Emergency and Survival Kit Essentials for the Novice Prepper

When starting out, prepping can feel overwhelming. With so many potential disasters to prepare for, it's hard to know where to begin.

But having the right emergency kit essentials distills preparedness down to what matters most. This article will explain the 20 must-have items for novice preppers to start their survival kits.

You'll learn the basics of water, food, first aid, tools, and other critical supplies. We'll also cover key factors like portability, affordability, and ease of use. By the end, you'll have a practical blueprint to prepare your go-bag and extend your readiness over time.

Embarking on Emergency Preparedness: A Novice's Guide

Emergency preparedness involves proactively preparing for unexpected crisis events by having plans, supplies, skills and community connections in place. Being prepared can help you safely get through emergencies and recover quicker. It also reduces strain on first responders. When choosing what to include in your emergency and survival kit, focus on practicality, versatility, portability, organization and ease of use.

Understanding the Basics of Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is all about being ready to handle crisis situations. Whether it's a natural disaster, power outage, or other emergency scenario, having some basic preparation in place ensures you can respond effectively. This includes having an emergency plan mapped out for your household, survival supplies gathered together in a portable kit, skills to utilize your gear and handle adversity, and local community connections for additional support if needed. Novice preppers may feel overwhelmed trying to become fully prepared, but starting out simple with fundamental emergency provisions and training is wise.

Building basic emergency kits, like an emergency and survival kit, helps create a foundation of preparation your household can rely on when facing the unexpected. Continue expanding your capabilities over time as your experience grows.

The Importance of Being Prepared for the Unexpected

Having emergency provisions and a response plan ready enables you to safely endure crisis scenarios. Preparation gives you access to vital supplies like food, water, first aid, and communication devices during adversity. Survival skills help you make the most of what you have on hand. Being prepared reduces panic and uncertainty, empowering smarter decision making. It also mitigates reliance on first responder services, allowing them to focus efforts where most critical.

Natural disasters, grid failures, pandemics, and other emergencies can unfold rapidly, making last minute preparation extremely difficult. Building your emergency preparedness ahead of time ensures you have provisions in place to stabilize the situation. Continue honing your capabilities as events unfold for maximum resilience.

Principles of Practical Preparedness

When building your emergency and survival kit, novice preppers should emphasize practicality. Choose versatile, portable, and durable gear that is also user-friendly while packing light enough to transport if needed. Organize items logically and ensure family members understand what’s included and how to use it. Streamline your kit to focus on fundamental emergency provisions rather than bells and whistles.

Prioritize portable essentials like nutrient-dense foods with long shelf lives, a compact first aid kit, flashlight, radio, batteries, multi-tool, and other basics. Customize based on your household's unique needs. Place items in clearly labeled pockets and compartments so family members can locate gear quickly during high-stress scenarios. Take time acquainting yourself with how to utilize what’s included.

Start simple while getting the hang of emergency preparedness. Then continue expanding your provisions and training over time. This builds a flexible foundation to handle adversity while progressing at your own pace.

What do you need in a emergency survival kit?

An emergency survival kit is crucial to have on hand for any unexpected situation. It provides basic necessities to help you safely get through a crisis until help arrives.

At a minimum, a basic emergency kit should include:

Water - Stock at least one gallon per person for 3-5 days. This covers drinking water and basic sanitation needs. Stick with bottled water or store tap water in clean containers. Remember to replenish every 6 months.
Non-perishable food - Pack high-calorie, ready-to-eat foods that won't spoil like granola bars, nuts, dried fruits, beef jerky, and canned goods. Rotate out expired items every year. Shoot for at least a 3-5 day supply.
Radio and flashlight - Choose a hand crank or battery operated radio to receive emergency alerts and weather updates. Always confirm extra batteries are available. Maglite style LED flashlights offer reliability and long battery life.
First aid supplies - Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, OTC meds like ibuprofen help address minor injuries until you can get medical care. Replace used items routinely.

Building a survival kit takes time, but being prepared can provide invaluable peace of mind when an emergency strikes. Start small by gathering must-have basics, then build from there based on your needs and situation over time.

What are 20 items in a emergency kit?

