Have you ever gone to open a jar and couldn’t do it? You probably went for your go-to helper. An oven mitt with ridges. A rubber opener. Then what if you need to tighten up a drawer? You get more tools. They are probably all over in different places.
What if you had an emergency? Would you be able to gather all of your items from all over your house in a hurry? What if your car broke down and it was going to be a bit before help could come? What if you had another emergency? Would you be ready? Probably not. That’s why it’s important to have a survival kit ready at all times.
What Should Be in An Emergency Kit
You can buy a premade emergency kit or gather your own personalized supplies and make your own. Either way, you should be ready for a little bit of everything.
- Bottled water
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Non-perishable food
- Whistle
- Blanket
- Compass
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Basic first aid kit
- Phone charger
- Change of clothes
You can add more. This is a good basic kit that should see you through for at least one day should something happen to you. You should have supplies for two to three days realistically. These days with technology, you can usually get help faster. But if your phone dies or you can’t get a signal, it’s best to be prepared.
If you are single, then enough for one person is okay, but it’s better to plan for two people just in case. If you have a family, you’ll need to add extra supplies, obviously, but also think about the ages of who is in your family. You may need to add things like diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, extra clothes if you have little ones, and things to keep kids occupied.
Where to Keep Your Survival Kit
You should really keep your survival kit where you can easily and quickly grab it. If you have a family, then you should make sure everyone knows where it’s located. It shouldn’t be moved around a lot, so no one forgets where the new spot is.
Make sure you go over with everyone in your family where the kit will be kept. Keep a note somewhere or stick it on your fridge. Ask your kids once a month, so they don’t forget.
If you travel a lot or drive a lot for work, then it would be smart to have a kit in your car. If you don’t think it needs to be as extensive, that’s fine, but have the basics to get you through at least one day. If you put it together and toss it in your trunk, then you’ll have one less thing to worry about later.
You Can Also Buy One
There are plenty of places that sell ready-to-go survival kits. You can get smaller basic ones or get ones that will last you a few days. You can get ones that are for two people or five people.
If you don’t want to have to think about what to pack or if you packed enough, then a pre-made kit might be for you. These kits will be a bit more expensive, starting at over $120 for a one-person kit.
The upside is that you won’t have to worry about forgetting something. The quality will be good too. They also come all neatly stored in a nice quality backpack too.
Wherever you get your kit, however you go about putting it together, the important thing is that you have one. Though you may never be stranded on an island all by yourself, you don’t want to be stuck away from home, not knowing how long until help will come. Stay safe!
