If you don’t have any ponchos for your family you can get them almost anywhere. Any emergency supply distributor will have them and I have seen them in some Wal-Mart stores and even on occasion in a dollar store. They are very inexpensive, and take up very little space. They are about the size of a 3x5 index card and about ½” thick when they are packaged but open to a full size poncho. They are not fancy but will keep you out of the rain and dry if you happen to be caught in a rainy situation. They are one size fits all but are easily adapted to fit anyone. Grab one for each family member’s kit.
Another thing that is a good idea to have in your kit is an emergency blanket. These too are very inexpensive, about the same size as the ponchos when packed up and will keep you warm. They look like a big sheet of tin foil, but can be used for covering yourself or bedding or whatever. They will insulate you and keep you warm and dry. These too, should be easy to find almost anywhere.
In a situation where there is cold, windy or wet weather, wrapping up in an emergency blanket will lock your body heat inside and keep you warm and dry. If you would rather, you can buy an emergency sleeping bag which is about the same size but works on the same principle except that you can crawl inside of it, like a sleeping bag, and stay totally insulated, warm and dry. They cost a dollar or two more than the emergency blankets, usually $3- $4, but are a great addition to an emergency kit.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
72-hour Kits: Hygiene Supplies
This is where the little travel size bottles and tubes can come in handy in buying supplies for your kits. I did find, however that a travel size tube of toothpaste cost as much as a regular small size tube. Of course, if you have any sample sizes or complimentary bottles of shampoo, hand soap etc. those work great too.
You could make a mini hygiene kit for each family member’s pack. You could do this with an old make-up bag, the zippered bags meant for pencil and school supplies, Ziploc baggies or anything like that. It doesn’t have to be fancy.
Any liquid items should be inside Ziploc bags to prevent leakage. Always assume the worst when packing your kits and make sure everything is protected against any kind of accident.
One note about bar soap: This is an important thing to have in a hygiene kit but most bars of soap really smell. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless it makes everything else in your kit smell or taste like soap; then it is a terrible thing. This happened when we once switched out our food and clothes at the 6-month mark: the food tasted like soap! It is a good idea when purchasing your bars of soap if you are buying them, to buy unscented soap so that it doesn’t make any of your food in your kits taste like soap. The problem is that even by putting the soap inside baggies, the smell and taste can still penetrate your food. If possible use unscented soap or put it in a different bag than your food kits are in. The soap in your kits will not need to be rotated so it may be worth it to spend a little more and get unscented soap for your kits then you don’t have to worry.
An even better idea is to put your soap in a different bag than any of your food or snacks. I saw one idea where there was a family hygiene kit packed separately in a fishing tackle box or cheap tool box along with the matches, pocket knife, first-aid kits and various other things. If you separate the soap from the food stuffs you can use the complimentary soaps you get at hotels or just save some partially used bars of soap for your kits. The most important thing is keeping the soap away from your food.
Here is a list of things that you should consider including in your hygiene kits. You can add items or take away what you don’t think you need, but in general the hygiene items take up very little space.
Suggestions include:
Bar Soap, Unscented if possible
Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Combs or brushes
Pony tail bands or clips for hair
Deodorant if desired
Hand Towels or wash cloth
Packet of anti-bacterial wipes or hand sanitizer
Kleenexes or Handkerchiefs for each person
Nail clippers or file
Tweezers (optional if you have tweezers in your first aid kits)
Shampoo (Optional)
Chap Stick or lip balm
Disposable razor (optional)
Sunscreen
I really don’t think that everyone in an emergency will be sitting around washing their hair. And as gross as it would be to not brush your teeth for 3 days, it wouldn't kill you. As long as you have something to sanitize your hands with, you could probably go without these. (But really... who wants to??) These items are so small and light that it's almost insignificant the amount of space and weight they take up. So, just add them. Think of how much better you will feel after brushing your teeth, even if your whole body is dirty. If it happens that your emergency lasts longer than 3 days, you’ll be glad you are prepared.
