Whether you’re hitting the road, the trail, or the couch, building a basic emergency preparedness kit is an essential task that is often overlooked. We get it, not everyone wants to have three months worth of nonperishables stored in their shed; but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
A basic emergency preparedness kit has essentials that can help you in more extreme scenarios, or it can just make dealing with less extreme cases a bit easier to manage. Get stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike behind a wreck for three hours in the middle of winter and you’ll be glad you threw that spare blanket and snack in your trunk. Trust us.
Getting Started
You may need to survive on your own for several days after an emergency, but most experts recommend being prepared with supplies to survive for a minimum of 72 hours (the window within most emergency scenarios are resolved).
Below is a list of items to get your basic emergency kit started for, and some options for different applications. Remember, at Cairn, we’re not survival experts; but we’re experienced in the outdoors and have learned the lessons of being unprepared the hard way.
Packing
Pack your items in one (or two, depending on the intended use) easy to carry containers. Plastic bins, backpacks, or duffel bags are handy for this. If you want to skip putting a kit together for yourself, we’re big fans of the Uncharted Supply Co. Seventy2 Survival System. It’s super portable and was developed with survival experts to contain everything you’d need for 72 hours of survival.
Foundation Items
Here are a few additional suggestions for specific applications.
Home
Car
Additional items for your car in winter:
Travel / Adventure:
If you’re headed out on the trail or into the backcountry, you’ll need to be efficient with what you carry.
Bonus points: Bivystick – This might be considered a splurge, but if you head into the backcountry on a regular basis, you and your loved ones will be thankful for the peace of mind it brings. The device turns (that doubles as a charger) turns your smartphone into a satellite communication device, allowing you to get messages, send messages, location, and more even when you have no cell coverage.
Special Considerations:
What else would you add to the list? Any favorite products you wouldn’t leave out of your emergency kit? Comment below!