emergency kit
essentials
A well-prepared emergency kit is the foundation of any emergency plan. Tailor your kit to the unique needs of each family member, ensuring it includes essentials for survival and comfort.
emergency kit basics
Goal
In situations like natural disasters, fires, or sudden evacuations, there’s often little time to gather supplies. A ready-to-go kit ensures you can leave quickly and have essential items at hand. Disruptions in services like electricity, water, or access to stores can happen during emergencies. An Emergency Kit or 'Bug Out Bag' includes food, water, and first aid supplies to sustain you for at least 72 hours.
Customizing Your Kit for Your Family’s Needs
Every family is unique, so include items that address specific health, comfort, and cultural needs. Taking the time to customize your kit ensures that everyone feels supported and cared for in an emergency.
Peace of Mind ... Priceless!
Knowing that you are prepared for unexpected events reduces stress and fear, enabling you to respond more effectively during a crisis.
Ensure your kit includes:
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Water, food, and medications.
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Flashlights, batteries, and a radio.
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Copies of important documents (insurance, ID).
Purchasing a quality premade emergency kit like those found at Honey Badger Preps can be a practical and efficient approach to emergency preparedness.
Do you have to? Absolutely not. But here’s why this strategy often works better:
1. Time-Saving
Premade kits come pre-packed with essential items, saving you the time and effort of researching and sourcing each component individually. Plus, once you have the basics, you can quickly add personal items (e.g., specific medications, family-specific needs) rather than starting from scratch.
2. Professional Expertise
Premade kits are typically designed by emergency preparedness experts who understand what’s crucial in different scenarios, ensuring you don’t overlook critical items.
3. Cost-Effective
Bundled kits can be more affordable than buying individual items separately, especially when purchasing high-quality essentials like multi-tools, water purification tablets, or emergency blankets. Spending a little extra on upgrades (like better-quality flashlights or additional first aid supplies) ensures you get the best value without overpaying for non-essential items.
4. Comprehensive Basics
Most kits include universal essentials such as water pouches, basic first aid supplies, and emergency blankets. Just supplement these with specific needs like prescription medications, dietary requirements, baby supplies, pet items, or cultural considerations.
5. Portability and Design
Premade kits often come in well-organized, durable bags or containers designed for easy portability and access during emergencies.
6. Avoids Overwhelm
Premade kits reduce decision fatigue by providing a starting point, particularly for people new to emergency preparedness. Once you have the basics, it’s easier to focus on tailoring the kit to your personal and family requirements without feeling overwhelmed.
Purchasing a quality premade emergency kit combines the benefits of expert design, cost efficiency, and convenience. Customizing it ensures that it meets the specific needs of you and your family, striking the perfect balance between preparedness and personalization.
Here's a small sample of our Honey Badger Preps emergency kits. We hope you'll consider our products if you choose to go this route.
General Essentials
No matter if you're getting a head start with a Honey Badger Prep emergency kit or starting from scratch, you'll need to customize it for your personal situation.
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Water: At least 1 gallon per person per day for 3-7 days (to start but build up as much as possible). Water purification tablets. Some family members require more due to medical conditions such as POTS. Having salt pills on hand would also be helpful.
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Food: Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (e.g., canned goods, protein bars).
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First Aid Kit: Include basic supplies, supplies needed for specialized medical needs, and personal medications. Extra epipens and inhalers if needed.
If necessary: Keep ice packs and a cooler to keep insulin cold
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Tools: Flashlight, multi-tool, whistle, extra batteries including extra batteries for specialized pieces of equipment.
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Clothing: Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.
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Important Documents: Copies of IDs, passports, medical and life insurance, and medical records including a current list of medications and dosages for each family member in a waterproof / fireproof bag.
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Cash: Keep plenty of cash in small denominations in case electronic payment systems are down.
Additional Essentials for Specific Needs
Elders
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Medications: A 30-day supply, including a list of prescriptions and dosages.
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Ice packs and cooler to keep insulin or other medications cold.
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Medical Devices: Extra batteries for hearing aids, blood pressure monitors, or CPAP machines.
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Mobility Aids: Spare cane, walker, or wheelchair.
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Comfort Items: Glasses, dentures, or special dietary items.
Individuals with Disabilities
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Assistive Technology: Backup power for devices like communication aids or ventilators.
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Specialized Supplies: Braille labels, sensory items, or adaptive tools.
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Personal Support Items: Detailed instructions for caregivers on daily needs and routines.
Children
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Comfort Items: Favorite toys, books, or blankets for emotional support.
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Diapers/Wipes: Adequate supply for babies or toddlers.
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Baby Formula: Pre-measured powder, sterilized bottles, and strollers.
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Identification: A recent photo of each child and a list of emergency contacts.
Pets
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Food and Water: 3+ worth of pet food and water (make sure specialized food for pets medical needs is stocked up regularly.) Include a portable bowl for them to drink out of.
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Leash/Carrier: Keep pets secure and comfortable during transport.
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Medical Records: Vaccination records and any required medications. Pet’s records are essential to stay at some shelters.
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Micro-chips: Make sure your pets are chipped and addresses are up to date even for indoor pets. You could get separated in a storm or house fire.
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Comfort Items: A small blanket to cuddle up in and toys especially a string or laser pointer for cats and chew toys for dogs. Don’t forget the thunder vests if they require it.
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Sanitation Supplies: Waste bags or litter.
Women’s Hygiene Needs
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Menstrual Products: Pads, tampons, menstrual cups, or reusable cloth pads.
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Hygiene Items: Extra underwear, feminine wipes, urine funnel, and hand sanitizer.
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Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Supplies: Prenatal vitamins, breast pads, and formula as needed.
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If you take them, don’t forget daily birth control pills.
Storage Tips for Emergency Kits
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Location: Store kits in easily accessible places (e.g., near the front door or in a car).
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Portability: Use backpacks or wheeled bags for easy transport.
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Transportation: Most children over 5 can carry a backpack with essentials (in case of separation) and some dogs can also carry their own.
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Maintenance: Check kits every 6 months to replace expired items or outgrown supplies.