72-Hour Emergency Kits

Natural disasters happen all the time. Some are big and very devastating. And others are just small and inconvenient. Some disasters take many lives and destroy property and others just delay us in our travels. All you have to do is turn on the news to see an earthquake happening somewhere in the world. Or you can watch your local news and see how the weather is impacting driving and air travel. Since all of these things are basically unpredictable, Petmate fresh flow we need to be prepared for them ahead of time.

One good way to be prepared is by making a seventy-two hour kit. A seventy-two hour kit is a collection of things you would need to survive in case of an emergency. The idea behind a seventy-two hour kit is that it will give you time to get to safety or be found by emergency officials. It includes all types of things including food and clothing. These kits can be purchased or you can put them together yourself. Here is a short list of things you need, if you decide to create your own.

A seventy-two hour kit should have food and water that will last without refrigeration and doesn't require cooking. This may include granola type bars, dry cereal, dried fruit or trail mix and canned meats such as tuna, Vienna sausages, canned juice, gum and hardy candy, and one gallon of water per person.

A seventy-hour kit should also include a full change of clothing, including long sleeve and short sleeve shirts, pants, a jackets, socks and underwear. You will also need a rain poncho, an emergency blanket, and a plastic and cotton sheet.

Fuel and light are also important. Since you don't know what the weather will be, you need to be prepared for cold weather. You should have flashlight and plenty of extra batteries, candles and flares, and a lighter. You should also have water-proof matches. If you carry regular matches, they can get wet and become useless. So, waterproof matches are important.

You will also need equipment to help you get through the disaster. This equipment should include can opener, dishes and utensils, radio with extra batteries, pen and paper, axe, knife, rope and duct tape, first aid kit and toiletries including feminine hygiene products. It's also important to have cleaning supplies, money, and any medication you might need including pain killers for adults and children.

Lastly, if you have children, you could consider adding a stuffed dog to each of the kits. Check online with sites such as http://www.StuffedDogs.org to see what's available.