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)

[Freedom2specul8]

Please do post the list. I never understood how long canned food will last.. If I were to buy more than 6 cases of vegies for example..how often should they be rotated? Or how long will 6 cases last?

[kjam22]

What about those of us addicted to Free Republic? Can you guarantee it will stay up through any dangers ahead?

LOL.... oh yeah.... I'd count on that :)

[RobFromGa]

Utah Girl, need to add laptop with Internet connection to that 72 hour kit. Otherwise how will we stay informed?

[xsmommy]

Stress Factors Children - coloring book, crayons Adults - books, needle work

this made me smile, xs stands for cross-stitch...: )

[johnny7]

Uh-oh... Reynolds Wrap is selling out today. What the hell are you sheep thinking about?!

[mikegi]

I'm far more worried about the upcoming tornado season than I am about AQ. Fortunately, Georgia's tornado alley runs a few miles to my north (Canton->Gainesville).

[ConservativeLawyer]

Great post! Thanks for putting that together for us.

[Utah Girl]

You can call the company you bought the canned veggies from, they will be able to decipher the date code, and you can figure out the expiration date on the items. I posted the list right after 9/11, I'm going to ping everyone to it. The trick is to store what you and your family will eat.

[arm958]

I never understood how long canned food will last

I shipped dozens of cases of canned food on a hardship tour a few years ago. They were perfectly good two years later.

[Freedom2specul8]

Actually, I've always "some" food supplies cuz here in the midwest, we can lose electricity for 3 days or more at a time.

[Utah Girl]

I love cross stitch too.

[Billthedrill]

More is better when it comes to firearms, I always say. The revolver is an excellent bet unless you want to practice a lot (I do!) - in your position I'd consider a shotgun next, frankly - you can hunt more stuff with it than anything else and there's nothing like it if someone is trying to kick your door down.

But I'd also agree with the point of view that the current situation is no more dangerous than every day is. Plan and be cautious, but don't let it run your life.

[RightWhale]

Can you guarantee it will stay up through any dangers ahead?

Hams might be the only communication. dit-dit-dit dah-dah-dah, etc.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks to both of you! I definitely rotate sooner than 2 yrs. I also keep extra charcoal and lighterfluid on hand because the last time we had an ice storm..we couldn't cook our food.

[T Minus Four]

We have Dugway, the infamous chemical biological agents depot, about 60 miles away from SLC. Dugway is now being used to dispose of the agents, but if the enemy could get through and bomb it, the consequences would be horrendous.

It won't be Salt Lake. Take that to the bank.

Believe me, this I know.

[discostu]

A lot of it is going to depend on what's in the can and how acidic it is. I know from unfortunate experience that sauerkraut eats through cans in about a year, only jarred sauerkraut in my house now.

[Utah Girl]

I know, life without the Internet, especially Free Republic might be the real hardship.

[tracer]

It ain't necessarily so -- Hill Air Force Base, Dugway Proving Ground (CBW), a major international airport, national crossroads highways and rail lines, ski resorts, and (hope not) religious sites.........

[Utah Girl]

Thanks. :) Long time, no see.

[WestCoastGal]

Those of us in earthquake country also have emergency kits in the house and the car. Thanks for the post.