Emergency Kit – Be prepared if a crisis occurs

The term emergency kit might sound dramatic, but it doesn’t have to be. With small and often simple preparations, you can get through most situations. A ready-made emergency kit can be a good starting point for your preparedness and ensure that you are well equipped if a crisis really happens.

Our emergency kits contain products that help you meet the basic needs that arise in a short-term crisis. They consistently include high-quality products, carefully selected and tested by us. An emergency kit from us is something you can always rely on.

In general, our emergency kits contain products that fully or partly cover the needs for heating, water, food, and information. However, a ready-made emergency kit may need to be supplemented by you to fit your specific needs. If you want a checklist of what an emergency kit should contain, we can provide one.

What should an emergency kit contain – The best emergency kit

We are all individuals with different needs, and what counts as the best emergency kit depends on who you ask. But we all share the same basic needs: heat, water, food, and hygiene. In a crisis, it is also important to stay updated with the latest information.

In extreme conditions, a person can survive about 3 weeks without food and 3 days without water. But long before that, the body’s functions and ability to think clearly begin to deteriorate. In a crisis, it is especially important that both body and mind function properly – access to clean drinking water and nutritious food is therefore essential.

During a major societal crisis, it is likely that access to electricity will disappear completely or at least become sporadic. Such a crisis can be caused by weather, storms, or fires, which unfortunately have become more common in recent years. Power outages can also result from attacks by nations or organizations with private interests. Around the world, there are many examples of how large parts of the power grid and infrastructure have been shut down through targeted cyberattacks. The potential gain for attackers is often much greater than the risks – which means such attacks will likely become more common.

When a crisis comes

Regardless of whether a long-term power outage is caused by weather, war, terrorism, pandemics, or solar storms, alternatives to the normal power supply will be needed. When the power goes out, our entire existence is affected and everything we take for granted stops working.

In the larger infrastructure, traffic lights, control systems, escalators, and elevators stop functioning. Hospitals, shops, and other vital functions can no longer remain open. Many vital societal functions have backup power, but these are only designed for short outages. At home, the TV, internet, fridge, freezer, and stove stop working – and everyday life is quickly affected.

Your emergency kit should therefore include what you need to cover the basic needs of heating, water, food, information, hygiene, and first aid.

Heating in your emergency kit

Your emergency kit should contain something to help heat your home or at least maintain body heat. If you can combine this with tools that allow you to cook food, that’s a big advantage. Examples include thermal blankets, candles, gas heaters, or gas/alcohol stoves. Always remember: open flames should only be used in well-ventilated areas.

Water in your emergency kit

You need to be able to transport and purify water if you don’t have access to a reliable source. The average person needs about 3 liters of water per day for drinking and cooking. Access to clean drinking water is an immediate necessity. Contaminated water can cause symptoms that further increase water needs.

Water can be purified by boiling, filtering, or chemical treatment. The most effective method is to filter the water first and then boil it.

Food in your emergency kit – Rations

Without food, the body quickly begins to break down, and the ability to think and act decreases. In a crisis, it is especially important to keep both body and mind intact.

Canned food and dry goods such as pasta and beans are good alternatives, but if you don’t normally eat them, they risk becoming old and unusable by the time you need them. Today, freeze-dried food with up to 25 years of shelf life is available, specially designed for emergency preparedness. Freeze-dried meals maintain high nutritional value and are available in gluten- and lactose-free options, as well as vegetarian and vegan versions. They only require water for preparation – hot water is preferable, but cold water also works.

Information in your emergency kit

When the power goes out, the TV stops working, and your mobile phone relies on internet access. That’s why your emergency kit should contain a radio – preferably one that doesn’t depend on external power sources. A hand-crank radio charges its built-in battery with a crank, and many models also include a flashlight – very handy in times without electricity.

First aid in your emergency kit

When a crisis comes and emergency rooms are overwhelmed, it’s important to be able to handle minor injuries yourself. Everything from cuts to fractures can be treated with a well-stocked first aid kit. Remember also to supplement with necessary medications that you depend on.

Hygiene in your emergency kit

Without running water and waste collection, hygiene quickly becomes an issue. You need a way to clean both yourself and your home. Sanitation bags for toilets and wet wipes as a substitute for a shower are simple but effective solutions. Wet wipes should be a standard part of every emergency kit.

Cash in your emergency kit

When electricity goes out, payment systems stop working. That means no card payments or mobile transfers. Shops will likely close quickly, as they can’t operate without power, and perishable goods spoil fast. Cash can then become invaluable for buying time or bartering for goods and services.

Know your equipment

An important part of preparedness is knowing your equipment. Trying to use a gas or alcohol stove for the first time during a crisis can make a bad situation worse. Under safe conditions, test and learn how your equipment works.

If you can take care of yourself for a while without society’s help, you also contribute to helping society recover faster after a crisis. A good exercise is to turn off the power in your home for a full day to see how it affects your daily life. If nothing else, it can be a valuable and even fun experience for the family.

Checklist for your emergency kit

Heating

• Candles

• Blankets (wool, fleece, reflective)

• Gas stove / Gas heater / Kerosene heater

• Matches / Lighter / Firestarter

Water

• Water filter

• Water containers / PET bottles

• Gas or alcohol stove for boiling water

Food

• Canned goods

• Freeze-dried meals

• Rice, pasta, dried beans

• Spices, salt, sugar

• Honey

• Gas or alcohol stove for cooking

Communication

• Battery-powered radio

• Hand-crank radio

• Solar power bank

Hygiene

• Bags (for waste)

• Wet wipes

• Hand sanitizer

First aid

• First aid kit

• Necessary medications

• Painkillers / fever reducers

Other

• Batteries

• Cash in small denominations

• Important phone numbers and addresses on paper

• Maps of the local area

• Pre-packed evacuation bag

• Self-defense spray

• Sleeping pad

• Sleeping bag

If you have any questions about what your emergency kit should contain, you are always welcome to contact us directly. Email us at info@generalprepper.com, and we’ll get back to you quickly. Together, we make society a little safer.