2015 David DeMille. All Rights Reserved

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2 This ebook is 2015 David DeMille (the Author ). All Rights Reserved. Published in the United States of America. The legal notices, disclosures, and disclaimers in the front and back of this ebook are Law Office of Michael E. Young PLLC, and licensed for use by the Author. All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system -- except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, blog, or website -- without permission in writing from the Author. For information, please contact the Author by at support@essentialsurvivalskills.com. For more information, please read the Disclosures and Disclaimers section at the end of this ebook. First PDF Edition, June 2015 Published by David DeMille (the Publisher ). 1

3 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...3 WHY I WROTE THIS EBOOK...4 BEST WAY TO USE THIS GUIDE...5 MODULE 1: WHAT YOU NEED...6 MODULE 2: EACH ITEM EXPLAINED...9 MODULE 3: CHILDREN, BABY, AND PET CONSIDERATIONS...19 MODULE 4: PACKING YOUR 72 HOUR KIT...21 MODULE 5: INSURING IT IS ALWAYS READY...27 DISCLOSURES AND DISCLAIMERS

4 Introduction Ask yourself this one question: If a disaster or emergency happened right now, how long could I survive on what I have with me? Most experts agree that the first step to being prepared is having a 72 Hour Kit. This means that you can live with the contents that you have for 3 days. Our goal with this ebook is for you to have everything you need to survive for 3 days, with only having to take one trip to the store and about 15 minutes of packing. I know that we all have busy lives, but it is worth it for you and your family to take the time to prepare. If you do it right, it shouldn't take that long to have an effective 72 Hour Kit ready to go at a moment's notice. If you watch the news then you know that disasters, civil unrests, or many other tragedies are happening every day. You might be faced with a huge natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina. You might be faced with a situation like the Atlanta ice storms of 2014, when everyone tried to exit the city at once and people were trapped on the highway. Additionally, civil unrest could separate you from your home and family. These are not hypothetical scenarios, they happen frequently and have managed to catch even the trained experts by surprise. The most common reasons why people are not prepared with a 72 Hour Kit come down to three factors: 1) knowledge, 2) time, and 3) money. This ebook is designed to take these 3 excuses away from anyone. Even if you have never slept a night outside, you can follow this ebook easily. 3

5 Why I Wrote This Ebook The idea for this ebook came over a year ago when my wife and I were preparing our own 72 hour kit. I grew up loving the outdoors. I was an Eagle Boy Scout, now have over 13 years in the Army. I feel confident in my survival skills. I was alarmed when my wife and I were preparing our 72 hour kit because I realize that many of the survival skills that I thought were common knowledge, actually weren't. I was also alarmed to find out that many in my extended family and friends are unprepared for any type of disaster. I wrote an article on preparing a 72 Hour Kit and I have also been asked to give presentations on preparing these kits. Most people I talk to know that they should be more prepared and should have 72 Hour Kits, however they're not quite sure where to start. I wrote this book for the average person who wants to feel safe and prepared, but needs a simple guide on how to get started. I made this ebook to make it easy for busy people to have 72 hour kit which can be made quickly, cheaply, and by anyone regardless of their survival skill level. 4

6 Best Way to use this guide The information in this ebook is designed to help you build a kit to support one person. You should have a 72 Hour Kit for each adult in the family. If you have teenage children then you should seriously consider having one for them as well. Some people have a 72 Hour Kit for every member of the family. If you are just starting out then first focus on having one for the adults, then start with the kids otherwise you may find yourself overwhelmed and do nothing. On page 28 there is a checklist that can double as a shopping list. Print this out and use it to create a shopping list (you can also download it in the Bonuses section) so you can get everything you need with one trip to the store. As you go through this book, write down the quantities that you need to support your family or group. Once your list is complete, go through your house to collect as much as you can from the list. Next take your list to the store and purchase what you do not have in your home. If you took good notes then you should only have to make one trip to the store. Once you return from the store, go to the Packing chapter and put your 72 Hour Kit together. This step should take less than 15 minutes. 5

