72-Hour Survival Kit

What is a 72-hour survival kit? The 72 refers to a three day period of time. The 72-hour survival kit, along with the things you add to it, is designed to provide you with what you need to survive for three days. The 72-hour survival kit is specifically valuable if you need to evacuate your home for any reason (flooding, earthquake, fire, hurricane, terrorist attack.) Store this 72-hour survival kit in a convenient location so that you can grab it easily once you’ve made the decision to evacuate.

Although it’s perfect for evacuation, the 72-hour survival kit would be a life-saver in an emergency where you were at home but had no power. It covers the basic needs of water, food, light and communication.

When we first decided to put together a 72-hour survival kit, we researched what other kits were available, their contents and price. We found 72-hour survival kits costing $29.99 which included barely anything to kits costing $600 which included everything but the kitchen sink and weighed accordingly. We thought about what we wanted in a 72-hour survival kit and put together a kit with the items we would want with us in case of an emergency.

Our 72-hour survival kit is made up of quality items that one would not normally have around the house or be able to purchase easily from their local department store. We did not include a daypack in our 72-hour survival kit as we felt many people already own packs or could easily pick up their own from a local store. Also, some people would want to put the items into a larger, backpacking pack so they could add a sleeping bag, pad, tarp and rope, etc. We do have the daypack as an optional upgrade. We did not include a first aid kit as these are readily available from your local store and each family can choose the kit they feel would best meet their needs.

So what are the most important areas that need to be considered in any survival situation and how does our 72-hour survival kit meet those most basic needs.

Water

The first area is water. We suggest you store at least three 16 oz water bottles right in your 72-hour survival pack. This size bottle is readily available. Use old juice or soft drink bottles if you like. Every six months empty these bottles and fill with fresh water. Pick two days like the 4^th of July and New Years for this project which would take only a few minutes.

In our 72-hour survival kit we have included a bottle of Potable Aqua water purification tablets. We included the water purification tablets in our 72-hour survival pack in the likely scenario that you would be near a water source such as a stream, creek, river, lake, or spring. Just fill up your 16 oz water bottle from the surface water, add 1 water purification tablet, follow the instructions on the bottle and let the water sit for 30 minutes. These tablets will wipe out bacteria and other micro organisms such as viruses and protozoa found in unsafe water, including giardia. These Potable Aqua tablets are used widely by the US military and other militaries around the world to purify water from outdoor sources and prevent waterborne health problems. They are also the favored method for water purification by outdoor enthusiasts.

If you are using your 72-hour survival kit to survive an emergency at home, you can increase your available drinking water by using the Potable Aqua tablets to purify water from your hot water heater, water remaining in your pipes and water dipped from the tank of toilets (not the toilet bowl). Read our chapter on water in the book, Do-It-Yourself Emergency Preparedness, for more information. In the event of natural or man-made disasters, more civilians eventually perish from the effects of bad water than from the direct effects of the disaster itself. Having water purification tablets in your 72-hour survival pack will greatly enhance your chances of surviving such a disaster and maintaining your health. We have also included an excellent portable water filter as a possible upgrade in our kit. It is interesting that most people did not die of thirst but of drinking contaminated water.

Food

The next area is food. When putting together our 72-hour survival kit, we realized how important nutrition is during an emergency. When we are under stress; physical, emotional, or both, having enough good-tasting food is critical. When investigating other 72-hour survival kits, we were surprised to find one of the top companies in the field included only two bars, one bag of survival candy and six Emergen-C drink packets for the whole three days. We decided to emphasize lightweight, nutritious, dehydrated food. We have included three meals for each of the three days, nine meals in all per person plus an energy bar each day for each person. If you have children, having enough food is doubly important for them to function normally on an emotional and physical level. Our 72-hour survival pack was designed to meet both physical and emotional needs. The additional 16 oz. of water/day needed to rehydrate the food can either be carried or purified on the go.

Light

The third area is light. The flashlight we have included in our 72-hour survival kit is very lightweight, bright and efficient. It is a wind-up flashlight that also includes a radio. It never needs baterries The LED bulbs in this flashlight do not break so you can count on it working when you need it to. We are also including a 36-hour candle which can be used for light, heat, (no cold hands) and cooking. Being able to heat up the water to rehydrate your meals, (they will rehydrate with cold water, too) will provide a large degree of comfort.

Communication

The fourth area is communication. The radio we put in our 72-hour survival kit is a combination flashlight radio for convenience and lighter weight. No matter what, this radio will always have power. It receives AM/FM broadcast band, VHF band (including weather), TV channels 2-13 and four shortwave bands.

The radio first and foremost will allow you to hear all the emergency broadcasts that are put out by the police, government agencies or emergency personnel. With normal communication systems cut off, the only viable source of knowledge about what is happening in other areas--locally, nationally or even internationally—is a radio. Hearing these emergency broadcasts will give you the information you need to make good decisions about your situation. It will give you an accurate picture of what is happening in your area so that you can make plans to insure the best possible survival of yourself and your family, even your neighborhood.

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We have included a well thought-out checklist in our 72-hour survival kit. This list includes things you will undoubtedly want to add to your pack as well as some optional items. This list allows you to personalize your 72-hour survival kit to suit your needs. The investment you make in buying our 72-hour survival kit goes toward high quality, reliable items. The other items you may want to include can be gathered from around your house or purchased at a nearby department store.

We hope this information has been helpful on your path to preparedness. Now it’s time for you to do your part by taking action and buying a 72-hour survival kit without further delay.