Emergency Survival Kit Essentials

It's hard to imagine not having all the things in our life that we take for granted on a day-to-day basis. Just for a minute, think about not having a shower to clean yourself off with in the morning, or maybe not even having running water that would make a shower effective in the first place. You would no longer have an alarm clock to wake you up in the morning, but that might not be a problem because you don't have a bed to sleep in so you probably didn't get to sleep anyway.

It's easy to see how quickly life can get complicated when these everyday items that we assume we will always have are no longer viable, and that's just one quick example. It's important to realize that this possibility exists, and that's why it's so vital to ensure you are well prepared to live without the things that have become such a constant part of your life. If you could only grab one bag with everything you will need for you and your family for days or weeks of survival, would you be ready? This blog post outlines the list of essential items you will need to have ready to go during an emergency or natural disaster so you and your family can survive.

1. Backpack

Your gonna need something to carry all this gear in. Maybe you have one large bag or a bag for each member of your family. Either way, make sure you have something study that you can fit a lot of gear into. Some people pack for 2 days, some for 2 weeks, and some have both ready to go. 

2. Water/Water Purification

Water is essential to life, and you'll need to make sure you have a consistent source. Pack plenty of water to get you by or make sure you have a purification system ready to go.

3. Food

Having some long-lasting food available will be key to curb your appetite during long periods without food. Canned or dehydrated food is best and lasts the longest.

4. Communication Tools

You're going to need to communicate and work together to make it out of a situation like this. Cellphones are great normally, but cell towers could be compromised during a disaster. Ensure you have multiple forms of communication including radio commnication. Go with the 878UVII Plus for maximum capabilities, or the 578UVIII Pro/Plus for your car, or as a base station radio.

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5. Bandages/Gauze

6. Wet Wipes

With the possibility of no running water, it's important to have a way to stay sanitary and sterilized. There's no telling where you'll have to traverse, so having a way to stay semi-cleanly is important.

7. Blanket

It's probably wise to have more than one when in a multi-person scenario. Make sure it's warm and functional. A lot of companies sell emergency blankets made of mylar that can retain up to 50% of your body heat

8. Duct Tape

Use it to secure a shelter, fashion a sling out of it to stabilize a broken limb, or plug a leak in your water supply. The list could go on and on. We all know the ol' saying.

9. General First Aid Kit

Some of the items on this list might be in a first aid kit, but you will want to make sure you have a dedicated kit for your survival bag. Think bandages, a thermometer, tweezers, and antiseptic liquid, etc.

10. Flashlight

The brighter and more durable the better. There are both battery and rechargeable options. Pick what you think is best for your situation and keep battery life in mind, and make sure it has an SOS option.

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11. Multi-Tool

Find a good quality multi-tool that will be used just as the name suggestions. Make sure it's a well-made good quality product. It should have tools like a knife, screwdriver, saw, scissors, and a file among a few others.

12. Matches/Fire Starter

13. Power Bank/Generator

If your in a true survival scenario, a power generator could be the key to making it out on the other side. A lesser version of this is a power bank, which could be great for a day or two, but won't provide constant energy in the long run.

14. Batteries

Double A's, Triple A's and every kind of battery you know your survival kit requires should be in here. Rechargeable batteries work great too as long as the power grid you are relying on is still operational. Also make sure you have an extra battery or two for your 878UVII for emergency comms.

15. Sleeping Bag/Pillow

16. Playing Cards

A small, but entertaining piece of this kit that is a great way to pass the time.

17. Pen & Paper

Keep notes, a travel log, and keep track of your supplies. A pen and paper are useful in some way no matter the scenario.

18. Masks

Some are likely tired of these at this point, but masks are important and keep you from inhaling toxic fumes and chemicals. Who knows what may be in the air you breathe in this kind of situation? 

19. Cooking Vessels

20. Tent

A tent provides a dry place to sleep or stay that keeps you out of the wind. This is a good option for a home base where you keep your supplies, especially if there is nowhere else to go. 

21. Emergency Plan

This is a vital piece to your kit, and it might not necessarily be a physical item. Making sure everyone in your family is on the same page on how to communicate, where to meet up, and how to proceed after disaster is essential.

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22. Reading/Reference Material

Reading material is nice to have but reference material is more useful. Having a book that tells you what flowers you can eat and what kind of water is safe to drink is so valuable when you can't hop on google to figure out the issue in front of you. Survival tips and tricks during a natural disaster are like gold.

23. Gas

Cars, generators, & more. Depending on what you plan to have in your kit, you may need a lot, and you may not need much at all. It's always easy to have an extra few gallons of gas in a jerrycan in the garage so make sure you have some in case you need it.

24. Maps

Remember, we are not relying on the internet or GPS here, so we're going with the original GPS, a Map! A compass is also great if you don't know your directions well. Have local, state, and national maps should they be necessary.

25. Knife

Having a good-quality knife is key to creating your path to survival. Having both a small and large knife is best, but having any quality knife is great. Use it for tons of purposes including protection, food preparation, and even first aid. Never rely on your multi-tool for a job meant for a knife.

26. Toiletries

27. Medication

If you don't have some of the items above in your survival kit, or maybe haven't started building one yet, now is a great time to start. Now you have a list to go off of to help you get building and you may have even thought of some things that aren't on this list that would be vital to your survival. Either way, remember that in an emergency situation or natural disaster, you will need to leave the luxuries behind, and take the only essentials with you.