The purpose of a 72 hour kit is to provide enough supplies to sustain oneself for the following three days following an emergency. It is essential to have the kit fully prepared and easily accessible either at home or in a vehicle. In the event of an emergency that necessitates evacuation, one can simply grab the kit while leaving the premises. Typically, the kit consists of various items such as clothing, toiletries, money, provisions, water, communication devices, power sources, and light sources.
The main difference between 72 hour kits and bug out bags lies in their level of durability. Despite both being meant for unexpected situations, 72 hour kits are specifically created for a temporary absence from home with the expectation of returning back. On the other hand, a bug out bag is designed to sustain an individual for an extended period while away from home.
To begin assembling your kit, consider this question: “If I had to quickly leave my house for 3 days, what would be the essential item I must grab?”
To ensure you have all the necessary items for a 72 hour kit, it is important to build the Emergency Essentials Kit from Stage 1. The Emergency Kit mentioned here is part of a recommended survival kit system and should be included in your overall preparedness plan. Both kits contain essential items that are needed for a long term evacuation.
Situations that necessitate the use of a 72-hour kit:
- tornado evacuation
- flood evacuation
- earthquake evacuation
- etc.
Although we suggest constructing your own 72 hour kit, there are pre-made kits accessible in the market. These kits can be bought and personalized by incorporating additional items to meet your specific requirements.
Recommendations:
- Build your own 72-hour kit to fit your individual needs
- Consider your gender. Women may have certain hygiene needs and medications while men may require certain gear or medications.
- Consider your age. Babies and children may require certain food and suppies. Elderly people may also have specific needs.
- Toiletries might include: soap, deodorant, simple hair care and makeup, etc. See our full list.
- Make sure the kit supplies are readily available for quick grab and go
A go-bag is a longer-term version of a 72-hour kit. Its goal is to offer essential and urgent survival equipment required for a brief period away from home. The kit is a cost-effective and personalized survival kit.
The purpose of a 72-hour kit is to be prepared for evacuation situations, whether you are traveling with other supplies in a vehicle or on foot, ensuring that you have all the necessary survival gear readily available to sustain yourself while on the move.
Survival Priorities
The survival of the human body relies on specific necessities. This includes necessities like fresh air, clean water, and food. Additionally, it is crucial to have our blood contained within our body. These needs can be organized based on their level of importance, such as prioritizing breathing over drinking water.
We recommend gear based on our list of survival priorities. The gear we recommend at each stage will have these priorities in mind. We should purchase critical gear and supplies first and organize it so it’s portable and accessible.
Considering the likelihood of requiring an item in most survival scenarios, we prioritize facemasks lower than flashlights or multitools. However, we do suggest certain tools early on in the checklist as they assist in obtaining more important items. For instance, a reliable multi-tool proves beneficial in countless ways, thus earning a higher position on the list.
Based on years of experience in the outdoors, as well as incorporating checklists from the Boy Scouts, online research, insights from military personnel we are acquainted with, and recommendations from first responders, our 72 hour kit checklist has been carefully developed.
When considering your kits, we strongly encourage you to personalize them according to your specific needs. Take into account your typical activities, health needs, household members, and other relevant factors.
When considering the contents of a 72 hour kit, it is important to remember that these kits are part of Stage 2 gear. Other stages of emergency preparedness gear should be obtained before focusing on these items.
Survival Priority List
Arrange your gear and supplies according to this list in a sequential manner.
- Air
- First Aid/Mental Health
- Communication
- Tools
- Shelter
- Warmth
- Water
- Food
- Hygiene
- Self Protection
- Extra Clothing
- Container
Complete 72 hour kit Checklist
Step 1. The first step is to begin with a good 72-Hour Kit, which should consist of a modular and portable emergency essentials survival kit suitable for all go-bags. This kit should include the most crucial gear, first aid supplies, and toiletries necessary for handling emergencies. It is important to ensure that you start by including the essential items.
Step 2 advises that this 72-Hour Kit checklist includes all the necessary items for a comprehensive 72 hour kit. It is suggested to download and print the checklist, followed by selecting the recommended products to purchase below.
72 hour kit
When planning, make sure to gather essential gear for vital life functions. It is important to secure the gear in a durable and convenient backpack for flexibility. Provided below is a selection of suggested survival items.
Survival gear refers to equipment and supplies essential for surviving in emergency or extreme situations.
- 2-way Radio
- AM/FM Radio/Charger
- Headlamp
- Multi Tool
- Field Knife
- Camping Tarp
- Bivvy or Sleeping Bag
- Hand Saw
- Water Bladder (full)
The process of providing medical assistance as a first response in emergency situations.