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT YOUR DISASTER EMERGENCY KIT NEEDS BY READING MORE BELOW:

Family first aid kit - This kit should contain basic medical essentials like bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, etc. to treat minor injuries during an emergency.
Supply of medicine for 7 days - Stock up on critical prescription medications family members need to function. Also include common over-the-counter meds.
Lots of drinking water - Aim for 1 gallon per person per day. Water is vital for survival.
Special needs items - Account for children, elderly, disabled. Have extra baby formula, mobility devices, prescription meds.
Pet supplies - Food, medicine, transport carriers, leashes, ID tags, etc. Don't forget your furry family!
Flashlights - Reliable light sources in case power goes out. Choose wind-up or battery-powered options.
Candles & matches - Alternate light and heat sources. Long burn candles over regular. Waterproof matches.

With those basics covered in your emergency kit, you'll be better prepared when disaster strikes! Of course you can continue adding useful gear like food, shelter items, communication devices and more based on your unique situation. But the goal for novices is start small and build up over time. Stay safe out there!

How to get free emergency kit?

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit provided for free by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a great option for those looking to prepare an emergency and survival kit on a budget.

The kit contains a checklist of important financial records and contacts to have on hand in an emergency. While it does not include physical survival supplies, it helps you organize key personal finance documents critical for weathering unexpected events.

Here are a few tips on getting your free emergency financial kit from FEMA:

Visit Ready.gov and click "Download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit"
The kit is a PDF file you can save and print at home
Fill out the included forms by compiling financial records, contacts, account details etc. as outlined in the checklist
Store your completed kit in a safe and accessible place for quick access during emergencies

Remember to also assemble an emergency go bag with survival essentials like food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights and other important items recommended by FEMA. Maintaining physical and financial readiness is key for effective emergency preparedness.

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit along with a well-stocked survival bag will help you successfully endure various emergencies or disasters.

What is the most important survival kit?

At the bare minimum, your survival kit should contain supplies to sustain life for at least 72 hours. This includes:

Water - 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3 days' worth per person)
Non-perishable food items - Nutritious yet easy-to-prepare foods like granola bars, canned goods, MREs. Enough to last each person at least 3 days.
Flashlight - Handheld or headlamp with extra batteries
First aid kit - Sterile bandages, antibiotic ointment, medication, etc.
Radio - Emergency radio to receive warnings and critical news updates
Pocket knife or multi-tool - For building shelter, cutting rope, opening cans, etc.
Dust masks - To filter contaminated air during environment disasters

For novice preppers, the above list covers the emergency and survival kit essentials to prioritize. With those basics covered, you can then build onto your go-bag or emergency kit over time as needed. Focus first on the critical capacity to meet fundamental survival needs, then extra gear can come later as your experience level increases.

10 Items to Kickstart Your Emergency Kit

This section outlines must-have items to include in your basic emergency supply kit, covering survival basics like food, water and first aid. Having these preparedness essentials on hand can provide critical relief when disasters strike.

Securing Water: The Lifeline in Emergencies

Storing clean water is vital for survival, as people can only live about 3 days without it. Aim to have at least a 3-day supply of water for each person and pet. Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Calculate about 1 gallon per person or pet per day. Consider including water purification tabs or a portable water filter like the Lifestraw in your emergency and survival kit to filter and disinfect found water sources. Rotate water every 6 months if storing long term.

Sustenance to Survive: Storing Non-Perishable Foods

Build up a stockpile of calorie-dense survival kit foods like granola bars, canned beans, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, dehydrated camping meals, trail mix, and protein bars. Focus on items that do not require refrigeration and have a long shelf life. Calculate to feed each person for at least 3 days. Include a non-electric can opener. Renew food items before expiration dates.

First Aid Fundamentals: Building Your Medical Kit

A first aid kit contains vital medical essentials for treating injuries, wounds and illness when professional care is unavailable. Stock sterile bandages, gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial ointment, over-the-counter medicines like antidiarrheals and pain relievers, trauma shears, tweezers, thermometers, sanitation supplies like bleach, etc. Learn basic first aid, CPR and medical skills.

