Between a years-long pandemic, climate-related catastrophes, surging crime, and news of conflicts across the globe, it’s no surprise that the global market for incident and emergency management is projected to climb tremendously over the next few years.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests that all Americans should follow a 12-step guide to preparing for emergencies, including practicing emergency drills, safeguarding important documents, and assembling a supply kit.
Unfortunately, the relatively simple process of putting together an emergency plan does not happen in many households. According to the CDC, nearly half of U.S. adults still do not have the resources and plans in place in the event of an emergency.
If you’re still part of the half of Americans who have not prepared for an emergency, don’t fret. The New York Post spoke with three survival specialists to understand the ins and outs of preparing for emergencies.
Retired Special Forces Combat Veteran Mykel Hawke emphasized that emergency kits are especially important for self-sustainability.
“It is important to everyone, all the time, to live,” said Hawke. “That common sense statement is often not considered by everyone as many feel someone will be there to assist them in a ‘real’ emergency.” Hawke advises that it is better to err on the side of safety since no response agency can be everywhere at once. He stresses the importance of keeping a food and water supply in your everyday bag, car, and at home.
Laura Zerra, who starred in the show Naked and Afraid, has spent over 15 years surviving in major ecosystems around the world. She suggests being prepared with three different types of emergency kits, one for the wilderness, one for medical supplies, and another to keep in your car.
“I don’t think anyone should go into the wilderness without a wilderness survival kit,” said Zerra. “My car always has a few key items on hand, and a first aid kit is always a part of all these kits.”
Matt Tate, the owner of American Survival Co., has spent years training students in the art of survival. He recently led a group of young adults through a wilderness survival retreat in Netflix’s hit show, “Snowflake Mountain.” Tate believes that training and navigation courses always trump gear.
“Without the proper training and understanding, some of the items listed below will be useless or significantly less effective,” said Tate. “Take some classes, learn some new skills and start adopting a mindset of self-reliance and self-rescue now, before you need them.”
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Best Wilderness Kits
According to the experts, if you plan on spending time exploring the outdoors, hunting, fishing or hiking, it’s always important to carry a small survival kit with you. Some of the items every kit should have are a water filter, a fire-making method, an emergency shelter, a headlamp, a whistle, a signaling device, and some wound care items.
First Aid Kit Survival Tools Trauma Kit
If you’re looking for a starter survival kit, this is the one is for you. Featuring 35 emergency items, it has all the essentials you can think of. There’s an emergency blanket for when you’re stranded in the cold, a flint stone, a first aid kit and more! We especially like the handy paracord bracelet, which is armed with a compass, fire starter, compass, and whistle. There’s also a tactical pen, folding knife and wire saw if you have to MacGyver your way out of a situation.
Everything comes in a lightweight and compact Molly pouch, which easily fits in a backpack or under a car seat. To boost this kit up even more, consider adding your own LifeStraw, too. More than 2,000 happy customers on Amazon give the emergency kit a five-star rating.
Review: “Got this as a gift for my nephew, and he loved it. He’s an outdoorsy survivalist type of person, so this really came in handy for him on camping and fishing trips.”
Judy Protector Family Evacuation Kit
One of the most advanced kits on the market, this evacuation suitcase is designed to sustain a family of six for up to 72 hours.
With its extendable handlebar and wheeled frame, you can carry or pull this 23-pound evacuation kit right out of the house like a suitcase. All tools and supplies are expertly organized into eight cartridges — one for water, food, safety, warmth, tools, and first aid.
Uncharted Supply Co. Seventy2 Two-Person Survival System Backpack
If you’re serious about outdoor activities, you need a serious survival kit that won’t slow you down as you hike, climb or snowshoe. The Seventy2 Two-Person Survival System Backpack is our pick. It’s waterproof, sleek and most importantly, mindfully designed to help you in a jam.
Along with having enough food for two people, the kit includes water-filtration equipment, a first aid kit, a tent, blanket, tools and almost two pairs of everything needed to survive three days. One of its neatest features is its removable canvas insert that’s printed with step-by-step instructions. From getting warm to using the first aid kit in a variety of situations, it covers all the basics to make it through the night.
While it is slightly an investment, remember that it’s for two, and considering everything it includes, it’s unlikely you’ll have to bring much else on your journey. Also, it’s currently 20% off, eligible for free shipping and can be returned in 60 days.
