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Emergency Supply Kit

One of the basic tenets of living the survival life is to always be prepared. After all, you never know when a simple hike in the woods can turn into a life-threatening situation or when a natural disaster will turn your comfortable home into a bunker. Being prepared means always having basic survival gear with you at home or on the road, no matter where youre headed or how brief the trip.

A basic emergency supply kit for survivalists should include the following:

Basic Emergency Supply Kit for Survivalists

1. Water. Although people can survive without food for quite a while, water is essential to basic day-to-day survival. Because of this, it is recommended to have one gallon per person per day available (enough for two days at home and enough for three days away from home.) A pocket water purifier is also a good idea, so you can replenish your water supply.

2. Food. Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food items are also part of a complete survival kit. Again, enough for two days at home and enough for three days away from home.

3. Flashlight and extra batteries. You cant count on electricity in a crisis or emergency situation. Having a flashlight and a good supply of batteries stored in a plastic bag is essential.

4. Hand-crank radio. Having a radio can keep you apprised of an emergency situation a lot more reliably than a cell phone or mobile device that is dependent on reception issues and having the batteries fully charged.

5. First aid kit. Sprains, cuts and other emergency health situations can happen anywhere. Being prepared includes having a basic first aid kit on hand. It is advised to include bandages, antibiotic ointment, sterile gloves, scissors, aspirin, a blanket, tweezers and a non-glass thermometer.

6. Extra cash. In an emergency, such as a hurricane or other natural disaster, you likely wont be able to use credit cards or get to an ATM machine. Our "cash-less" society shuts down when there isnt any electricity.

7. Medications. In an emergency, you may not be able to get to your supply at home or to re-fill your prescriptions at the pharmacy. It is recommended to have a seven-day supply on hand at all times and make sure to rotate that supply regularly so you dont have expired medications in your emergency supply kit.

8. Family and emergency contact information. If youre separated from your family members in an emergency situation, youll want to be able to call them to let them know youre okay. Equally, you may need police, fire or emergency medical personnel. Its wise to keep those numbers at hand, also.

Putting it together in an emergency supply kit helps you have the materials you need in the event of an emergency situation. Its all part of living the survival life, and such a kit will help you have peace of mind that you can handle whatever life has in store.

About the Author

At Survival Life our mission is to provide a vast array of knowledge, tactics, and skills in the survival and preparedness fields, to any and all who wish to become more prepared for whatever may come. We will take a logical and no nonsense approach to survival without bias in hopes of dispelling the myth that anyone who prepares themselves is crazy or paranoid. Click here to visit our site and learn more.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Emergency Supply Kit

Riverwalker’s Gear UST Bug Tent and Tarp Emergency Shelter Combo for Your Daypack

Normally on a day hike, you don’t really think about carrying shelter. The weather in Texas can fool you and it usually means someone is going to get wet. Although temperatures stay fairly warm through most of the year, there is a big chance of getting caught in a rainstorm. You might also want to stay out overnight if your sightseeing kept you from completing the entire hike you had planned.

Ultimate Survival Technologies Base Bug Tent

Ultimate Survival Technologies Base All Weather Tent Tarp

The UST Bug Tent and Tarp make a great lightweight addition to your day pack. It will work to keep you dry (drier?) until the rain lets up or give you a place to rest without feeding those blood-sucking mosquitoes all night. These work great for use as an emergency shelter when day hiking.

The tent poles can be easily folded and strapped to the side of your pack. You can also opt to carry the tarp only. I also carry a small nylon tarp to use as a ground cloth (see pic) to protect a lightweight sleeping bag that I also carry. With a little food and a full water reservoir, my day pack weighs slightly less than 15 pounds on average. Regular backpacking or a colder climate would require something more substantial. My regular backpacking bag runs about twice the weight of my day pack (30 to 32 pounds).

It’s a lightweight combination that can be easily carried in your day pack and be there if you need it. Never hurts to have a backup plan in case nature decides to hand you a different set of circumstances on a sunny day.

Got shelter?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Gear UST Bug Tent and Tarp Emergency Shelter Combo for Your Daypack

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Lighting

Being caught in the dark when the power goes out can be a very unsettling feeling. This is when you need some form of emergency lighting. A flashlight can go a long way towards solving this problem but sometimes you need a little extra versatility in your preps. You may need the use of your hands and this can be complicated if you are trying to hold onto a flashlight. One item that can serve a number of purposes for use as emergency lighting is a portable solar-powered LED light.