Tools and Extras for Self-Sufficiency

Include practical tools like knives, a pocket multi-tool, duct tape, garbage bags, work gloves and safety goggles. Pack battery powered or hand crank AM/FM radios to receive emergency broadcasts when power fails. Have flashlights, lanterns, extra batteries and glow sticks. A whistle and signaling mirror are helpful for rescue. Paper maps, pens and permanent markers also prove useful.

Shelter and Clothing: Adapting to the Elements

Clothing appropriate for seasonal weather helps prevent exposure injuries. Pack extra socks, underwear, hats, gloves, and sturdy shoes. Emergency thermal blankets, tents or tarps offer portable shelter. In cold months, hand warmers and winter jackets insulate body heat. When high temperatures strike, cooling towels, shade structures, and ventilated clothing keep you cooler. Rotate clothing sizes as family members grow.

Assembling Your Go-Bag: A Comprehensive Emergency Go Bag Checklist

A go-bag contains essentials you may need if you must evacuate quickly during a crisis. Keep it organized and ready to grab at a moment's notice.

Health Items: The Non-Negotiables in Your Emergency Bag List

When preparing your emergency and survival kit, having essential health supplies should be at the top of your list. These are some non-negotiable items to include:

Medications: Pack a 7-day supply of any prescription medications or supplements you take on a regular basis. Include copies of the prescriptions as well. Having OTC medications like pain relievers, antidiarrheals, antihistamines can alleviate common ailments.
Medical Supplies: Bandages, gauze, gloves, antiseptic wipes, thermometer, tweezers, safety pins, scissors. Especially useful for handling minor injuries.
Sanitation and Hygiene: Hand sanitizer, bar soap, toilet paper, toothbrush and paste, feminine hygiene products, small towel, heavy duty garbage bags with ties. Maintaining personal hygiene prevents illness.
Eyewear and Vision Aids: Extra pair of glasses, contacts and solution if applicable. Impaired vision can severely limit functioning in an emergency.
Immunization Records: Copies of vaccination records for the whole family, especially your children. Critical for obtaining medical aid if displaced.

Having the above health items easily on hand reduces risks and discomfort during an unforeseen crisis. Prepare multiple smaller bags with duplicates of critical supplies to cover all family members.

Communication and Light: Electronic Essentials

Electronics that aid communication and provide light are vital emergency bag inclusions:

Fully Charged Power Banks: These act as backup power sources to charge phones, radios, flashlights when regular grid power is unavailable. Get high capacity 20,000+ mAH portable chargers.
Extra Batteries: Stock up on AA and AAA batteries to power flashlights, lanterns, radios, walkie-talkies, LED glow sticks. Lithium batteries have long 10 year shelf lives.
Flashlights or Headlamps: Choose LED flashlights that cast powerful beams to see in the dark and aid night navigation. Waterproof and impact resistant ones are ideal.
AM/FM Radio: Battery operated radios provide weather alerts, emergency broadcasts if cell networks are overloaded. Solar powered and hand crank charging capabilities are useful features.
Laptop/Tablet: Lightweight mini laptops allow connecting to WiFi networks to stay informed and communicate needs. Store offline eBook copies of survival references.
Charging Cables and Battery Packs: Cables for phones, tablets, e-readers with protective charging cases or battery packs. Solar chargers are also very handy during long off-grid periods.
Walkie Talkies: Two way radios with 20-50 mile ranges facilitate group communication when cell networks fail. Learn appropriate radio protocols and emergency channel numbers.
Emergency Whistle and Glow Sticks: Whistles can signal location up to 1 mile away. Cyalume glow sticks provide up to 12 hours of visible light underwater too.

Ensure electronic emergency kit gear undergoes routine operational checks and stays charged. Update older electronics every few years to leverage technological improvements.

