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Emergency Kits for Everyday Places

Emergencies don’t always happen when we’re at home, and these kits make sure you have what you need wherever you are. Each one is designed to help you stay safe, stay comfortable, and make your way back to your family when the unexpected happens.

You’ll notice some items appear in more than one kit. You don’t need to duplicate anything if you can easily access it when you’re away from home. The goal is simply to have what you need no matter where you are when an emergency begins.

Auto Kit

An auto kit gives you peace of mind when something goes wrong on the road. With repair tools, safety gear, and comfort items, these supplies help you address the problem and stay comfortable while you either wait for assistance or handle things yourself.

Basics
  • insurance card
  • auto membership card
  • flashlight & batteries
  • pen and paper
  • comfortable walking shoes
  • cell phone charger
  • gas can - empty
  • glass and seatbelt cutter
  • jumper cables
  • traction aid like cat litter
  • cones or warning triangles
  • mechanic's gloves - cloth
  • tire pressure gauge
  • spare tire
  • jack & lug wrench
  • tire iron
  • fix-a-flat sealant
  • fire extinguisher
  • toolbox
  • rags
  • garbage bags
  • paper towels
  • whistle
  • small change - quarters
  • extra set of car keys
  • travel-size first aid kit
  • car repair handbook
  • battery-powered radio
  • solar battery charger
  • extra batteries
  • water*
  • food**
Basics
  • insurance card
  • auto membership card
  • flashlight & batteries
  • pen and paper
  • comfortable walking shoes
  • cell phone charger
  • gas can - empty
  • glass and seatbelt cutter
  • jumper cables
  • traction aid like cat litter
  • cones or warning triangles
  • mechanic's gloves - cloth
  • tire pressure gauge
  • spare tire
  • jack & lug wrench
  • tire iron
  • fix-a-flat sealant
  • fire extinguisher
  • toolbox
  • rags
  • garbage bags
  • paper towels
  • whistle
  • small change - quarters
  • extra set of car keys
  • travel-size first aid kit
  • car repair handbook
  • battery-powered radio
  • solar battery charger
  • extra batteries
  • water*
  • food**

Water* Datrex Emergency Purified Drinking Water Pouches have a 5-year shelf-life and can also be stored in a hot car.
Food** Food bars such as Mainstay, SOS, Millennium and others are shelf-stable, last for 5 years, and can be stored in a hot car.

Next-level Suggestions
  • roadside flares
  • reflective vests
  • flare gun
  • red distress flag or sign
  • motor oil and oil spout
  • siphon pump
  • washer fluid
  • transmission fluid
  • power steering fluid
  • coolant/antifreeze
  • brake fluid
  • air filters
  • oil filters
  • fuses
  • spare belts, hose, clamps
  • spark plugs
  • WD-40 lubricant
  • windshield wiper blades
Seasonal Suggestions
Summer
  • sunblock
  • sun hat
  • extra water
  • fan
Winter
  • blankets
  • hat & gloves
  • ice scraper
  • hiking boots
  • body & hand warmers
  • foldable snow shovel

Tip: Consider taking each family member's grab & go bag when traveling longer distances. If something happens to your car, you'll have some helpful necessities on hand. This includes pet items as well. Taking your sanitation and entertainment kit would come in handy in this situation as well. Be sure to restock anything that gets used and put the bags right back in storage when you return.

Get Back Home Kit

A get‑back‑home kit is designed to support your needs if an emergency keeps you from driving home. When roads are blocked or conditions force you to continue on foot, this kit gives you what you need while moving toward home at a manageable pace.

To make the kit easy to use under stress, it’s packed in layers. Simple essentials you might need in the first few hours are stored in the outer pockets where you can reach them quickly. Supplies that become helpful between three and twelve hours are placed near the top of the main compartment. The gear you’d only need after many hours on foot is packed at the bottom, where it stays out of the way until you truly need it.

Because this kit assumes you may be walking, keep a comfortable, broken‑in pair of shoes stored in your car so you’ll have them if you need them.

Outside Layer: 1 to 3 hours
  • sunglasses
  • sunscreen
  • bug spray
  • antibacterial wipes
  • bandana for head protection
  • hat
  • poncho
  • compact multi-tool pocketknife
  • travel first aid kit
  • N95 face mask
  • pepper spray
  • whistle on lanyard
  • toilet paper
  • small flashlight with batteries
  • pen and paper - Rite in the Rain pen work in wet conditions
Top Layer - 3 to 12 Hours
  • water*
  • food**
  • personal hygiene kit
  • detailed area map
  • compass
  • hand-held GPS navigator
  • hand-crank radio
  • headlamp & batteries
  • matches/lighter
  • tinder
  • multi-tool
  • paracord-100 feet
  • work gloves
  • cash stored inside sealed envelope
  • Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Padding

Water* Datrex Emergency Purified Drinking Water Pouches have a 5-year shelf-life and can also be stored in a hot car.
Food** Food bars such as Mainstay, SOS, Millennium and others are shelf-stable, last for 5 years, and can be stored in a hot car.

