72 HOUR KITS
The time to prepare for an emergency is long before the crisis occurs. By thinking ahead, organizing supplies, gathering equipment, and developing contingency plans, many emergencies can be met with confident resolve instead of frantic panic.
How do I begin to prepare?
Consider what type of emergencies might arise.
Outline a plan of action in case of each emergency.
Make a list of supplies you might need in case of emergency.
Obtain and organize emergency supplies in orderly, easily-accessible kit(s), shelves, closets, etc.
Practice emergency drills with your family so everyone knows what to do.
Suggestions:
Month by Month 72 Hour Kit Ideas
(For Individuals)
|
Month |
Item |
Used For |
|
January |
Container: Tennis Ball Can or Similar |
To store items |
|
Safety Pins (3 small) |
Repairs |
|
|
Band-Aids with Antibiotic |
Cuts, Scrapes |
|
|
Aluminum Foil (2 square feet) |
Cup to boil water, cooking |
|
|
February |
Lamp Candle or Emergency Candle |
Light |
|
March |
Waterproof Matches |
Fire |
|
April |
Space Blanket |
Warmth |
|
May |
Antiseptic Wipes/Alcohol Wipes |
Cleansing Wounds |
|
June |
Mirror, Whistle |
Signal for Help |
|
July |
Tube Tent (Sleeps Two) |
Shelter |
|
August |
Duct Tape |
Repairs |
|
Cord (5 feet heavy nylon) |
Repairs |
|
|
September |
1 Granola Bar |
Food |
|
October |
1 Cider Packet |
Drink |
|
November |
2 Bouillon Cubes |
Food |
|
December |
Bandanna |
First Aid, Face/Head Protection |
|
To the above add a change of clothes, water and personal medications. |
Month by Month 72 Hour Kit Ideas
(For Families)
|
Month |
Item |
Used For |
|
January |
Container: #10 Can (1 Per Person) |
To store items |
|
Safety Pins (3 small) |
Repairs |
|
|
3 Band-Aids with Antibiotic |
Cuts, Scrapes |
|
|
Aluminum Foil (3 square feet) |
Cup to boil water, cooking |
|
|
February |
2 Lamp Candle or Emergency Candle |
Light |
|
Waterproof Matches |
Fire |
|
|
March |
Space Blanket |
Warmth |
|
April |
Antiseptic Wipes/Alcohol Wipes |
Cleansing Wounds |
|
May |
Mirror, Whistle |
Signal for Help |
|
June |
Tube Tent (Sleeps Two) |
Shelter |
|
July |
Duct Tape |
Repairs |
|
5 feet 24 gauge Brass Wire |
Repairs |
|
|
August |
Cord (20 feet heavy nylon) |
Repairs |
|
Bar Soap |
Cleansing Agent |
|
|
September |
2 Granola Bars |
Food |
|
3 Bouillon Cubes |
||
|
October |
2 Cider Packets |
Drink |
|
6 Pieces of Hard Candy |
Stress Food |
|
|
November |
Insect Repellent |
Prevent Bites |
|
Utility Knife |
Various Uses |
|
|
December |
Bandanna |
First Aid, Face/Head Protection |
|
Flash Light with Batteries |
Light |
|
|
To the above add a change of clothes, water and personal medications. |
If you have infants or toddlers, don’t forget to include such items as formulas, baby foods, diapers and baby wipes. |
Month by Month 72 Hour Kit Ideas
To Compliment the Basic Kit
(For Families)
|
Month |
Item |
Used For |
|
January |
Have Immediately Available: |
|
|
Container: 32 gallon container or |
To store items |
|
|
Individual Back Packs |
||
|
Battery Powered Radio |
News and Updates on Conditions |
|
|
Flashlight with extra batteries |
Light |
|
|
February |
Emergency Needs: |
|
|
Instruction Manuals on Emergency Preparedness |
||
|
Water Storage 1 gallon per person |
(2 gallons per person per day is best) |
|
|
Sleeping bags or blankets per person |
Warmth |
|
|
Fuel for cooking (optional-store with caution) |
||
|
|
||
|
March |
Sanitation Kit Part 1: |
|
|
Plastic bucket with tightly fitted lid |
||
|
Plastic bags and ties |
||
|
Toilet paper |
||
|
Disinfectant |
||
|
Improvised toilet seat |
||
|
Personal hygiene items for sanitary purposes |
||
|
Hand Sanitizer |
||
|
April |
Sanitation Kit Part 2: |
|
|
Paper towels |
||
|
Paper cups |
||
|
Paper plates |
||
|
Plastic utensils |
||
|
Can opener (if stored items that need one) |
||
|
Utility Knife (Leatherman or multipurpose handtools) |
||
|
May |
Stress Entertainment: |
|
|
Children: Coloring books, crayons, story books, items your children enjoy |
||
|
Adults: Books, needle work, hobbies and entertainment your family enjoys |
||
|
June |
Food Part 1: |
Light |
|
Ready-to-eat (canned) – 3 day supply |
||
|
Meats: tuna, sardines, Vienna sausages, salmon (1/2 pound per person) |
||
|
Pork and beans (1/2 pound per person) |
||
|
Fruit cocktail (1/2 pound per person) |
||
|
Peanut butter (1/2 pound per person) |
||
|
Powdered milk (1/2 pound per person) OR Canned Milk |
||
|
July |
Food Part 2: |
|
|
Canned juices (46 oz. per person) |
||
|
Dried fruit: (CAUTION-drink plenty of water) |
||
|
Apricots, raisins, prunes, fruit roll-ups, fruit gushers etc. |
||
|
Crackers |
||
|
Graham crackers (1 pound per person) |
||
|
Infant care: Canned milk (formula) and bottles |
||
|
August |
Stress Foods: |
|
|
Sugar cookies |
||
|
Sweetened cereals |
||
|
Hard candy |
||
|
September |
Home Standard First Aid Kit Part 1: |
|
|
Adhesive tape |
||
|
Ammonia |
||
|
Antibiotic ointment |
||
|
Bicarbonate of soda |
||
|
Calamine lotion |
||
|
Consecrated oil |
||
|
Diarrhea remedy |
||
|
Elastic bandages |
||
|
First Aid instruction book |
||
|
Gauze bandages |
||
|
Hot-water bottle |
||
|
Hydrogen peroxide |
||
|
Knife |
||
|
Latex Gloves |
