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)

[Chemist_Geek]

Hams might be the only communication.

When we quit hearing dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah, and instead hear, di-di-dit dah-dah-dah di-di-dit on 20 meters, then we know we're in real trouble. ;-)

dah-dah-di-di-dit di-di-dit-dah-dah dah-di-dit dit dah-di-dah dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-dah-di-dit dah-di-dit dah-dah-di-dah di-di-di-dit

[El Sordo]

If we're reduced to Morse Code, the pic heavy threads are going to take forever to load....

[AppyPappy]

I thought the purpose of sanitary napkins was to ABSORB blood, not stop it.

[Area51]

[ezo4]

My brother told me that gunniess is quite different over in Ireland as opposed to what we drink over here as well. Good stuff regardless. Only from the tap for me. Dont care much for the bottled or canned stuff.

[Howlin]

Thanks, UG! Another example of FR looking out for one another!

[ezo4]

classic!

[Cagey]

[Chemist_Geek]

If we're reduced to Morse Code, the pic heavy threads are going to take forever to load....

ROFL! 300 baud HF digital...

[Noumenon]

Right on the money. We keep a minimum of two cases of Guiness (the 'draught' cans) in our main storage. For light urban rioting, I recommend an amusing chardonnay with acceents of toast and butter and a lingering finish with traces of oak. Roving bands of looters will go down under fire accompanied by a robust cabernet whose strong hints of mocha and rasberries and sharp tannin accents will stand up well to the aroma of expended ammo and lubricating oils rising from your hot barrels. Treasonous politicians will be 'well hung' when the festivities are complemented by a well-aged smoky single malt such as Laphroaig's unique product.

[Crowcreek]

" boiling for sanitation purposes."

Oboy, a 'camping thread! Here are a few suggestions from 'the old pro' . . .

- Chlorox for sterilizing water. Add a couple drops per quart, shake and it's ready in about ten minutes. I'll keep a couple small containers - well marked - on hand.

- Various sizes/thicknesses of sanitary napkins for wound dressing. They are individually wrapped, sterile, and can be cut to size.

- Duct tape to adhere the dressing to the skin. Sticks as long as you need it to, and forms a waterproof, dirtproof bandage/splint. (Use petroleum jelly or neosporin around the wound to help with removal.)

Other inexpensive, general-purpose, first-aid goodies are peroxide, rubbing alchohol, and dishwashing liquid.Get a quart of each for under $5.

All anyone needs in the way of a firearm is an inexpensive .22 rifle -- $10 or so will buy a brick of ammo (500 rounds), and it will work to bag rabbits, or keep a mob at bay . . .

Don't forget to put away a Coleman lantern, maybe a stove, and a couple gallons of fuel -- indispensible if the power goes out.

[Faith65]

I was thinking about lamenating photos of family members-
in case you need to find someone and things in the US are really bad.......

[Noumenon]

Yep. That, and a good reliable chainsaw.

[AppyPappy]

Don't forget a map showing your Mormon neighbors so you can steal their food (stolen from an old Y2K thread).

[Utah Girl]

Oh yeah, I have plenty of needlework and other handwork in my house to share with all. Let's just say, I have more than enough projects for my year's supply. :)

[theFIRMbss]

>

[Utah Girl]

I went through my stash of needlework right after Christmas. I'm away on an assignment, but when I get home in June, I plan on selling a lot of the kits on E-Bay. My sister says I could get rich...

[El Sordo]

Info on creating a sealed room:

http://www.idf.il/english/organization/homefront/homefront2.stm

Towards the bottom they talk about air supply.

Quality HEPA filters in the room can help. This doesn't do anything for the CO2, though...

[Blueflag]

Water purification tablets, 5 gallon jugs with potable water. (refillable) Nothing bigger unless you're a strong single woman. If you have the space, something to heat food and /or water in.

Bring a sturdy, multi-purpose knife. The right knife can make many other tools.

[Utah Girl]

Sanitary napkins can be used as compresses, just press one against a wound firmly, or tape it in place against the wound. They are absorbent, that is true, but using pressure will also help staunch a wound.