, diapers, formula, and the child’s medication.
It is essential to have a separate food kit to prevent contamination. Ensure the food you pack is high-calorie for adequate nutrition and will not go bad within a short time.
Some of the best foods include canned food, dried fruits, dehydrated meats like jerky, crackers, protein bars, freeze-dried desserts, and shelf-stable beverages. Your food should also be ready to eat or easy to prepare.
When packing water, ensure you have 1 gallon a day for everybody with you. If the emergency could last a few days, it would help to pack a 72-hour emergency kit. This includes items that will last you only three days. Its advantage is that it will save your energy by not carrying a heavy load when you move about.
Packing these kits can be overwhelming, especially if you are in a hurry, meaning it would be better to buy them already made. Ultimate Preparedness is one of the best known food kits. With a 25-year shelf life, you can have it at home, ready for any situation. It contains 124 servings for three meals, fruits, drinks, and dessert.
Augason Farms is another food kit with a shelf life of up to 25 years. With 307 servings for three meals, drinks, and snacks, it can last an adult for 30 days or a family with four members for a week.
Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 72-hour Emergency kit is an emergency kit with food that has a shelf life of up to 30 years, water, a filtration system, fire starters, first aid supplies, a knife, and emergency blankets. Other kits include the JUDY Emergency Mover Kit, the Emergency Zone Family Survival Kit, and the Redford Earthquake Emergency Kit.