7 Module 1: WHAT YOU NEED (CHECKLIST) As stated earlier, this checklist is designed for one person. You will need to adjust the quantities on this checklist based on the number of people and their ages in your group. When quantities are specified they are labeled in (parenthesis). Backpack (1 per person) Clothing Shoes (1 pair) Socks (3 pair) Underwear (3) Pants (1 set) Shirt (2) Poncho (1) Emergency Blanket (1) Hand Towel (1) First Aid First Aid Kit Aspirin Hydrogen Peroxide Ibuprofen Tums Bug Repellent Aloe Gel Bismal Tablets Imodium Prescription Medication Food & Water Granola Bars (or substitute) Tuna Packs (or substitute) Soup Packets (or substitute) Water Bottles (6) 6

8 Utensils (optional) Toiletries Toothbrush Toothpaste Chap-stick Deodorant Toilet Paper Moist Wipes Fire & Light Head Lamp Flashlight Batteries (at least two sets to power the head lamp and flashlight) Fire Kit (we will build in step 2) Candles Tools Hatchet (optional) Saw (optional) Shovel (optional) Multi-tool Knife Knife Sharpener (optional) Duct Tape Tarp (6 x8 ) Miscellaneous Sewing Kit Dust Mask (enough for each member at the family) Fishing Kit Tent (optional) Rope Parachute Cord Crank Radio Tin Cup Trash Bags (2) Compass 7

9 Money Documents (insurance cards, prescription refill numbers, friends and family contact information, local maps, etc.) 8

10 Module 2: Each Item Explained At the end of this ebook I included a table that can be used to create a shopping list to identify each item you need to purchase and its quantity. I recommend that you print off that table and write down the quantity of each item that you need. This way, once you finish this Module you can get everything you need with one trip to the store. Backpack You will want a high quality backpack to carry your 72 Hour Kit. To save money try to use one that you already have lying around the house. I have seen some people put their 72 Hour Kits in duffle bags, buckets, or suitcases with rollers. I strongly recommend that you use a backpack. Here are advantages to using a backpack: It will keep your hands free for other tasks. Since it is attached to your body, there is a lower likelihood that it will be stolen or lost. They are designed to evenly distribute weight. A hiker's pack with an internal or external frame is ideal, but any reliable backpack will also work. Here are a few suggestions to look for in a good backpack: Spacious main pocket. Outside pockets with easy access. Make sure the stitching the shoulder straps are strong. Has the ability to attach things to the outside. Try a few of them on to find one with a comfortable fit Clothing 9

11 Before you go out to buy clothes to put into your 72 Hour Kit, go through your closets and the bottom of your drawers. You will probably already have enough clothes that you don't use anymore. Do NOT pack cotton! Cotton may be comfortable to wear but it is the worst thing in any type of survival situation. Cotton is a hydrophilic fabric that easily absorbs and holds onto moisture. You want a fabric that pulls moisture away from the skin, not one that keeps it against your skin like cotton. In cold weather this significantly increases the likelihood of hypothermia or other cold weather injuries. Even if you are packing for warm weather I would stay away from cotton. You will sweat during the day and it will get cool when the sun goes down. You do not want moisture against your skin when it starts getting cold. The most preferred clothing to have against your skin is any type of wicking fabric that pulls moisture away from the skin and dry faster Shoes (Qty: 1 pair) - The easiest thing to do is get an old pair of athletic shoes, running shoes, or hiking boots. I don't recommend going out and buying a new pair shoes for your 72 Hour Kit. If you end up doing a lot of walking, this is not the time to break in the new pair shoes or boots. If you are planning for cold weather then make sure you have the appropriate footwear. This is something that a lot of people overlook when they pack their 72 Hour Kit. Remember that disaster can strike when we least expect it. The last thing you want is to do a lot of walking on flip-flops or dress shoes that you may be wearing when disaster strikes. Socks (Qty: 3 pair) - You need at least three pairs of socks per person. As you walk, your feet will begin to sweat. When your feet sweat you are more prone to blisters so you need to set the socks to rotate to keep your feet dry. Again, stay away from cotton. You want to keep your feet dry to reduce the likelihood of blisters. Underwear (Qty: 3 sets) - You will want at least three pairs of clean underwear... just trust me on this one. Pants (Qty: 1 set) - Pack a pair of used work pants or something durable. 10