Bottom Layer - 12 to 48 Hours
  • space blanket
  • mosquito netting if applicable
  • lightweight tarp
  • change of clothing appropriate for time of year - Keep an eye on this and switch out seasons twice per year.

School Kit

A school kit gives your child a small layer of comfort and confidence if something unexpected happens while they’re away from home. Everything inside is easy to use and appropriate for a school setting. The goal is to help your child stay calm and comfortable, and know they have what they need while the adults around them handle the situation. While it is meant to be helpful, the kit is is not meant to replace the school’s emergency supplies.

Kit Options
  • ID card - laminated
  • family contact info card - laminated
  • family photo - laminated
  • food: shelf-stable foods like food bars/protein bars/hard candy
  • water: water pouches and refillable water bottle with filtration - see tip below
  • hygiene kit: toothbrush/paste, comb, hand sanitizer
  • wet wipes – small package
  • feminine hygiene items
  • first aid kit with bandages and single use antibiotic ointment packets
  • face mask
  • warmth: emergency blanket, extra sweatshirt, hand warmers, rain poncho
  • light: small flashlight (older kids) and light sticks (older & younger)
  • whistle with lanyard - good quality
  • pen and notepad

If possible, consider getting your child a watch that has phone capabilities. Some schools ban phones from being brought to school, but watches are okay.

Assembling the kit
  • Place the items in a container and place this inside of a zipped portion of your child's backpack.
  • Set a rule that these items are not to be touched except in times of emergency.
  • Your child is responsible for taking the school kit back and forth from school. This way, there is always easy access to the kit's contents. If left at school, your child will not have the opportunity to use the kit for any emergencies on the way to school or on the way home.
Talking to your child's school

Here are some questions to ask your child's schoolteacher or administrator before you pack the school kit. Use the answers to modify this list if it adds value or if it's a requirement. You may find they require far less but don’t feel the need to provide less.

  • Does the school have emergency plans in place?
  • What types of emergencies do these plans address?
  • Do you require a home-assembled kit for each child?
  • If so, what items do you want each child to include in their kit?
  • Do you store emergency supplies for your students?
  • What types of supplies do you store?
  • How often are these supplies rotated for freshness?

Tip: Because Datrex Emergency Purified Drinking Water has a 5-year shelf life, these 4.2 oz pouches can sit in your child's school kit for a long period of time and remain good. It is a set-it-and-forget-it product. While a water bottle with filtration ability (like LifeStraw, etc.) can be large and bulky, you can save room by packing other contents of the kit compactly into the bottle itself.

Office Kit

An office kit helps you stay comfortable if an emergency keeps you at work longer than expected or makes it difficult to get home right away. It’s a small collection of practical items - personal essentials, simple tools, and comfort supplies - that give you a sense of stability while you wait for conditions to improve or for transportation to become available. Everything inside is easy to store, easy to use, and chosen to help you stay calm, stay warm, and stay connected until you can safely head home.

Shelf-Stable Food Options
  • meal replacement bars
  • protein/energy/snack bars
  • peanut butter & crackers
  • protein cookies
  • canned foods
  • packet/boxed meals
  • hard candy
  • disposable utensils & napkins
Water
  • 3 large sturdy plastic bottles of water - 33.8-ounce bottles work best
  • water bottle with filter
  • water purification tablets
Light & Warmth
  • flashlight or headlamp
  • extra batteries
  • 3 light sticks
  • blanket
  • thermal mylar blanket
  • hand & body warmer pack
  • small camping pillow
Hygiene
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • comb/brush
  • hand sanitizer
  • feminine products
Communications
  • cell phone charger
  • whistle with a lanyard
  • AM/FM radio with extra batteries

Radio suggestion: Ambient Weather WR-111B Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio includes AM/FM/NOAA digital radio, flashlight, cell phone charger with NOAA certified weather alert & cables

Safety
  • N95 dust mask
  • personal pocket first aid kit
Tools
  • pair of work gloves
  • pair of vinyl gloves
  • pry/crowbar 15-inch
  • multi-tool - like a Leatherman
  • pocketknife
  • duct tape

Tip: Look at the grab & go bag list of items to see if there is anything else you may want to add to your office kit.

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