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You are here: Home / Household / Emergency Preparedness / What to Put in a 72-Hr Kit

November 3, 2016 By Tina M 3 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

What to Put in a 72-Hr Kit

I've made emergency preparedness a huge priority in my family lately. With the increase in natural disasters lately (not to mention economic instability), there's a huge need to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. If you haven't seen my previous posts on emergency preparedness, I spent over a year trying various food storage companies before I found the best long-term food storage.

They are great for 72-hr kits because the meals just require water. Here are some other great tips for what to put in a 72-hr kit:

WHAT TO PUT IN A 72-HR KIT

My first tip is to check Amazon's lightning deals in the Outdoor Rec Department and see what todays deals are. I've snagged several good deals by checking that department frequently.

My very first recommended item to have in your home is a Berkey Water Filter, and then some 72-hr kits (tips on what to include in a 72-hr kit is listed below). Why is a Berkey #1 on my list? First, because you can't survive long without water, and second, because they are the world leader when it comes to filtration.


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water filtration and emergency preparedness

There's a chance you may not experience a major natural disaster, but water contamination happens all the time. Has your city ever issued a public notice to boil your water? In this kind of situation the store shelves are emptied of bottled water in less than an hour. No one wants to drink boiled water, it doesn't taste very good. Berkey's are great for everyday use too, as an in-home water filtration system. This amazing system reduces bacteria, viruses, volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and trihalomethanes to purification standards and lasts thousands of gallonsAwesome 72- Hr Kit Ideas!

What to put in a “Basic” 72-Hr Kit

Basic 72-Hr Kit

Sturdy Backpack

 Food and Water (Our neighborhood did 72-hr kits and one of my neighbors planned out all the food according to how much protein, etc. you need in a day). Here's what it looked like (If you don't like a particular item, just swap it out for something similar):

What to include in a 72-hr kit according to what the body needs

for water, it's best if you can get these water pouches:

What you need to know about putting together a 72-hr kit

Hygiene bag: (put all these items in a gallon size zip lock bag, almost all of these items can be found at All a Dollar)

Toothbrush, small toothpaste, and floss in plastic carry case (they have these ready cases at All a Dollar and Walmart)

Bar soap in carry case or small bottled hand soap

Washcloth

Mini towel (they also sell these mini compact towels for kids at All a Dollar)

Small shampoo and conditioner

Razor

Comb

Small mirror (also good for signaling)

Small pack Q-tips

Small pack of tissues

Cloth handkerchief (can buy Men's handkerchiefs at Walmart in a pack)

Small sunscreen

Few safety pins and cotton balls

Nail clipper or file

Tweezers

Lip Balm (Chapstick/Carmex/Blistex)

Small lotion

Small hand sanitizer (they sell 3-packs at All a Dollar)

Small pack of baby wipes

Small First Aid Kit

Light Kit

Small Flashlight with extra batteries

Light Stick

100-hour candle or just get a pack of cheap tea light candles at All a Dollar and put a few in the bag 

Could also consider a headlamp

Waterproof Matches

General Utility:

Roll of Toilet Paper

Compass

Whistle

Shelter & Sleep:

Emergency Blanets

Emergency Tube Tent

Clothing:

Warm gloves

Work gloves

Beanie

Bandana (many uses)

Emergency Poncho

Printed Note for individual to add:

Sandals/Tivas/ or Crocks

Good hiking shoes

2 pairs socks (one summer, one heavy wool)

Zip off cargo pants with lots of pockets

2 shirts

2 pairs underwear

1 long sleeve shirt

Light jacket (rain outer shell preferred)

Heavy jacket (for winter conditions)

Hat

I like to get the big sturdy Hefty Zip bags and put clothing in one, food in another, and supplies in another.

How to assemble a 72-hr kit

What to put in an advanced 72-Hr Kit

ready for something a little more advanced? Here you go!