12 Shirt (Qty: 3 extra) - Depending on the weather, you may want to have both short sleeve and long sleeve. Factor in night time temperatures. Poncho (Qty: 1) - Most stores with an outdoor department have inexpensive ponchos. Emergency Blanket (Qty: 1) - There are a lot of uses for a Mylar blanket (also called a space blanket). Most common uses all are for warmth, signaling, water collection, shelter, or cooking. This is an inexpensive lightweight, item that has a multitude of uses. Most stores carry these for about $1.00. Hand Towel (Qty: 1) - Pack a hand towel that can be used for cleaning/drying yourself, your equipment, or cleaning up after a meal. Cold Weather Clothing - Depending on the weather that you are planning for, you will want to consider additional cold weather clothing like snow pants, a thick jacket, thermal underwear, winter caps, cold weather socks, gloves, etc. First Aid What you put into your first aid kit will vary depending on your budget, what you are willing to carry, and your first aid knowledge. Some people like to cross-load items to distribute the weight by having their first aid supplies split up between people. I recommend having all the first aid items together so if someone gets sick or injured you only have to look in one place. You don't want to be in a situation where you have to look through one person's back to find the gauze, another person's back to find the antiseptic, and another person's to find the adhesive tape. If you are concerned about being split up then you can have a first aid kit for each adult and/or teenager. First Aid Kit (Qty: At least 1 for the group) - You can buy a premade first aid kit or build your own with supplies you have in your house. If the thought of creating your own first aid kit is too overwhelming then you may be better off getting a premade one from the store. You can get a decent one for $15-20 (if you do not see them in the outdoors section also try the auto section). If you are 11

13 packing for several people then it is more cost-effective to buy these items in bulk to make a first aid kit for each person. Whether you are buying a premade or making your own, here are some things you need to have: First aid guide. Scissors. Tweezers. Rubber gloves. Anti-septic ointment or pads. Alcohol pads. Triangular bandage. Band-Aids (assorted sizes). Gauze pads. Adhesive tape. Elastic bandage wrap. Aspirin. Ibuprofen. Additional Items - Consider including these items if they do not come with your first aid kit. Aspirin Hydrogen Peroxide Ibuprofen Tums Bug Repellent Aloe Gel Pepto-Bismol Tablets Imodium Prescription Medication Remember to check the expiration dates and to rotate the supplies out on anything that expires. Food & Water 12

14 Water (Qty: 1 liter per day for each person) - For hydration and sanitation you should have about 1 gallon of water per person per day (ready.gov/water). If you are willing to use water only for consumption that you may be able to get away and with as little as a 1 L per day. Here are some other guidelines to follow when planning how much water to store: Expectant/nursing mothers, children, or sick will require additional water. If you live in hot areas you will require more water. If you do a lot of traveling or physical labor you will need more water. I recommend commercially packaged water because it has already been treated and has the expiration date clearly marked to make it easy to know when to rotate it out. In a survival situation, do not throw your bottles away because you can reuse them. You should also consider bringing an additional means to collect water. The simplest way is to have either a handheld water filter and are/or something that you can boil it in (small pot or tin cup). Other options include a small bottle with bleach, purification tablets, survival straw (LifeStraw), or a handheld UV water purifier. I personally carry a large tin cup to boil water in. This takes a little extra time but boiling water kills everything that could be harmful. Food - In a survival situation you need to consume a lot of calories. Remember that your body uses calories as fuel. Burning more calories than you consume can have a negative consequences that you want to avoid in a survival situation like fatigue, dizziness, poor judgment, etc. If you anticipate being in the cold then you will need a even more calories to maintain your body temperature. The food you pack really needs to be tailored to your family's dietary needs. Also make sure that you pack food you know that everyone will eat. A survival situation is not the time to experiment on new foods, especially if you have kids. Here are some suggested items: 13