Securing Your Identity: Keeping Important Documents Safe

Natural disasters, pandemics, accidents can unexpectedly displace entire families at a moment's notice. Secure copies of your critical identification and legal documents in your emergency bag:

Government ID Cards: Driver's licenses, passports, Social Security cards, citizenship papers, gun permits for all family members. These confirm identities and facilitate access to federal or medical aid.
Insurance Information: Health, life, disability, homeowners insurance cards or information safely stored in waterproof pouches. Helps file damage claims quicker.
Medical Records and Contacts: Immunization history, doctor details, medical conditions, prescriptions. Critical if needing medical care when displaced or past history is unavailable.
Financial Information: Bank account info, credit/debit cards, cash hidden in socks/shoes. Ensure you have access to emergency funds to purchase necessities.
Backup Data Storage: USB drives, external hard disks containing digitized copies of above documents, contacts, passwords, cryptocurrency keys. Can print and carry the most vital 2-3 pages.
Inventory List: A complete list properly stored provides immense help in case of insurance claims. Can also aid recollecting key items when in shock.

Take pictures of assembled documents on phones as an additional backup. The goal is to securely provide officials quick emergency access to records confirming your legal identities, assets and needs. Proper documentation accelerates assistance approval.

Cash in Hand: Ensuring Access to Resources

Money enables procuring goods or services critical for survival after disasters. Hence some easily accessible emergency cash can buy necessities likes food, water, clothing, transport.

Keep $100-200 in small bills tucked in secret compartments of your wallet or purse. Useful if stores cannot process electronic payments during grid failures.
Add rolls of quarters and $1 coins for vending machines, parking meters, laundromats. Coins easier to use than large bills when making small purchases.
Include prepaid Visa or Mastercards locked with $100-500 limits. These help access ATMs and facilitate digital payments for hotels, gas, online orders of emergency supplies.
Have copies of front/back of credit & debit cards, driver's licenses in case needing to reconstruct identities or obtain temporary replacements.
Keep extra house, car, safe keys easily available. Key copies useful if original set misplaced amidst urgent evacuations.

The above tips ensure you have sufficient accessible monetary resources to independently handle initial critical needs for 1-2 weeks, giving time to organize more funds.

Hydration and Nutrition on the Move

Staying hydrated and maintaining nutrition levels is challenging when on the move after disasters strike. But packing some easily portable supplies facilitates self-sufficiency:

Always good to have some bottled water and electrolyte sports drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte. Aim for 1-2 liters per person daily. plus water purification tablets or mini personal filters allow utilizing available water sources.
Pack high protein food like granola/protein bars, beef jerky sticks, mixed nuts, peanut butter, canned tuna, fruits cups. These provide quick bites without needing cooking on the go. Consider special needs like baby food or diabetic nutritionals.
Choose calorie dense dried foods like nuts, juices, fruits, crackers, cereal, grains that retain nutritional value over years. Compare best by dates when stocking up.
Instant oatmeal, dehydrated camping meals, MREs offer hot meals by just adding water. Include mess kits, cutlery, cups, mini stove, fuel to enable cooking when settled at temporary shelters.
Don't forget can and bottle openers! Having multipurpose tools like pocket knives, multitools proves invaluable when least expected.

Get innovative and customize food supplies based on dietary restrictions, local weather, evacuation distance and family tastes. The goal is packing just enough portable nutrition to cover the first few critical days of a disaster, when access to stores may be impossible.

Stay vigilant, stay prepared with your emergency go bag!

Building a 14-Day Emergency Kit: Extending Your Survival Horizons

Tailor your emergency kit contents based on likely risks in your area, your personal needs and preparedness goals.

Identifying Local Hazards: Region-Specific Preparations

Determining what emergencies are most likely where you live allows you to prepare accordingly with tailored gear.

Consider risks like earthquakes, floods, winter storms, or civil unrest based on your location. Check maps of fault lines, flood zones, snowfall data, and recent local events to evaluate hazards.

Research historical incidents, weather patterns, geographic features, and potential man-made threats around you. This informs what should be in your emergency kit - like heavy snow gear in regions with frequent storms or seismic retrofitting supplies in earthquake zones.

Prioritizing local risks enables smart region-specific preparations.

Inventory for Individual Needs: Personalizing Your Emergency Plan

When building your emergency supplies, factor in health conditions, dependencies, vulnerabilities, and useful capabilities within your household.

