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)

[geege]

Let's not forget our pets.......I know I'll have lots of food and water for them also:*)

[Xenalyte]

Many on here will consider this a stupid question, but is there a place to get gas masks for pets? We have three cats and a short-muzzled Boston terrier, and they are indeed our babies.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

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

[Lance Romance]

Eat the pets. Saves on food.

[arm958]

Don't worry too much Utah Girl. They're not after Salt Lake City.

[Egg]

No kidding! What a ridiculous oversight!

[DAnconia55]

[CollegeRepublican]

That is what I want in my kit. I think that it is stupid to have these kits and not have real self protection.

[blam]

Thanks, I need to buy some more dog food. Also, you forgot to mention personal protection.(guns)

[Eagle Eye]

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

[arm958]

Many on here will consider this a stupid question, but is there a place to get gas masks for pets? We have three cats and a short-muzzled Boston terrier, and they are indeed our babies.

It's not a stupid question. After all, you can't eat them if they've been contaminated.

[Billthedrill]

I hesitate to suggest it because some people interpret it as macho BS or wild paranoia, but I'd strongly recommend getting firearms training and having something in the way of personal protection in the mix, even if it's only pepper spray (and I wouldn't recommend limiting it to that - you can't kill game with pepper spray).

[RightWhale]

That looks like a standard weekend camping list. Sure is a lot of stuff. By the way, 3 days of stuff is optimistic. If it gets that bad, we will be displaced for months or years.

And, . . . , how many are actually taking this seriously? One percent?

[varina davis]

Thank you, Utah Girl, good post.

[Eagle Eye]

Have you considerd buying a gun or ammo yet?

[Incorrigible]

This reminds me of a old thread I started.

I figured it would come in handy for Y2K but looks like we could use this guy's talents again:

Homemade flamethrower is for rent no longer

[thesharkboy]

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

[RightWhale]

Eat the pets. Saves on food.

That's for later. Initially we'll pretend everything will be okay in a few days. Pets don't survive war.

[Psalm 73]

"...but is there a place to get gas masks for pets?"

Saw an article about preparations in Israel that mentioned those, I think I saw it on FR, or was it drudge?
Anyway, should just be a quick search.
And ditto the firearms/ammo and cleaning kit.