15 MREs (Meal-Ready-to-Eat) or backpacking meals Protein or fruit bars Granola bars Dried fruit Nuts Crackers (unsalted) High energy foods Vitamins Baby formula Comfort foods if you have kids It is also be a good idea to buy MREs (Meal-Ready-to-Eat). These are specially designed for members of the Armed Forces in field conditions. Buying a few of these per person will make it easier to plan your meals. Remember that you may be carrying these food items long distances so stay away from canned foods. Make sure everything is packaged for a single meal, not a single big package. Also try to pack foods that require minimal preparation and cleaning. Toiletries Just because you may be roughing it for a few days doesn't mean that you should ignore hygiene and sanitation. In reality, this needs to become more of a priority in a survival situation. If you are not taking care of yourself then you will be more susceptible to illness and infection. You do not want to get sick in a survival situation, and personal hygiene is the first step to preventing it. Here are some items that you should include. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Chap-stick. Deodorant Toilet Paper (remove the roll to save space). Moist Wipes. Soap. 14

16 Hand Sanitizer. Light With most parts of your survival kit I encourage you to only pack what you need. However when it comes to fire and light you will want to have redundancies. When it comes to fire and light you need to have this mindset: two is one, one is none. Head Lamp (Qty: 1 per person) - A headlamp is probably the most effective light source that you can have. The biggest advantage is that it will free up your hands for other tasks. I encourage you to have two light sources and at least one of these should be a headlamp. When selecting a headlamp I would choose one with the battery size of AA or AAA. I recommend these sizes because they will be easier to find and it will be easy to find other devices that also use these size batteries. Flashlight (Qty: at least 1 spare per adult) - Read the packaging when deciding on the type of flashlight you use. Typically flash lights that are designed to be really bright also require more battery usage. In a 72 Hour Kit you will probably want to choose to conserve battery life over brightness. LED lights typically last much longer. Batteries (Qty: at least 2 spare sets for each electronic device) - Have at least 2 spare sets of batteries for each electronic device. It is also helpful to select devices that use the same size battery. That way you only have to carry one size and they can be interchanged if needed. Fire Kit You probably already have most of the items to make a good fire kit in your house. It's also important to note that what you have in your fire kit is only intended to start a fire. To sustain a fire, you will need to find fuel from your surroundings. As 15

17 a general rule, only use fuel for your fire out of things that naturally grown in nature like wood. Here's a list of things that you can use to create a fire kit: Cigarette lighter Matches (wind or waterproof matches work best) Flint and steel Cotton balls with petroleum jelly rubbed in them (my personal favorite) Small cloth patches (approximately 1 inch squares) with petroleum jelly rubbed in it Twine Dryer lint Gauze or Kerlix Sawdust Toilet/tissue paper (this is not as effective as the items listed above but can be used in a pinch). Candles (Qty: at least 3 for the group) - Small tea light candles work great because they are cheap and they come with in metal casing that covers the bottom and sides. You can get a 24-count package for a few dollars and split them up if you are packing kits for several people. These are also easy to store. I take an empty toilet paper roll and slide the candles inside. Tape off the edges of the toilet paper to keep them from sliding out. Tools Now we will talk about some basic tools that you can include. Some of them are labeled optional because not everyone will find them absolutely necessary. Decide which of these tools you want to include based on your budget and what you are willing to carry round for 3 days. These tools are necessary: Multi tool Knife 16