There are a number of versions of these solar-powered lights available. If you want it to help with security, you can get one with a motion detector. They also come in various sizes depending upon your lighting needs and may have as few as 5 LED lights or up to sixty. Most of the solar lights available with 5 or 10 LED lights are available in a very affordable price range ($20 to $25).

This particular solar-powered light is a SUNFORCE #81095 5 LED Solar Shed Light.

The light comes with magnets for attaching it to a metal surface as well as regular screw mounts for attaching it to a wall or ceiling. While designed primarily for tool sheds and other small buildings (chicken coop?). The magnets make it easy to attach to surfaces in a number of ways that increases the usability of the light.

When attached to the front of the refrigerator with the built-in magnets, it provides more than enough light to move around safely and perform simple chores. If attached to a metal surface on your vehicle it can provide sufficient light to change a tire or do minor repairs. The unit provides a fair amount of light that will allow you to maneuver about in a 10 foot X 10 foot room with a fair amount of safely. The light will only last for a few hours before needing a recharge but that time frame should be enough to get most of your important tasks done.

The solar panel is weather resistant but not water-proof. You could probably add a bead of silicone caulk around the front edge of the panel to make it more weather-resistant if you need to mount it in a more exposed area. The power cord is about eight foot long which is sufficient to mount the light and solar panel but would be better if it was just a little longer.

The important thing about preps is that they should be portable, serve a variety of uses and not cost a fortune to operate and require only minimal amounts of maintenance.

Got emergency lighting?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Lighting

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Supplies The First Aid Kit

The vast majority of minor medical emergencies can be handled with a simple First Aid Kit. Minor medical problems if left ignored can lead to even more serious problems and quite often can be avoided if you have a minimum of first aid supplies on hand.

First Aid Kits come in all sizes and shapes and most are quite affordable in price. Practical first aid kits can be found with an average price of less than $20. If you have the time and the inclination, you can even assemble a quality First Aid Kit for even less money that will give you the needed supplies to handle a wide variety of minor medical problems. Many times all you may need is a band-aid and some anti-biotic cream to handle a minor emergency.

The affordability of most first aid kits makes them an essential item for your preparedness supplies. Pocket first aid kits that cost about a $1 or small first aid kits for under $10 can be added to your backpack, BOB or carried in the console or glove compartment of your vehicle. This allows you a wide range of options to keep first aid supplies available for when the need arises. A larger and more extensive first aid kit can be kept in your home or at your bug out location that will give you even better and more extensive coverage for those minor medical emergencies that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time.

Don’t get caught short when a minor medical emergency comes up. Keep first aid supplies handy and avoid more serious problems that could arise if minor injuries are left untreated. For less than $20, you can generally keep a decent amount of first aid supplies on hand without ruining your budget.

Got band-aids?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Supplies The First Aid Kit

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Water Storage

When you have limited funds to prep with, the only way to manage is by looking for specials that will save you money. The first thing you should look for is simple and affordable water storage. Water is something you can’t live without and is one of the first things needed if you experience an unexpected event. Unfortunately, the savings are often hidden and you may not realize there is a bargain right in front of you. Here’s a cheap and inexpensive way to have emergency water storage that is both portable and affordable.

The first thing you will need to get is a manual pump for one of those portable water bottles. These cost about $10 at your local Walmart. They give you a hint on the outside of the package about discount savings without actually telling you. The discount happens to be a $5 coupon off your next purchase of a bottle of water. Using the coupon, the bottle of water (5 gallon size) which normally costs about $11.50 will now only cost you $6.50.

When you add your total cost, you will have only spent $16.50 for a manual pump and five gallons of emergency water storage. The pump also works even if you don’t have power. The water bottles also have a built in handle for portability. A five gallon bottle of water will weigh in excess of forty pounds but is still a manageable weight for most people. The five gallons should be enough water for two people for almost 72 hours.

To increase your emergency water storage, just purchase an additional bottle of water later when your budget permits. This type of setup is ideal for preppers who have limited space.

Emergency water storage that’s portable for less than $20...now that’s a bargain.

Staying above the emergency water storage line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget Affordable Items for Preppers Emergency Water Storage