General Utility:

Roll of Toilet Paper

Hand Warmers

Small sewing kit (All a Dollar)

Few heavy duty black garbage bags

Few zip lock bags

Roll of Duct Tape

100 ft. of paracord

Leatherman multi-tool or pocket knife

Mini Ax

Lightweight shovel

Big knife with safety holster

Dust Mask(s)

Super glue (for cuts and bruises, can buy multi-packs of mini ones at Walmart)

Pepper spray

Pen/pencil and small notepad

Map of Idaho and Utah

Few carabineers

Few zip ties

Few twist ties

Compass

Hand crank AM/FM radio

Solar watch

Solar calculator

Whistle

Cash in small bills and coins

Family Items to Add-On: 

Mini Scriptures and Hymnbook

1-2 family photo mini books

Photocopies of passport, driver's license, SS#

Shelter & Sleep:

Lightweight tent

Small tarp

Lightweight sleeping bag with compression sack

Lightweight sleeping pad

Cooking Kit:

Large Stainless Steel Kelly Kettle with Hobo Stove

Quality Steel Pot/Pan Kit (doubles as a mess kit)

Basic Gray Lexan Utensils (buy these at Sportsman's)

Small pot scrubber

Can opener (if not one already on pocket knife)

Fire Kit with 4 Ways to Make an Emergency Fire:

Waterproof matches put into this 5-1 whistle

Magnesium fire starter 

1-2 Fire Lighters

2 Small Bic Lighters

Also consider toilet paper roll filled with dryer lint or cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly or Vaseline

Light: (want a few options)

Rechargeable headlamp with extra batteries

Solar flashlight that can charge as you hike

Luminaid solar light (lightweight)

Small flashlight with extra batteries (optional)

Light Stick

Few candles (optional)

BABY NEEDS (to be carried by mom or dad)

what to include in a baby-72-hr kit

Baby front pack carrier

Washable diapers with extra inserts

2 Washcloths (to replace baby wipes)

Burp cloth

Desitin

Baby liquid Tylenol

Medicine dropper

Baby thermometer

Mini face sunscreen

Pedialyte

2-3 binkies with 2 clip holders (so they don't get lost)

2 Toys

Clothing: onesies, footie pajamas, socks, warm hat, few shirts and pants

Any other tips for What to put in a 72-hr kit?

Make sure to check out our emergency preparedness archives for lots of great ideas!

 

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Tina M

Tina M

I'm six-foot tall mother of three and I'm enjoying the view! I'm currently fighting a battle with Lyme disease and am determined to come out victorious. I enjoy warm summer rain, peanut butter everything, having dance parties with my husband and kids, natural remedies and healthy living. Most days I'm just looking for another excuse to avoid the piles of laundry.
Tina M

@MothersNiche

Tina M
Tina M

Tina M

Tina M

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Tagged With: 72-hr kit, emergency preparedness

About Tina M

I'm six-foot tall mother of three and I'm enjoying the view! I'm currently fighting a battle with Lyme disease and am determined to come out victorious. I enjoy warm summer rain, peanut butter everything, having dance parties with my husband and kids, natural remedies and healthy living. Most days I'm just looking for another excuse to avoid the piles of laundry.

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Comments

  1. WhyMeLord says

    May 29, 2017 at 9:43 am

    I would add a weeks worth of RX *AND* copies of the script. (Better if your Doc will give you open ended valid scrip but copies will often work for a weeks supply after a major disaster)). BTDT. This DOES NOT APPLY TO SCHEDULED DRUGS like opioids

    Additionally location dictated OTC meds such as aspirin, anti-diarrhea, BENADRYL. Pepto-Bismol, topical lotions for bug bites (some are kid safe others are adults only). Small packets of Sun screen.

    Trade goods (a joke but often a life saver), ropes, hand tools like scissors, saws, hammers & shovels. Tarps. HD visqueen (thick plastic that is often used on new mattresses for delivery from the store). A Major first aid kit.

    We have a family sized tornado safe room that will accommodate the neighbors (all close friends or they will be after a few hours waiting out a bad wind storm (BTDT) BTW each has a safe box for their personal meds these are refreshed every three months.

    Batteries. AAA, AA C&D cells. Solar powered cell phone charger. Date batteries with the SHOULD BE REPLACED date. (not the stale date) We usually replace these at Christmas time and use the ‘old’ batteries in toys etc.

    We also keep several days supply of baby food (no babies but you never know when an odd one will show up) these are likewise rotated — unused-unopened are donated to local food bank.

    We keep this in our safe room and have a glorified wheeled cart to transport if we have to move.

    Reply
  2. Deborah says

    January 23, 2018 at 10:17 pm

    This is a very good list. Thank you for all the great information.

    Reply
  3. Jane says

    September 8, 2020 at 4:06 am

    All this for 72 hrs?! Who is gonna carry these massive bags? Why maps of Idaho and Utah? I’m assuming that’s where you live but I could be wrong. My suggestion is pack this/these bags and go for a 3 day hike. Then see what “extras” you are prepared to live without. Do you know how much a whole roll of duct tape weighs after toting it for an hour along with everything else? That’s just one example.

    Reply

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