18 Tarp (this can be used for shelter, water collection, and a number of other things) Duct tape Knife sharpener The following tools are highly encouraged but based on your budget and what you will carry you may choose not to include. Hatchet Saw Shovel Miscellaneous Here's a list of some miscellaneous items that should be included. Not all of these items are necessary, so make the decision based on your budget and what you are willing to carry. Sewing kit Dust Mask (2 or 3 per person) Whistle Fishing kit Tent (optional) Rope or parachute cord Crank radio Tin cup (for cooking or boiling water) Utensils Trash Bags (at least 2) Compass Carabiners Bug repellent Cash. Documents Survival manual Reflective material (for signaling) Chemlights Blanket or sleeping bag 17

19 Small pillow (only if folded up clothes won't do the trick for you) Work Gloves Pet Food and Supplies Ziplock bags (you will use these to keep all your stuff dry) Now it's time to review your list to make sure you have everything you need. Double check everything and specifically look at the quantities if you are packing kits for more than one person. Now start collecting all the items by gathering what you have in your house. If you go to the store before doing this, you may have to make a second trip when you realize you didn't have as many things in the house as you thought. Once you've gathered up everything in your house and set it aside, now it's time to take your list to the store. If you go to a major department store with a food section, you should be a really get everything at one time. 18

20 module 3: Children, baby, AND pet Considerations children CONSIDERATIONS Ideally want to have one 72 Hour Kit per person but with kids, particularly small children, you may not want to have them carry much more than a few items. They will probably get worn out the soonest, so use your best judgment on what you want them to actually carry. Many of the items that I've listed above are intended to be carried by an adult or responsible teenager. If there is anything that you do not feel comfortable with your child having, don't include it in their 72 Hour Kit. You will probably need to cross level the children's clothes and food between the adults. There are two options you can consider when packing 72 Hour Kits for your children. You can have them carry a small backpack or a fanny pack. Another thing to consider is what to include in case of child gets separated. This photograph shows you what we choose to pack for our six year old son. 1. Fanny pack with water bottle 2. Reflective material 3. Glow bracelets (after trying these out we found that they broke too easy while in storage so we don't use them anymore) 4. ChemLight (glow stick) 5. Head lamp (unless your child knows how to put the batteries in by themselves, you want to have them already inside) 6. Whistle 7. Comfort food 8. Nutritious food 9. Poncho 10. Signal mirror 11. Emergency blanket 12. Band-Aids 19

21 13. Family picture (not shown) 14. Contact card with the child's name and parents phone number (not shown) One key thing to keep in mind is that you want to make everything as easy for them as possible. In the worst-case scenario, you have to factor in the possibility that you will be around a lot of people and they may get separated. Many of the items like the whistle, reflective material, chemlight, signal mirror, family picture, and contact card are all intended to help the child be reunited with their parents. It's also important that they understand how to use everything in that little kit, so explain it to them beforehand. We've also had our son wear this when we've done some outdoors activities because if he were to get lost, the contents will make it easier for us to find him. This is just one example. You can also give your child a small backpack with the same contents. Backpack will also have additional room for their clothes, shoes, or other items. BABY CONSIDERATIONS If you have an infant, then you will need to consider additional items like formula, diapers, and baby wipes. Some types of formula need to be mixed with water for, which means you'll need to pack more water as well.***check the baby formula storage requirements*** If you have a toddler then you probably need to pack special food for them as well. Before you buy food, make sure that you check the storage requirements. PET CONSIDERATIONS If you plan on taking your pet with you, then don't forget to add the necessary supplies for your animal. A lot of the considerations for humans also apply to pets namely shelter, water, and food. Leash Water Food 20

