THE 72 HOUR KIT, John Jackman

   This is a requested add on to my Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage instruction manual. I was not going to do this part for several reasons. But here it is anyway. I will tell you that I have looked at many kits available for sale at various locations. None of them seem to address what a three day emergency is all about. Each have a different theme. One deals only with food, another with signaling and so on. All look more like something just to sell, not use.

If you are serious about what you really need to survive for three days, then the best thing I can do is give you what we did. And, like other things you have read about, it will cost you. And it will be more than you were expecting. Just be ready for that so you are not surprised. First the reasons for it and what matters.

Understand that you need to look at priorities. You need enough things to survive under adverse circumstances. Food IS NOT the most important thing. You can make it for three days without food so just forget that as the most important prospect. If you like those little kits with a power bar in it and some water, go for it. Won't hurt. Not really expensive. But not made for real survival.

What you really need to prepare for are the elements. If you have to pick up and run, it will most likely be away from your safe house. In order, I will dictate what matters to you the most in three days, and few of those commercial kits look at these issues. They are listed by priority:

It is very true that the why of every item could take up several pages. But you would not read all that would you? Let it stand that there is a purpose for everything that there is not room to write about, so I won't. But here is an example:

I will tell you to get a wool blanket. Why not one of another weave like cotton? Rot and wet is the reason. Everything else will not dry out, and will cause other problems. You have a good chance to get wet because you will be outside. Stay wet and hypothermia is a dangerous, life threatening problem. I will say again, there is reason for everything. Here is the list for each person older than twelve. For younger children, each can have a small back pack with personal items. This list also considers weight. Avoid the temptation to put in more. It will be too heavy. [DWC note of December 3, 2006: I just called John to ask him if all the items listed below actually fit in a medium backpack and what the weight is.  John said "Yes, everything fits and the weight is forty-five lbs., so don't keep adding more stuff."]

Here is your checklist:  

Now, if you are not sure what some of these items are for, read the book, Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage, again for an explanation. A three day kit like this will find you on foot without any chance to think. Just time to throw it on your back and go.

There is another kind of 72 hr. kit that you could throw in a car. Put it in a 5 gallon poly bucket. Think in terms of what is in the back pack list. But this time put in more and include a roll of toilet paper and a can stove. (See the book again to see what a can stove is). This time get the round cookie cooler grate. It fits right in and last. Use it to cook on with coals.

Perhaps you can make three buckets plus to put in a car if you are several. That is what we did. One bucket is all cooking equipment with aluminum pans, stoves, spatulas, big spoons, spices and dish washing stuff with that wire rack on top. In this bucket include plates and utensils for your family. The best plates are those heavy aluminum ones that come under commercial ready made pies like "Marie Calendar".

The second is full of a variety of food. You should consider who is in your group and add for one more. You can store some food in a good size plastic picture to mix orange drink in. Be sure to consider the matter [no pun intended] of weight. Find freeze dried or camp meals.

The third bucket is for camp protection. Tarps, ropes, stakes, small hatchet, duct tape, and any other sanitary consideration such as plastic bags, toilet paper, towels and similar items will go here. Take the time to think through what you put in them then put all where they can be reached when you go to drive away.

You will note that the above said three plus. The plus is a tent and sleeping bags for each in your household. Many people keep all their camping stuff in one place. We keep our drive away buckets there too with notes on them telling what each is.

If we had to go in a hurry, two things would happen. First, we grab the back pack kits. Second we each grab a sleeping bag and the family tent.  Then each will pick up one each of the three poly buckets. Take some blankets and all goes to the car or truck. We are out the door in one motion, and no return trips. Then, just inside the garage door we grab two gas cans we have always full of gas. If we have to drive a ways, we will need it.

We have tried this only once, and we left the house in under three minutes from go. One of the minutes was putting on shoes and coat. (We are not always fully dressed all the time.) Anything under ten minutes is good. If you have time to drive, there is at least that much time. Anything faster is back pack mode.

A few years ago, we challenged ourselves to see if we really knew what we were doing. The dare is to just blindly pick it up with no warning and see what works. It was an education. We went to a national park for two days. What a wake up call!! You will really teach yourself a ton and have some fun if you try a dry run like that. Everybody learns. Now we know what to expect and are more realistic about all of it. And if the real emergency happens, we go with confidence and no surprises or regrets.

There is one item that you might consider. A Boy Scout Handbook. In it, you will see things like stripping a tree of leaves to make a pile to sleep on. Comfortable, soft and warm when we are used to a mattress and not the hard ground. You may not have known about those things but they are there to read about. It also has so many other survival ideas inside. And, in that book will be better explanations about what can be done with the list I just gave you. It is not always obvious.

I promise, the day will come that you need this. So, everybody be a scout and "Be prepared".  I wish you well.    

 

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