Suggestions for a 72 hour kit

2/11/2003 | Important vanity

[Utah Girl]

Since the alert level is now high, and there have been many articles and TV blurps about preparedness, I thought I would post suggestions for a 72 hour kit. I keep mine in my front hall closet of my home.

A lot of the stuff was lying around the house, I didn't buy hardly anything new. I did buy a solar, battery operated radio from Radio Shack for ten dollars. Here is the total list in one spot. I probably spent under 25 dollars for my kit, but I am single without children. The most money was buying the stuff for the first aid kit. One extra thing I threw in the first aid kit is four sanitray napkins. They work really well for compressing against a bleeding wound that needs to be staunched. I also store my sleeping bag and blanket right next to the 72 hour kit. I still use the sleeping bag when I go camping, so I didn't buy another one.

This 72 hour kit should meet the needs of your family. Use ready to eat foods your family will eat and hobbies and entertainment your family likes to do. Include individual medication as required by your family members. Whatever container is used should be portable. I use two duffel bags.

You should have:

Immediately available Battery powered radio Flashlight and extra batteries Emergency Needs Instruction Manuals on Emergency Preparedness Water storage Sleeping bags and blankets Sanitation Kit Plastic bucket with tight fitted lid Plastic bags and ties toilet paper disinfectant improvised toilet seat (for bucket) feminine hygiene needs paper towels soap paper cups paper plates plastic utensils can opener utility knife Stress Factors Children - coloring book, crayons Adults - books, needle work In the Car Standard First Aid Kit Blanket Flashlight and batteries Reflectors and flares Individual Medical Needs Suggested Additions Family Photographs Medical Information Sheet Insurance Information Identification for each Family Member Will or Trust Information (copies of each)

Food - Ready-to-eat Meats: canned Fruit Cocktail Peanut Butter Powdered Milk Infant Care: Canned milk and bottles Dried Fruit: (caution - drink plenty of water.) Raisins, prunes, fruit leather Crackers Stress Foods Sugar Cookies Sweetened Cereals Hard Candy Standard First Aid Kit First Aid manual Spirits of ammonia Scissors Table salt Baking soda Eye drops Safety pins Matches Adhesive or paper tape Bandages Telfa pads (4"x4") Triangle Bandage (37"x37"x37") Roll of Gauze Elastic Bandage Splints Popsicle sticks shingles or thin board 40 page newspaper or magazines Heavy String At least one change of clothing for everyone including shoes

I've also thrown in a sweatshirt with a hood, an inflatable pillow, my scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon)

[Utah Girl]

Just a suggestion for those interested. I've had my 72 hour kit for five years now, I rotate the food yearly, check everything else. "If ye are prepared, ye need not fear." I didn't portray this kit as anything else than a 72 hour kit. As a member of the LDS church, we are also counseled to have a year's supply of food and water. Would you like me to post that list? :)

[blam]

"Cash in small bills, coins, camera, magic markers, paper/note cards. Booze."

LOL. Don't forget outdoor cooking posibilities. We may lose gas/electricity?

[geege]

I don't think guns will help during a chemical attack but we have ours ready......

[Utah Girl]

Giggle. No women in your household, I presume...

[neutrino]

In all seriousness - probably a couple pints of decent whiskey and maybe a couple cartons of cigarettes to use as trade goods. Some ballpoint pens and paper might be nice. A .22 cal rifle and ammunition might help. Coffee (freeze dried) and tea bags would be good. And, if you really think that matters will hit the fan, lockpicks. (Yes, you CAN buy them on the internet!)

[RightWhale]

Booze.

If someone is addicted to that or tobacco, they ought to see if they can quit cold turkey RIGHT NOW. Better to get over it before the big one.

[arm958]

Do I really have to get feminine hygiene products? Checking out at the store is SO embarassing.

One time I made a run into town (25 miles away) and my wife wanted me to pick up a few bras on sale at K-Mart. No biggie. Only a man who wasn't sure of his masculinity would be afraid to carry out that request.

[geege]

I love my cats.....why would I want to eat them???????

[MrB]

I don't think guns will help during a chemical attack

The guns are not for defending against the chemical attack. They are for defending against those who didn't prepare and will take your stuff by force.

[nina0113]

As I read through the list, I noticed how much it looked like the one a Mormon co-worker forwarded me after The Eleventh - then I saw who had posted it. Several things you both left off your lists, though I can't imagine why:
;-)

coffee, coffee creamer, cigarettes, and whiskey

[blam]

"Have you considerd buying a gun or ammo yet?"

Nah. I'll use the old .22 rifle that my dad left me. It's held together with rubber bands and duct tape. (...and that's all I'll need.)

[djf]

Correct. Think about it. What would it be like in urban areas, say, 36 hours after the store shelves were out of milk????

[kstewskis]

Sla'inte!!

[RightWhale]

Would you like me to post that list?

Might be a good idea. Most aren't taking the danger series, but for those who always intended to do that someday, this might be the day.

[IYAS9YAS]

Post away...

[mikegi]

All this stuff is getting way out of hand (Dark Winter, etc...). There will be no attack that would threaten civilization or anything else. Maybe a car bomb in Europe.

My greatest fear is that they'll detonate a bomb containing a small amount of radioactive waste. I'm not afraid of the waste since its basically harmless. I'm afraid the media will hype the story to the moon. The media is capable of terrorizing Americans far more than Al Qaeda.

[Utah Girl]

LOL! Well, I did say the list was flexible, and to plan for your own needs. I'm sure that many Mormons have pretty much the same list, we've had several lessons over the years, urging us to get prepared.

[skeeter]

In your kit, how about a rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammo?

Those are the only things in my kit.

[Faraday]

Thanks for the post. A FEMA document, "Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness," can be found at http://www.fema.com/areyouready/ . This can be read as Adobe PDF files or read directly into a word processing program. It covers many kinds of emergencies beyond terrorist attack, but the "Emergency Planning and Disaster Supply" section is very useful.

[blam]

"If someone is addicted to that or tobacco, they ought to see if they can quit cold turkey RIGHT NOW. Better to get over it before the big one."

There you go. Start a rumor that the terrorists are gonna poison tobacco plants and smoking could really kill you.