22 MODULE 4: Packing your 72 hour kit Congratulations on your progress up to this point. The hardest part is going item by item to decide what to include. The easy part is putting it together, so hang in there and we are almost done. Now don't get too anxious and start putting things into your pack without a plan. We need to be methodical about where we put everything. Some experts say to cross-load everything between people. The primary reason they recommend this is to spread the weight around to make the packs even weights. You can do this if you want, however my personal belief is that this isn't a good idea. For example if you are packing a tent, to cross-load you will have one person carry the polls, another person carry the stakes, and another with the actual tent. If for whatever reason you get separated then you have three people with components of a tent but none of them can actually use them. At this point they re just caring deadweight. That being said, each person should have their own supply of food, water, hygiene and first aid. I would also recommend that each adult have their own knife as well. An important concept to follow when packing your 72 hour kit is to put everything that you may need in a moment's notice where it's easy to get to. For example, you may need your dust masks or first aid kit immediately, so pack them where you can get them easily. Duct tape or your fishing kit won't have the same urgency, so pack them towards the bottom. Another important principle is to pack the heavy stuff at the top and towards the back between your shoulder blades, so it is centered and close to your body. This will put most of the weight of your pack where it is supported by your natural body frame. This also means that you will be using less muscle to hold up your pack. The table below is how I keep track of everything in my 72 Hour Kit. I strongly recommend that you include an inventory like this in your kit to ensure that you remember exactly what is inside. You can download an editable copy of this spreadsheet in the bonus section of the download page. 21

23 Inventory Clothing Fire & Light Item Location Exp Date Qty Item Location Exp Date Qty Shoes Main - 1 Headlamp 1-1 Socks Main - 2 AAA Batteries 1-11 Pants Main - 1 Flashlight 1-1 Shirt Main - 2 Fire Kit 4-1 Poncho 2-1 Candles 4-5 Emergency Blanket 2-1 Hand Towel 1-1 Tools Underwear Main - 2 Item Location Exp Date Qty Hatchet Main - 1 First Aid Saw Main - 1 Item Location Exp Date Qty Shovel Outside - 1 First Aid Kit Main - 1 Multitool 1-1 Hydrogen Peroxide 6-3 oz Knife 1-1 Aspirin 6 Feb Knife Sharpener 1-1 Ibuprofen 6 Mar Duct Tape 4-30 yd Tums 6 Feb-16 1 Electrical Tape 4-30 ft Sunblock 6 Dec-12 1 Tarp 6'x8' Main - 1 Bug Repellant 6-1 Aloe Gel 2oz bottle 6-1 Misc Bismal Tablets 6 Jan Item Location Exp Date Qty Imodium 6 Sep-12 6 Sewing kit 3-1 Mask 3-1 Food & Water Fishing kit 7-1 Item Location Exp Date Qty Tent Main - 4 man Granola Bar 5 Aug-14 6 Parachute Cord Outside - 50 ft Tuna 5 Nov-14 2 Crank Radio 4-1 Soup Packets 5 Jan-12 4 Tin Cup 4-1 Water Main - 4 Trash Bag Main - 2 Utensils 5-3 Compass & Whistel Outside

24 Can Opener 1-1 Toiletries Item Location Exp Date Qty Toothbrush 2-1 Toothpaste 2-1 Chapstick 2-1 Deodorant 2-1 Toilet Paper 4-1 Moist Wipes 10 pack 2-1 An important thing to remember is that when you actually use your 72 Hour Kit, it could be months or years from now. By the time you use it you may not remember what you put in there or where you put it. So when the time comes, you may have forgotten exactly what you have and where it is. At that point, you may have to go through your pack and take everything out looking for what you need, just hoping that it's there. What I've done to make this easier is mark each pocket with a number. As I pack the 72 Hour Kit, I made a list of everything I have in it and where it is located. I have also included the expiration date and quantity of each item. This makes it easier to know what needs to be replaced. Packing Let's start with the main compartment of your pack. We want everything that goes into our pack to be waterproofed. To do this for the main compartment, take one of your trash bags and line the inside of your pack. Now take all your clothes and anything else you want to go into your main compartment and place them inside. 23

