72 Hour Kits - How do I customize my own pack?

Asking yourself questions may help you prepare.

What would I have needed if I was near 9/11 (dust masks, family pictures to help locate lost ones)? Hurricane Katrina (backpack with wheels so you could walk outside of the affected area, small bills to pay for gas or water bottles)? Does my family have any special needs (often items such as medicine can’t be purchased and placed in your kit ahead of time, so tape a note to the outside—saying “Grab medicine, or Grab baby formula.”)? What weather may I be in (mittens for winter, sunscreen or bandana to shield from the sun, or garbage sacks to line the inside of your pack with in case it’s rainy weather)? What if my loved ones were not with me (Separate kit for the workplace, pop top lids for young children’s backpacks so they can get in cans independent of you, paper and pencil to leave notes on message boards)? Will I remember important phone numbers (In emergency situations it’s hard to remember even the simplest facts such as out-of-state relatives phone numbers or work numbers of family members—put them in writing in your pack)? Will my kids need comfort/distractions (think of sitting in the Superdome for 3 days– maybe stickers or glow sticks)? Will there be those who need priesthood blessings (consecrated oil)? Will I need a pack horse to carry all of this? Just Kidding!

It’s also helpful in rotating packs when two lists are kept in the front pocket—one of perishable items that need to be rotated yearly, and one of non-perishable items. This also helps me remember what’s in there so I don’t have to empty it and check if I already have something when I hear of an item I want to add.

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 1 - Adult Male

Everyone's kit needs to be personalized to meet individual needs. Here is just one example of a kit:

Food & water (*See food list below)
Garbage bags (lines the inside of pack to keep rain out & can be used for other things)
Socks/hat/gloves
Consecrated oil for giving priesthood blessing
Handwarming packs
tarp/emergency blanket combo
candy assortment
First Aid Kit: plastic gloves, acetaminophen, antiseptic, tape, safety pins, bug spray, chapstick w/ sunscreen, antihistamines, decongestants, sunscreen, burn spray
Flashlight & batteries
Cigarette lighters for lighting fires
Pocketknife (12 in 1 tool)
Handcranked radio/flashlight/cell phone charger combo
Soap
Plastic spoons
Rain poncho
Can opener
Baby wipes
Ziplock bags
Cash in small bills
Water purifying kit
Paper and pencil
3 lightsticks
Whistle
Rope of med. weight
String or wire
2 sterno cans
Family photo
Hand sanitizer
Candle
Dusk mask
Toilet paper
Toothbrush w/ built in toothpaste
Emergency Contact List including: Male’s name, if applicable – spouse’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.
Folding saw strapped to outside of pack for cutting firewood

Food menu:
1 tube Ritz crackers in hard cracker Tupperware container
1 can stew
1 can chicken pieces
1 can tuna
1 bottle Gatorade
2 water bottles
(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)
1 Pre-made rice pack
Individual bag of nuts
Can of deluxe nut mix
Indiv. size of goldfish crackers
3 energy bars
2 packets of hot chocolate in plastic baggies to keep from absorbing other flavors
Candy bar
Gum
1 Nutritional drink
Indiv. sized instant oatmeal packet
1 can clam chowder
Dried prunes (or other fruit)
1 can pineapple

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 2 - Adult Female

Remember, everyone's kit must be cutomized to meet individual needs and tastes. Here is one example of what may be in an adult female’s pack:

Food & Water (*See adult male’s)
Tampons & Sanitary pads
Plastic spoons
Sterno cans for heating food
12 in 1 pocketknife
Can opener
Baby wipes
Candle
Hand sanitizer
Whistle
Toilet paper
Cigarette lighters for lighting a fire
First Aid Kit: 2” bandage, 2” gauze, tape, bandaids, antibiotic ointment,
Thread and needle, safety pins
Plastic tablecloth/tarp
Old glasses
Rain poncho
Socks, hat, gloves
3 garbage sacks (lines the inside of pack to keep rain out & can be used for other things)
Water purifier
Hand cranked flashlight/radio/cell phone charger
3 dust masks
Paper & pencil
3 hand warming packs
Family photo
Toothbrush w/ built in toothpaste
Cash in small bills
Emergency Contact List including: Female’s name, if applicable – spouse’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.

(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

*Please comment on what you put in your 72 hour kit!

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 3 - Elementary Age Child

Example of a 7-12 year old child’s back pack:
Food & water (*See food menu)
Plastic spoons
Rain poncho
Hand sanitizer
Mylar blanket
Bandaids
3 glow sticks
(Crayons, small rubber toy or paper doll, stickers, paper, 3 songs photocopied –shrink down to a smaller size. All of these are comfort items. Think of sitting in the Superdome in New Orleans for 3 days!)
12 in 1 pocket knife
Family photo
Cash in small bills
Hand Warmers
3 dust masks
Cigarette lighter for making fires
Socks, gloves, hat
Whistle
Emergency Contact List including: Child’s name, parent’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.


Food Menu (I make a menu so that kids could pace themselves if we were separated):
Day 1:
B: Instant Oatmeal packet & Nutritional drink
L: Tuna & Crackers, Sports drink
D: Package of ready-made rice, water, canned green beans
Day 2:
B: Instant Oatmeal packet, Nutritional drink
L: Power bar & Canned pineapple (all cans have pop–tops and don’t need can opener)
D: Rice (left over from lunch), crackers, and nuts
Day 3:
B: Nutritional drink & energy bar
L: Granola bar & Peanutbutter (I throw in a small jar)
D: Mashed instant potatoe’s

Extra’s:
Candy, indiv. pack of goldfish crackers, 2 Hot cocoa’s, 2 Fruit snacks, energy bar, and Vienna sausage

(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

What's in a 72 hour kit? Part 4 - Young Child

Example of a young child’s backpack (ages 2-6):

Food & water (*See menu below)
Family photo
Whistle
3 Light Sticks
Bandaids
Doll,toy, or comfort item
Crayons, paper, stickers, beads, etc.
Rain poncho
Mylar blanket
Warm pj’s, socks, hat
Emergency Contact List including: Child’s name, parent’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.

(Other items may be carried in their parents kits. Depending on the child’s age, they cannot carry it all themselves. Be warned, they will want their own pack if everyone else has one!)


Food Menu:
Day 1:
B: Nutritional drink & instant oatmeal packet
L: Tuna & pineapple (cans all have flip-top lids so they don’t need a can opener)
D: Ready made rice packet, water
Day 2:
B: Nutritional drink & granola bar
L: Tuna, nuts, hot cocoa
D: Energy bar & canned green beans
Day 3:
B: Nutritional drink & instant oatmeal packet
L: Granola bar & sports drink
D: Instant mashed potatoes, hot cocoa
Extra’s: 2 Fruit Snacks, individual sized goldfish crackers, candy, gum, energy bar, freeze dried strawberries & bananas, vienna sausages.