Vital 72 Hour Emergency Survival Kit for Family
For a more all-encompassing outdoor emergency kit, consider this 72-hour survival system.
Doubling as an emergency food kit, it includes 72 hours’ worth of food and water for two people and has basic tools and medical care. It also features an emergency weather radio, emergency shelters, fire starters, and pocket chainsaws.
HIHEGD 250 Piece Survival Kit
If you’re looking for an emergency preparedness kit to lead you into the wild, look no further. A great gift for dads, survivalists or simply those who live to be ready for anything, the kit comes in an easy-to-carry backpack style. Available in black, camo brown and camo black and grey, it’s almost unbelievable the amount of gear it holds.
Along with a first aid kit, there’s a foldable shovel, multifunctional axe, emergency tent and blanket, lantern, raincoat — the works! Regardless if it’s the apocalypse or you’ve simply lost your way, this will have your back till help comes.
Review: “Perfect preparedness essentials. Great conservative space for maximum use! I highly recommend for hurricane, tornado, flood or power outage situations.”
Best Medical Emergency Kits
Most experts believe that every emergency kit should at least have some basic medical supplies inside it. However, it is also important to consider purchasing a fully stocked first aid kit to keep at home or take on longer trips. These kits should not only have bandages and splints but also store all the medications you might need.
MFASCO First Aid Kit
This EMT-style bag has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, has hundreds of fans, and is available in four reflective colors.
The bag has a large main compartment, two front pockets and two side zippered pockets, and it comes with over 400 pieces of quality equipment, including a blood pressure kit, gauze roll, antibiotic ointments, burn gel, and much more.
Review: “It’s a well-equipped kit for the average person for use at home or on the road. The kit is not as extensive as what a professional medical person would use, but it has everything the layperson would need. I bought this kit to store at my lake house getaway home, because medical help is usually quite a distance away. It’s well equipped, adequate for most emergencies, and the price point fits most budgets. I added a few things that I preferred, but overall I’m quite satisfied with this kit.”
Adventure Medical Kits 32 oz Canteen and First Aid Kit
Most regular water bottles cost more than this canteen filled with medical supplies.
If you’re not ready to invest in a full medical kit but still need some basics for your next hike, this is a great place to start. For under $25, this canteen medical kit includes a variety of bandages, antiseptic wipes, die-cut moleskin, and a wide array of medications to treat pain, inflammation, and allergies.
Recon First Aid Kit
This kit features 250 life-saving items handpicked by first responders and medical pros.
Now with brand new back-padding for comfort and function, this medical backpack is perfect for longer camping trips or home storage. From shears to splints to CPR Shields and Diotame, this fully stocked medical kit has everything you can think of and more.
First Aid Only 442 All-Purpose Emergency First Aid Kit
Even if you’re not big on outdoor adventurers, this emergency kit from first aid is great to have around the house, office or in your car. It includes aspirin, a gauze roll and pads, wound closures, BZK antiseptic towelettes, bandages and a myriad of other items for when accidents occur. Compact enough for a glove compartment, backpack or tote, more than 60,000 folks on Amazon give it five stars.
Review: “A nice med kit to have on hand for travel or a weekend camping trip. Easily expands with only a few items, if needed for specific medical coverage. I got this as a base kit for go-bags for family. I am not a hardcore prepper. But for an emergency kit, this fits the bill.”
Best Car Emergency Kits
While basic roadside kits should certainly include jumper cables and a flashlight, experts suggest that you should stock up on more than just car-starting essentials. Emergency blankets, candles, and sleeping bags also come in handy during winter storms if you’re stuck in your vehicle.
Lifeline Destination 68 Piece Emergency Car Kit
This emergency roadside kit is backed by AAA.
In addition to essential tools, jumper cables, and a first aid kit, this kit features a premium air compressor for topping off flat tires and refilling the camping mat, inflatable raft, bicycle tire, or other devices.
Review: “I purchased this emergency car kit for my daughter who is going off to college. I wanted to make sure she had all the stuff she needed in the event of an issue on the road. Leave it to AAA to come up with a kit for JUST the right amount of necessary items. I priced out the essentials separately, and this kit was a much better value.”
Reese Towpower 2in Drop Towing Security Kit
You never know when you might need to give someone a tow.