25 Now you'll want to seal the bag by pushing all the air out of it then tying it off. If you are carrying water, it is a good idea to carry it in the main compartment as well. The reason for this is because it is probably going to be one of the heaviest item carried so you will want it high in the pack and close to your body to reduce fatigue if you are traveling. You can also look at other things that you might want to put in the main compartment, like tent or food. Just make sure that you don't put anything in there that will puncture the trash bags and undo the waterproofing that you just did. Packing the rest of your kit and will depend on a lot of factors, like what you decide to carry and how many compartments it has. Now look at everything you have and decide where you want to put it in your 72 Hour Kit. Before you put any item into your kit, I recommend sealing it in a Ziploc bag to make it water proof. Another important point is to keep everything that you will use together in the same pocket. For example, keep batteries in the same place you keep your flashlight. Also, keep your utensils with your food. This makes it easier when you're going in and out of your 72 Hour Kit and will keep it organized. Do not store your batteries inside anything electronic or in your flashlight. You don't want something to inadvertently turn on your flashlight while in storage. Then when you need it, the batteries are already dead. I keep my head lamp with a 24

26 set of batteries in the same Ziploc bag. When I need light, they are together with a fresh set of batteries. The following items need to be packed last so that they are easier to get to: Poncho Flashlight (or headlamp) Dust mask First aid kit Now some things like your tools, rope, tent, sleeping bag can be attached to the outside. Carabiners are the best thing to use to attach things to the outside. Make sure that they are tied down securely to the bag so they don't dangle and rub against your body. If you have to do any walking you don't want them constantly hitting the side of your body. If you are taking a sleeping bag and decide to pack it on the outside, line the inside of your stuff sack with a trash bag to keep your sleeping bag dry. Storage If you follow all the steps above, you now have a 72 Hour Kit. There is one more important thing you need to consider, and that is where to store it. Your individual circumstances will largely determine where you store it. Here are some common places where people store their 72 Hour Kits: Trunk of your car Closet Garage This is really an individual decision based on your own circumstances. The key principles are that they need to be stored somewhere where it can be grabbed and ready to go at a moments noticed. It also needs to be out of the way for your daily lives. 25

27 I personally store ours in the trunk of our car. I do this because we are typically wherever our car is. If something happens when we are on vacation, then our 72 Hour Kits are with us. And if we're at home than our car is always there with us. Congratulations! If you have made it this far and followed the instructions, you now have a 72 Hour Kit for yourself and everyone in your family. More importantly, you have peace of mind because you know that if a disaster strikes today, you are prepared. 26

28 MODULE 5: ENSURING IT IS ALWAYS READY There are just a few principles that we need to go over to ensure that your 72 hour kit is always ready to go at a moment s notice, whether it be tomorrow or years from now. Maintain your kit, and don t cannibalize it. At some point the batteries to your remote will die, you will need a Band-Aid, or you will need a flashlight and can't find one. You are going to be tempted to go get them out of your 72 Hour Kit. You will tell yourself that you will replace them the next time you go to the store. Don't do this because you will forget and it won't be there when you really need it. Once it's in your 72 Hour Kit, it is no longer part of your household inventory. Your kids will survive if the batteries to the Wii remote die and they have to wait until the next time you go to the store. Rotation is essential. Things like your water, food, batteries, prescriptions, and first aid supplies have expiration dates. You need to make sure that you rotate these things out. It is a good idea to write down the expiration dates when you pack them onto one document. This way when you do periodic inspections, you can look at one piece of paper and know everything that needs to be replaced without having to go pull everything apart. Periodic inspections. It's a good idea to inspect your 72 Hour Kit to make sure it is ready to go at a moment s notice. If you do this right should only take about five minutes. I recommend doing this twice a year once the spring and once in the fall. In the fall it is a good idea to make sure you have everything you need and in the case of cold weather. In the spring you may want to take your cold-weather items out and customize it for hot weather. 27