||
|
Matches |
||
|
Measuring cup |
||
|
October |
Home Standard First Aid Kit Part 2: |
|
|
Medicine dropper |
||
|
Needles |
||
|
Nonprescription drugs, including: |
||
|
Pain reliever, such as aspirin |
||
|
Antacid |
||
|
Laxative |
||
|
Anti-diarrhea medication |
||
|
Any medication commonly used by members of the household. |
||
|
Paper bags |
||
|
Petroleum jelly or other lubricant |
||
|
Prescription medications |
||
|
Razor blades |
||
|
Rubbing alcohol |
||
|
Safety pins |
||
|
Soap |
||
|
Scissors |
||
|
Thermometer |
||
|
Tongue blades |
||
|
Triangle bandages |
||
|
Tweezers |
||
|
November |
Car (Traveling) First Aid Kit Part 1: |
|
|
Blanket |
||
|
Flashlight with batteries |
||
|
Reflectors and flares |
||
|
An "emergency, call police" sign to put in the windshield and a red or white cloth that could be tied to an antenna. |
||
|
12-foot jumper cables |
||
|
Utility knife |
||
|
Tire inflater (such as Fix-A-Flat) |
||
|
December |
Car (Traveling) First Aid Kit Part 2: |
|
|
Small First-aid kit |
||
|
Clothing and bedding are vital when driving in winter conditions. Make sure you have a full extra set of clothing for everyone and that all the items of clothing and footwear fit properly and are practical. |
||
|
Water |
||
|
1 quart oil |
||
|
Have extra bottled water or Gatorade for drinking during the warmer seasons. |
||
|
A simple stock of food, including chocolate bars for winter-time in Ziplock™ bags. |
||
|
Rope |
||
|
Extra fuses |
ANOTHER MONTH-TO-MONTH SCHEDULE FOR 72 HOUR KITS
(Content provided by Mary Catherine ("Cathy") Miller)
1ST MONTH
1 gallon water per person
scriptures
personal documents--genealogical records, wills, passports, insurance, contracts, birth certificates, patriarchal
blessings, etc.
$25.00 cash
2ND MONTH
1 pound dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)
1 package soda crackers per person (4 per box)
1 package graham crackers per person (4 per box)
2 liters tomato or orange juice per person (Note: these items will be rotated every 6 months)
ALSO make a goal to always have the fuel tanks on ALL vehicles at least half full.
3RD MONTH
4 granola bars per person
2 sticks beef jerky per person
1 package chewing gum per person
hard candies or lollipops--at least 12 per person (note these items will be rotated every 6 months)
4TH MONTH
battery powered radio
battery powered light
batteries
5th MONTH
Container for holding kit. Large garbage cans with wheels OR a back pack for each family member recommended. Find a place in your home that is easily accessible for storing the kit. You need to be able to grab it at a moment's notice to leave your home. Note: Your first aid kit is also part of the 72 hour kit. Note: your 72 hour kit is also part of your general storage, but your general storage CANNOT be part of your 72 hour kit. When you need it there may not be time to gather it together for transport.
6th MONTH
Emergency blankets (the silver foil ones)
gather items to entertain your family and include in kit--UNO cards, coloring books and crayons, x-stitch kit etc. Be sure to include paper and pencils.
camp stove or portable BBQ and fuel
mosquito repellant
$25 cash
7th MONTH
1 can tuna per person
1 can pork and beans per person
1/2 pound dried milk per person
2 packets hot chocolate mix per person (or 1 large can per family).
2 instant soup packets per person (these should be rotated every year)
disposable plates, cups, bowls and flatware
pet supplies-be sure to include dishes, leash and extra water
8th MONTH
1 pound dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)
1 package soda crackers per person (4 per box)
1 package graham crackers per person (4 per box)
2 liters tomato or orange juice per person (Note: these items will be rotated every 6 months)
9th MONTH
4 granola bars per person
2 sticks beef jerky per person
1 package chewing gum per person
hard candies or lollipops--at least 12 per person (note these items will be rotated every 6 months)
Check batteries for light and radio. Replace if needed.
10th MONTH
soap
toothbrushes and toothpaste
shaving supplies
infant needs
feminine needs
disinfectant
aluminum foil
11th MONTH
garbage bags
candles
matches
can opener
12th MONTH
Gather a change of clothing including underwear and shoes for each family member--include warm coats and boots, or have them immediately accessible.
ax, shovel and bucket
utility knife
$20.00 cash
$5.00 in change for phone
13th MONTH
72 hour kit:
1 gallon water per person
scriptures
personal documents--genealogical records, wills, passports, insurance, contracts, birth certificates, patriarchal blessings, etc.
$25.00 cash
14th MONTH
1 pound dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)
1 package soda crackers per person (4 per box)
1 package graham crackers per person (4 per box)
2 liters tomato or orange juice per person (Note: these items will be rotated every 6 months)
ALSO make a goal to always have the fuel tanks on ALL vehicles at least half full.
15th MONTH
4 granola bars per person
2 sticks beef jerky per person
1 package chewing gum per person
hard candies or lollipops--at least 12 per person (note these items will be rotated every 6 months)