The Reese Towpower Kit has everything you need to help someone’s vehicle get out of a sticky situation. Simply place the draw bar in the hitch receiver tube, and secure with the lock, and you’re ready to go. It has a 6,000-pound gross towing weight capacity.
Lifeline AAA First Aid Emergency Roadside Kit
Don’t leave home without this roadside kit in your trunk. It has the 42 must-haves to get you through unexpected accidents. Jumper cables come in handy when your power goes, while the poncho is a lifesaver in a sudden downpour. A screwdriver, flashlight and batteries are inside, too, and the kit has the AAA seal of approval.
Review: “This pack came with absolutely everything needed for a good go kit on a weekend or seasonal adventure. With everything from first aid, car jumping, and a good quality light to give you [vantage] in the night time when jumping cars (Montana winter/spring [becomes] dark in the evenings quite quickly), this kit has helped me out personally quite a few times. For the cost of what it is, I’m surprised at the result.”
Best Food Supply Kits
Most humans can last without food for about three weeks and only survive a few days without water. Experts emphasize how important it is to plan ahead for your nutritional needs. Generally, it’s encouraged to keep a day of food and water supplies in your purse or backpack, up to a week’s worth in your car, and up to a month’s worth at home.
Augason Farms 1-Week 1-Person Emergency Food Supply
For just $50 a week, you might even cancel your best meal kit subscription and start eating like a survivalist.
These easy-to-prepare meals won’t expire for years and provide 1,811 calories per day. Choose between eight different meal options, from oatmeal to broccoli rice and creamy chicken soup. All you have to do is add water!
Augason Farms Deluxe 30-Day Emergency Food Supply
You may not get Michelin Star meals with this kit, but your dietary needs will be covered for a month.
This kit is packed with 90 pre-packaged meals, including buttermilk pancakes, oatmeal, creamy chicken, and fettuccine Alfredo. With a staggering 25-year shelf life, you also won’t have to worry about it expiring anytime soon. Easily store it in the back of your pantry, and one day it could come in handy.
The emergency food kit is designed for one person, so if you have a full household, consider adding a few extra to your cart. As luck would have it, it’s currently on sale at Amazon.
Review: “Shipping was fast, and items were packaged well. Great items to buy to get started on food storage. I feel better knowing I have [it] to use if ever in a crisis. I will be ordering more.”
Good to-Go 5-Day Emergency Food
Who says you can’t eat well in an emergency? This 5-Day Emergency Food Kit includes 10 savory meals and five breakfasts that are nutrient-dense, vegan and gluten-free. Great to have around for those with special dietary needs, just open the pouch, add hot water and stir. Dishes include a Mexican quinoa bowl, oatmeal, and kale and white bean stew. Yum!
Review: ” I enjoy tasty, high-quality food. That being said, I wasn’t expecting much from a meal in a pouch. I was absolutely delighted to be wrong. These meals are excellent, especially when compared to other backpacking meals currently on the market. They are easy to prepare, the ingredients are recognizable, the sodium levels aren’t lethal, and the taste is fantastic…The meals themselves are also gluten-free and basically vegetarian (the ingredients are vegetarian, but the product is made in a facility that handles fish). Would recommend, hands down.”
Ignik 2-in-1 Propane Heater Stove
What’s the point of stocking up on food if you can’t heat it up?
This 2-in-1 propane heater stove offers both propane heat and camp stove performance. Bring this on your next camping trip and enjoy warm, thoroughly cooked food from wherever you are.
Wobythan 3 Burne Portable Outdoor Cooking Camping Stove
Another cooking option is this portable gas stove. It has three burners, making it an ideal choice if you’re camping with the family or need something for your basement bunker. Featuring a 360-degree full air inlet and oxygen-enriched channels, there’s also an energy-gathering cyclone burner head to keep canned beans to perfection.
Review: “I’ve been using this Wobythan gas stove for several months now and it hasn’t let me down yet. It’s reliable, easy to use, and incredibly convenient for outdoor cooking. The three burners make it easy to cook for multiple people, and the stainless steel design looks great in any setting.”
Best Communication and Navigation Kits
Most people tend to rely on their cell phones for all their communication and navigation needs. However, mobile phones or cellular use might not be available during an emergency. Survivalists tend to advise people to consider handheld radios, compasses, maps, and various GPS systems.