29 I created this spreadsheet to make it easy for you to organize your shopping list. We all have busy lives and I am worried that some people won't take the trouble to make their 72 Hour Kit because it takes too much time. I created this list to take that excuse away. If you use this spreadsheet you can create a detailed shopping list and get everything in one trip to the store. Checklist/Shopping List Carrier Item Recommendation # Per Person Total For Group Backpack 1 per person Clothing Item Recommendation (in addtion to what each person is wearing) # Items Per Person Total For Group Shoes 1 extra pair per person Socks 3 extra pairs per person Underwear 3 extra per person Pants 1 extra per person Shirt 3 extra per person Poncho 1 per person Emergency Blanket 1 per person Hand Towel 1 per person Additional Cold Weather Clothing Snow pants, thick jacket, thermal underwear, etc. as needed First Aid Item Recommendation # Items Per Person Total For Group First Aid Kit At least 1 for the group Include the following items if they are not already a part of your first aid kit Hydrogen Peroxide At least 1 bottle for the group Aspirin At least 1 small bottle for the group Ibuprofen At least 1 small bottle for the group Tums At least 1 roll for the group Sunblock At least 1 small bottle for the group Bug Repellant At least 1 small bottle for the group 28

30 Aloe Gel 2oz bottle At least 1 small bottle for the group Bismal Tablets At least 1 for the group Imodium At least 1 small bottle for the group Prescription Medication Rotate at lease a 3 day supply Food & Water Item Recommendation # Items Per Person Total For Group Water 1 liter per day for every person Water Filter 1 for the group (optional) Protein or Fruit Bars Enough for 3 days Granola Bars Enough for 3 days Dried Fruit Enough for 3 days Nuts Enough for 3 days Crackers (unsalted) Enough for 3 days High Engergy Foods Enough for 3 days Vitamins Enough for 3 days Baby Formula Enough for 3 days Additional Food Items Enough for 3 days Enough for 3 days Enough for 3 days Toiletries Item Recommendation # Items Per Person Total For Group Toothbrush 1 per person Toothpaste At least 1 for the group Chapstick 1 per person Deodorant 2 per person Toilet Paper At least 1 roll for the group Moist Wipes 1 pack per person Soap At least 1 for the group Hand Sanitizer At least 1 for the group Light Item Recommendation # Items Per Person Total For Group Head Lamp 1 per person (including children) 29

31 Flashlight 1 spare flashlight per adult Batteries At least 2 spare sets for each headlamp or flashlight Fire Item Recommendation # Items Per Fire Kit Total For Group Cigarette lighter 1 per fire kit Matches At least two small boxes per fire kit (wind and waterproof) Flint and Steel Fire Starter 1 per fire kit Choose from the following items Cotton Balls with Petroleum Jelly for each fire kit Cloth patches with Petroleum Jelly for each fire kit Twine Approximately 3 feet Dryer lint Put some in small ziplock bag Gauze or Kerlix A few for the group Sawdust Placed in a small ziplock bag Toilet/tissue paper A small amount placed in a ziplock bag Candles At least 3 for the group Item Tools Recommendation Multitool 1 per adult Knife 1 per adult Knife Sharpener 1 per adult Duct Tape 1 per adult Tarp (6' x 8') 1 for the group. If large group consider 2 or 3 Hatchet At least 1 for the group (optional) Saw At least 1 for the group (optional) Folding Shovel At least 1 for the group (optional) # Items Per Person Total For Group Miscellaneous Item Recommendation # Items Per Person Total For Group Sewing Kit At least 1 for the group Dust Masks 2 or 3 per person Whistle 1 per person Fishing Kit 1 for the group (optional) Tent 1 for the group (optional) 30

32 Rope or Parachute Cord Crank Radio Tin Cup Utensils Trash Bags Compass Carabineers Bug Repellent Cash Documents Survival Manual Reflective Material Chemlights Sleeping Bag or blanket Small Pillow Work Gloves Pet Food Ziplock bags 25 Feet At least 1 for the group 1 per person 1 spoon or fork per person 2 per person minimum 1 per adult Optional At least 1 for the group Optional Insurance cards, prescription refill numbers, friends and family contact information, local maps, etc. At least 1 for the group Either one for the group or for each person These are great, take as many as you are willing to buy 1 per person 1 per person (optional) 1 per adult Enough for 3 days (may need additional water as well) Enough to put everything in when you pack your kit 31

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