- Trauma Shears
- Chest Seals
- Rolled Gauze
- Aluminum Splint
- First Aid Reference Guide
- Abdominal Pad
- Bleed Stop
- Pressure Bandage
- Tourniquet
Rephrased: The toiletries necessary for survival.
- Toilet Paper
- Toothpaste
- Camp Soap
- Sunscreen
- Cotton Swabs
- Body Wipes
- Trash Bags
- Hand Sanitizer
- Feminine Hygiene
Top bug-out supplies to buy on a budget.
A backpack is a type of bag that is carried on the back. It is designed to hold and carry items such as books, clothing, and other personal belongings. Backpacks are commonly used by students, hikers, and travelers due to their convenience and practicality. They typically have one or more compartments, pockets, and straps to distribute the weight evenly and make it more comfortable to wear. The main purpose of a backpack is to provide a portable and hands-free option for carrying items.
When thinking systematically, rephrase the given text while keeping the meaning intact, without adding or removing any information. Explore options at thrift stores, Walmart, or even within your own house. Steer clear of packs that have excessive molle webbing and plastic clips, as they usually do not meet your quality expectations. Do you have any tips for finding the suitable pack?
- When you pull at the seams, there are no gaps. If the pack has bad stitching, you can guarantee it won’t last very long.
- The material is heavyweight.
- The backpack has high-quality heavy-duty zippers.
- Nalgene Stainless Steele Water Bottle
Durable, lightweight, and portable. This water bottle can go directly on the fire or cooking implements of your choice. It can cook food and boil water, making it an all-around beast. Ensure you remove the cap while cooking. - Paracord (survivorcord)
Whether you opt for a cheap and straightforward cord or the Survivorcord this is an essential tool for every prepper. Can be useful in a variety of situations such as hanging your food, towing, or even in a medical scenario. The cheapest option is the 550 paracord, and we usually keep at least 50’ of it. - Medical Kits
This is absolutely essential. Being out in the wilderness without being adequately prepared for injury or illness is a rookie move in our books. Instead of dying from an infected cut, build or choose a medical kit that will suit your needs. - Life Straw
A life straw is a small but powerful water filtration tool. It has no shelf life, is easy to clean and store, and will protect you from bacteria, parasites, and microplastics, as well as filter out dirt, sand, and other micro debris. It does not filter viruses, however, so consider that if you’re drinking from a heavily contaminated source. - Emergency ultralight bivy sack
The Bivvy sack is very similar to an emergency blanket, however, it is thinner and therefore best for an emergency only. It’s a mylar blanket that is designed to reflect your body heat, so it can help preserve your body temperature and prevent thermogenesis. - Esbit stove
The Esbit stove is a tiny stove that can be used when you’re unable to start a fire. Ideal for backpacking as it completely folds and can fit in a pocket. The solid fuel cubes make starting a fire incredibly easy. Best for use in calm conditions where you can get a nice constant flame and you can keep that flame close to your pot because these don’t produce a lot of heat. - Maps
Maps of your local area with local and up-to-date declination information are invaluable. Learning how to navigate manually is an essential survivalist skill. When you no longer have access to GPS or power, having a map and compass can help guide you. - Hultafors outdoor knife
This great little knife is inexpensive but extremely durable. The Hultafors outdoor knife features a friction grip that allows you to maintain control while using it and can be easily attached to your belt loop, pocket, or survival bag. The pocket doubles as a firestarter, and the Japanese steel blade has a durable scandi grind. - Emergency phone charger
These are pretty cool and very cost-efficient. These charge tabs can give your phone 4 hours of talk and text or about a third of a charge on a modern smartphone.
- Vaseline
This do-everything product can be used as lip balm, moisturizer, skin protector, diaper cream, as an emergency candle, leather conditioner, stain remover, lubricant, bug bites care, wound care, skin cleanser, for rust prevention, as shaving cream, to protect pet paws, as a fire starter, gas mask seal, to unstick zippers, and as blister prevention. - Compass
You can find several kinds of compasses, but choosing one with a base plate that contains things like declination info, rulers, and a magnifying glass is going to be a lot more useful than the button-style compasses you can get in a kinder surprise egg. Learning how to use a compass is as important as having a compass, so ensure you learn and practise basic navigation skills. - Emergency blanket
A heavy-duty emergency blanket will last longer than a bivvy bag and can also be used as a makeshift tarp or ad a heat reflective barrier in a makeshift shelter. - Cards
Don’t forget leisure when you’re thinking about survival. There will be a lot of time alone and that can be overwhelming. Pack something to occupy your mind. - Duct tape
Limitless uses, including shelter repair, first aid, and more. - Jute twine
In combination with vaseline, you have an emergency candle, but you can also use twine for numerous applications. Twine is durable and inexpensive, making it a no-brainer to have on hand.