Coghlan’s Compass
At the very least, make sure to have a compass on you for navigation purposes.
This is by far the most affordable option for camping, backpacking and potential emergency travel. This military-style compass is built in a sturdy plastic case and offers fast readability and bold letters. Simply tag it to your backpack or throw it in your emergency kit.
Cobra 30-Mile Walkie Talkie 2-Way Radio 2-Pack Set
Keep in contact with your partner with this Walkie Talkie 2-pack.
Communication is vital during an emergency, so it definitely does hurt to have a backup walkie-talkie. This set has 2,662 channel combinations, so you can be sure to find an interference-free way to communicate with your party. A built-in 10-channel NOAA weather radio also keeps you up-to-date on all government-operated weather channels as well.
Review: “Beyond pleased with these walkie-talkies. Even has a light, perfect for walking to my tree stand in the dark.”
Garmin Handheld Navigator System
This handheld navigation system will help you find your way through everything from steep country to dense forests.
Navigate every trail with ABC sensors, including an altimeter for elevation data, a barometer to monitor the weather and a 3-axis electronic compass. The system is preloaded with U.S. and Canadian maps showing you terrain contours, topographic elevations, summits, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points.
Garmin Instinct
If only the kids from “The Blair Witch Project” had this helpful navigational watch from Garmin. Things may have ended differently.
Featuring a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter, as well as navigation pulled from GPS, Glonass and Galileo, consider it a trusted guide on hiking or camping excursion. Its battery life (up to 40 hours in Ultratrac battery saver mode) is top-notch, and the water and shock-resistant design should hold up against harsh elements. One of the most wished-for products on Amazon with more than 19,000 five-star reviews, it’s a must-have for those with serious wanderlust.
Review: “This watch is definitely built tough. My husband uses the GPS to track our hikes and the duration, heart rate and workout features to track calories burned at the gym. It syncs with the Garmin inReach so he can see messages sent or notify for emergency help. He often wears it in the pool and sauna, and it still looks nearly new with no scratches. We are very happy with this purchase and feel like the price has been justified, so far.”
What should I put in a 72-hour emergency kit?
As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.
Unless you’re a psychic, it’s impossible to know when disaster will strike. Although there are plenty of premade emergency kits for purchase, having some essential items on hand is not a bad idea for those who like to be prepared. Whether you’re about to explore the great outdoors or simply want something for your home, here are 5 things to always have on standby:
- Water: A 72-hour kit is three days’ worth of water for drinking and cleaning. If you’re traveling and can’t bring that amount, use water purification tablets like Aquatabs (Amazon, $29.99).
- Batteries: Everyone’s connected until the power goes. Batteries will not only keep flashlights on but battery-powered radios, too.
- Non-Perishable Food: Along with water, food is another essential item in your emergency preparedness kit. Non-perishable food, such as nuts, canned goods and energy bars, are ideal, as they don’t require refrigeration or heating. It’s also a good idea to have a can opener.
- First Aid Kit: A quality first aid kit should include adhesive bandages, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic wipes and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Flashlight: Flashlights are not only necessary for home emergencies but ones on the road. They can be used to wave down help and provide visibility at night. And don’t forget to have extra batteries for them, too!
- Battery-Powered: If power goes out (or service is spotty), a radio will keep you tuned into what’s going on. A hand-crank radio also works.
Other things to consider adding to your 72-hour emergency kit are a portable charging bank for your phone, a blanket, jacket, cash, and small tools, such as a compass, whistle, pocket knife, and screwdriver.
Where is the most ideal place to put your survival kits?
The best place for a survival kit is wherever it is more secure but easily accessible. Closets, a designated shelf or close to the front door are all ideal locations. Don’t forget to make sure every family member knows where the kit is. This will prevent having to search for it if trouble arises.
Another ideal spot for an emergency preparedness kit is the car. Depending on its size, it can be placed in the trunk or beneath a car seat. Having a small first aid kit for work is also helpful.
It’s generally recommended to recheck your survival kit every six months. The last thing anyone wants is to be in an emergency only to find that they’re low on batteries, food or another must-have. While it may seem like a hassle, it can be worth it in the long run and is as simple as marking your calendar or placing a reminder on your phone.
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