You could make a mini hygiene kit for each family member’s pack. You could do this with an old make-up bag, the zippered bags meant for pencil and school supplies, Ziploc baggies or anything like that. It doesn’t have to be fancy.
Any liquid items should be inside Ziploc bags to prevent leakage. Always assume the worst when packing your kits and make sure everything is protected against any kind of accident.
One note about bar soap: This is an important thing to have in a hygiene kit but most bars of soap really smell. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless it makes everything else in your kit smell or taste like soap; then it is a terrible thing. This happened when we once switched out our food and clothes at the 6-month mark: the food tasted like soap! It is a good idea when purchasing your bars of soap if you are buying them, to buy unscented soap so that it doesn’t make any of your food in your kits taste like soap. The problem is that even by putting the soap inside baggies, the smell and taste can still penetrate your food. If possible use unscented soap or put it in a different bag than your food kits are in. The soap in your kits will not need to be rotated so it may be worth it to spend a little more and get unscented soap for your kits then you don’t have to worry.
An even better idea is to put your soap in a different bag than any of your food or snacks. I saw one idea where there was a family hygiene kit packed separately in a fishing tackle box or cheap tool box along with the matches, pocket knife, first-aid kits and various other things. If you separate the soap from the food stuffs you can use the complimentary soaps you get at hotels or just save some partially used bars of soap for your kits. The most important thing is keeping the soap away from your food.
Here is a list of things that you should consider including in your hygiene kits. You can add items or take away what you don’t think you need, but in general the hygiene items take up very little space.
Suggestions include:
Bar Soap, Unscented if possible
Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Combs or brushes
Pony tail bands or clips for hair
Deodorant if desired
Hand Towels or wash cloth
Packet of anti-bacterial wipes or hand sanitizer
Kleenexes or Handkerchiefs for each person
Nail clippers or file
Tweezers (optional if you have tweezers in your first aid kits)
Shampoo (Optional)
Chap Stick or lip balm
Disposable razor (optional)
Sunscreen
I really don’t think that everyone in an emergency will be sitting around washing their hair. And as gross as it would be to not brush your teeth for 3 days, it wouldn't kill you. As long as you have something to sanitize your hands with, you could probably go without these. (But really... who wants to??) These items are so small and light that it's almost insignificant the amount of space and weight they take up. So, just add them. Think of how much better you will feel after brushing your teeth, even if your whole body is dirty. If it happens that your emergency lasts longer than 3 days, you’ll be glad you are prepared.
72 Hour Kits: Clothes
One thing that is a must to include in your 72-Hour kits is a change of clothes for each member of the family. Depending on the circumstances, the clothes you are wearing maybe wet, torn, filthy, inappropriate for weather conditions or depending on your situation even just plain inadequate.
Consider your climate when choosing extra clothing. Most people can’t afford to put a whole change of regular clothes, Levis, and shirts, good sturdy shoes and etc but here are some ideas.
First, if you have extra Levis, shirt, sturdy shoes etc that you can include in your kit, great. Just make sure that they will fit children or others in 6 months to a year’s time. Some choose to include sweats for each family member.If you are worried that sweats would be too warm in a summer disaster, throw in a t-shirt. However remember nights are cooler most everywhere and you may be sleeping in these clothes. Choose good sturdy shoes as well as socks if you can, unless you know for sure that each person will be wearing good sturdy shoes when a disaster hits.
Some people opt to change out the clothes in their kits every 6 months for the season ahead. If you wish to do this, go for it. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you include a full change of clothes for each person right down to the underwear.
I’ve heard people say, it’s only for 3 days; we’ll make do with what we have on. Just remember, it is a 72-hour kit but not necessarily a 72-hour disaster. And if it is a disaster of any magnitude, what you have in your kit that you don’t need, will certainly help someone else out.
Don’t forget the baby or toddler who may need diapers or more changes of clothes than everyone else. If you keep a well stocked diaper bag that you can always plan on being ready to go in a moment’s notice that would be great.