Create customized emergency plans and kits catered to allergies, chronic illnesses, disabilities, children's needs, pets, and medications taken routinely. Identify any unique resources your household offers like medical skills or survival expertise.

Consider special food, equipment, contingency plans, and support contacts for those dependent on routine medical care like dialysis. Allow for children's shorter endurance for harsh conditions.

Personalizing preparations this way makes kits more practical in real emergencies.

Setting Realistic Preparedness Objectives

First, decide your ideal duration of emergency self-reliance, from a 72 hour 'bug-out bag' to indefinite homesteading independence. This determines the quantities of food, water, and other consumables needed.

For novices beginning with a 14 day supply, use FEMA guidance recommending 1 gallon of water per person per day - 98 gallons for a 2 week kit. Add enough non-perishable calories for 2 weeks. Gradually build towards more ambitious 1 month or 1 year stockpiles.

Be realistic about relying indefinitely on home renewable energy, hunting/foraging skills, makeshift shelter, and other extreme self-sufficiency tactics in chaotic SHTF scenarios.

Specialized Gear and Skills: Beyond the Basics

Consider acquiring skills like emergency first aid, self defense tactics, survivalist techniques, and crisis communication modes. Add gear accordingly like trauma kits, radios, weapons, and specialized references.

Hands-on training will build competence and confidence utilizing this equipment, allowing quicker reactions in real crises. Consider enrolling in formal instruction like Stop the Bleed, HAM radio operation, and concealed carry courses.

As your capabilities advance, periodically reevaluate and upgrade emergency plans, strategically adding backups of mission-critical gear like water filters, cooking methods, light sources and communication devices.

Hands-On Training with Your Survival Kit Items

To keep your emergency preparedness sharp, regularly cycle out food/water stockpiles before expiration and routinely function-test electronic/mechanical devices. This ensures freshness and operability.

Additionally, proactively use your first aid supplies to treat minor cuts and burns. Doing so verifies kit contents plus builds experience improvising if specialized items deplete.

Finally, periodically review emergency contact lists, evacuation routes, operating procedures, and other response plans. Identify improvements or changes needed after each review and disaster simulation drill.

Following these best practices will hone disaster readiness, increasing confidence to handle real catastrophes using your carefully tailored emergency kit.

Survival Blueprint: Concluding Advice for the Aspiring Prepper

To wrap up, here are some key emergency preparedness tips for novice preppers focused on building fundamental life-saving capacity.

Laying the Foundations: Start With a Simplified Emergency Bag List

When just starting out on your journey to preparedness, it's important not to become overwhelmed. Begin by putting together a simplified 72-hour emergency kit containing only the most essential items. This starter emergency and survival kit should focus on meeting your basic needs for food, water, shelter, first aid, communication, and safety.

Start with compact, lightweight supplies that are easy to store and transport. For example, include high-calorie emergency food bars, pouches of purified drinking water, a mylar thermal blanket, a small first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, and a multipurpose tool. Avoid bulky items that take up excess space or weight. As your experience grows over time, you can upgrade your supplies and expand reserves.

Strategic Duplication: Spreading Your Supplies

Rather than keeping all your emergency provisions in one place, utilize strategic duplication to increase accessibility. Stash key items at home, at work, and in vehicles so you have basic supplies no matter where a disaster strikes.

For your home, pack supplies in a backpack or other bag that can be quickly grabbed if evacuation becomes necessary. At work, keep a small kit containing an emergency thermal blanket, food bars, backup phone charger and other compact items in a desk drawer. In vehicles, store roadside emergency equipment like jumper cables, flares, fix-a-flat, as well as basic survival provisions. Spreading resources avoids a single point of failure.

The Synergy of Preparedness: Layering Your Strategies

A resilient preparedness plan combines stockpiling emergency goods, acquiring useful skills and training, and forming community connections. When these strategies are layered, they reinforce and amplify one another.

For example, take a first aid course to boost medical knowledge, then equip your supplies with trauma equipment to apply those skills if injured. Get to know neighbors to share ideas and combine resources, while expanding your own independent reserves. Use each element to shore up potential weaknesses in other areas. Together they create synergy and flexibility to overcome a wider range of disruptions.