What Should You Add To Your 3-Day Emergency Essentials Kit?

Having a 3-day essentials kit can be a great idea and being prepared for certain emergencies can allow you to stay one step ahead of the rest. Remember, you aren’t going to be the only person affected by a flood, hurricane or city-wide blackout and it means you can’t always rely on the authorities. However, by creating a simple 3-day essentials kit, it can be the perfect way to have the necessary supplies at hand in a suitable bag during the emergency.

Do You Really Need An Emergency Essentials Kit?

There will be thousands of people who say it’s morbid and even a bit crazy to have an emergency essentials kit because it’s almost like you want something to happen but that is not the case. You don’t ever want to be struck with a disaster because it can be terrifying and devastating to those around but these things happen. There will be floods, there will be hurricanes and tornadoes and, hopefully never, there may even be a terror attack and you may need to survive days without help.

However, having an emergency kit at home can help you stay somewhat safe when your city becomes the target of a tragic disaster. There may also be times when you’ll have to leave the home in a minute’s notice and if you aren’t ready, you have no time to pack the essentials. By having an essentials kit at hand, you can be a little safer but what should you add to your 3-day emergency essentials kit?

Necessary Food and Water

Firstly, you need to pack enough food and water to last the upcoming days. If you have a family, you can also pack separate essential kits for them too. You should start off by having at least three to five gallons of drinking water. This may appear to be a lot but it isn’t because most people will need to consume a gallon of water a day. If you’re also prepping kits for family members, you should include at least three gallons of water for each kit for each member of the family. Bottled water is good and it’s probably the easiest to get your hands on also.

However, for food, it’s crucial to stick with non-perishable items. For example tinned and canned goods work best. You could opt for canned fruit, soups and beans because these things last a good while. Also, you can stock up on energy bars, crackers, jellies, jams, protein bars and packaged snacks with a long shelf life. Lots of foods don’t go out-of-date quickly so there is quite a selection to choose from but of course stay away from fresh foods such as fruit, yogurt, and cheese and eggs. You could always choose powdered eggs and milk instead of fresh. A good three day supply of food is needed and don’t be afraid to pack a little extra. You’ll need a manual can opener and maybe a pocket knife.

Lighting

Flashlights are the essential lighting tool you will need because when the power goes, these are what you must rely on. Candles can also be a good solution if you can’t use a flashlight however, they run out very easily and aren’t always the safest items to use on occasion. Camping lights however are a great alternative and they usually last quite a while but don’t forget to have an extra set of batteries and matches at hand. You can never know when you’ll need to use them and if the power goes off for days, you’ll need extra.

Communication to the Outside World

Being shut-off from the outside world can be very frightening because you don’t know what is happening. However, during emergency situations you absolutely must keep updated with the latest events so that you know what’s going on. It’s crucial to have at least one radio in your emergency essentials kit to listen to the local and national radio stations to get information. Having a mobile or cellular phone with you can be vital; you could buy a cheap cellular just for your emergency kit so you aren’t cut off from help should you need it.

A First-Aid Kit

Buy a pre-made first-aid kit from a local pharmacy. It won’t really cost a great deal and it’ll have most of the things you’ll need like bandages, gauze, band aids and painkillers. However, you should remember to pick up a week’s supply of any medications you or your family may need. Do not forget to have an additional supply of medicine in your emergency essentials kit. Also, you’ll need to have personal hygiene and sanitation items for the next three or four days – these are things you don’t want to forget.

3-Day Clothing

You need to have a small collection of clothing available in your emergency essentials kit. You don’t have to pack your entire wardrobe but just a few items that will cover you until you’re able to get back home. For example, you should pack three or four changes of underwear and lots of warm clothing. Have a few winter jumps, three or four t-shirts or shirts, jeans, three pairs of thermal socks and have a good winter coat. You may need to leave your home and if you do, you might have to survive in the wild for a little while and it can get very cold so having enough garments to keep warm.

An Address Book for Local Shelters and Family

If you’re forced to leave home, you are going to need to have somewhere to stay. It’s best to have an address book full of names, addresses and contact information for friends and family members you can stay with for a few days. You should also list a few local emergency shelters should all other options fail and even if you have a car, you don’t want to live there until you’re able to get back home. Don’t forget to keep copies of proof of ID and any insurance policies too; it may help later.

Maps, Blankets and Other Tools

If you have no other shelter options you will need to carry blankets, a tent or a sleeping bag to keep you warm. You also need to have maps of the local and surrounding areas just in case. Maps are essential because you can find your way to friend’s homes and get around an area you don’t know well. You may need to keep a spare set of car and home keys in your emergency essentials kit as well as having extra cash for unexpected costs.

Keep an Extra 3-Day Emergency Essentials Kit in Your Car

It’s important to keep your emergency kit at home in an easy-to-reach location but just in case you can’t get home; you need to keep a second kit in your car. Now, it might seem pointless to have two emergency kits especially when you’re car is full of rubbish but disasters and emergencies occur at the most unexpected times and you won’t always be home. This means you need to be prepared and ready no matter where you are.

Robert Dwayne

Robert Dwayne

To say that I am an outdoors enthusiast is probably an understatement. I am hyper passionate about everything outdoors: hiking, survival, hunting. On this website I am sharing my stories and experiences, and I hope you'll find inspiration to take up your own adventures!

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