Begin gathering what clothing you can now and make sure to do it for everyone in the family. On lady said, when I rotate every 6 months, I remove the clothes that the kids might grow out of in another 6 months and replace them so they can wear them before they outgrow them and replace them with clothes that might be a smidgen too big. Good advice.
As you start to collect clothing for your kits, you’ll get a feel for what you need. Remember, in a disaster no one is going to care what you are dressed like so don’t be too worried about fashion. Comfort and warmth are much more important.
Consider your climate when choosing extra clothing. Most people can’t afford to put a whole change of regular clothes, Levis, and shirts, good sturdy shoes and etc but here are some ideas.
First, if you have extra Levis, shirt, sturdy shoes etc that you can include in your kit, great. Just make sure that they will fit children or others in 6 months to a year’s time. Some choose to include sweats for each family member.If you are worried that sweats would be too warm in a summer disaster, throw in a t-shirt. However remember nights are cooler most everywhere and you may be sleeping in these clothes. Choose good sturdy shoes as well as socks if you can, unless you know for sure that each person will be wearing good sturdy shoes when a disaster hits.
Some people opt to change out the clothes in their kits every 6 months for the season ahead. If you wish to do this, go for it. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you include a full change of clothes for each person right down to the underwear.
I’ve heard people say, it’s only for 3 days; we’ll make do with what we have on. Just remember, it is a 72-hour kit but not necessarily a 72-hour disaster. And if it is a disaster of any magnitude, what you have in your kit that you don’t need, will certainly help someone else out.
Don’t forget the baby or toddler who may need diapers or more changes of clothes than everyone else. If you keep a well stocked diaper bag that you can always plan on being ready to go in a moment’s notice that would be great.
Begin gathering what clothing you can now and make sure to do it for everyone in the family. On lady said, when I rotate every 6 months, I remove the clothes that the kids might grow out of in another 6 months and replace them so they can wear them before they outgrow them and replace them with clothes that might be a smidgen too big. Good advice.
As you start to collect clothing for your kits, you’ll get a feel for what you need. Remember, in a disaster no one is going to care what you are dressed like so don’t be too worried about fashion. Comfort and warmth are much more important.
72 Hour Kits: Container
I realize this should have been the first post regarding kits but the first things you need to get started are the containers. There are several things you can use to hold your 72 hour kits and you may have better ideas than mine. Here are some different options:
-Some people use 5 or 6 gallon buckets with handles thinking that the buckets will be useful for seating or holding water or even as a makeshift toilet in an emergency. We made these back home when I was younger and a downside is it is not as easy to carry when it's full, but the emergency may not require lots of walking so it might not matter.
-Some use a back pack for each individual and then a large tote to hold the food for the family. Something similar you could use would be a duffle bag.
-Another option is a rolling suitcase for each person. This can get very expensive so be warned that the cheaper containers you can find the better. You can always upgrade later if you wish.
It doesn’t really matter what you use as long as you get started. You can often pick up used backpacks or duffle bags or find them at discount prices. Gather what you have so you can get started. You may change your mind along the way and that’s okay too as long as you keep working on them.
We will be gathering different items each week so if you want to start with a box for each person and gather containers as we go along that is fine too. The most important thing is to find what works for you.
-Some people use 5 or 6 gallon buckets with handles thinking that the buckets will be useful for seating or holding water or even as a makeshift toilet in an emergency. We made these back home when I was younger and a downside is it is not as easy to carry when it's full, but the emergency may not require lots of walking so it might not matter.
-Some use a back pack for each individual and then a large tote to hold the food for the family. Something similar you could use would be a duffle bag.
-Another option is a rolling suitcase for each person. This can get very expensive so be warned that the cheaper containers you can find the better. You can always upgrade later if you wish.
It doesn’t really matter what you use as long as you get started. You can often pick up used backpacks or duffle bags or find them at discount prices. Gather what you have so you can get started. You may change your mind along the way and that’s okay too as long as you keep working on them.
We will be gathering different items each week so if you want to start with a box for each person and gather containers as we go along that is fine too. The most important thing is to find what works for you.
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