Away From Home Kits
Emergencies or disasters can strike when we are not at home. These important kits can make sure you have the essentials you will need until you can get back. You may notice that some kits contain many of the same items. There's no need to duplicate as long as you have easy access the items you need when you're away from home.
Auto Kit
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
- mechanics gloves - cloth
- tire pressure gauge
- spare tire
- jack & lug wrench
- tire iron
- fix-a-flat sealant
- fire extinguisher (A-B-C type)
- 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
- extra batteries
- 1-gallon water - rotated weekly!
- Datrex water pouches
- food bars
Food and water suggestions: Food bars such as Mainstay, SOS, Millennium and others, are shelf stable, last for 5 years, and can be stored in a hot car. Datrex Emergency Purified Drinking Water Pouches have a 5 year shelf life and can also 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, hoses, clamps
- spark plugs
- WD-40 lubricant
- windshield wiper blades
Seasonal Suggestions
Summer
- sunblock
- sun hat
- extra water
- fan
Winter
- blankets
- hat & gloves
- ice scrapper
- hiking boots
Winter cont.
- body & hand warmers
- foldable snow shovel
Tip: Consider taking each family member's grab & go bag when traveling longer distances. If something should happen 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
Possible scenario: You are trying to get back home after a disaster that has made the roads impassable.
This kit utilizes a backpack that is packed in layers to give you what you'll need to get back home. Things you may need during the first few hours are packed within the outside layers. Things you may need during the next 3 to 12 are packed on top. Things needed after 12 hours are placed on the bottom. It does not include walking shoes so always keep a pair of comfortable walking shoes stored in your car at all times.
Outside Layer: 1 to 3 hours
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- bug spray
- antibacterial wipes
- bandana for head protection
- hat
- poncho
- swiss army knife
- travel first aid kit
- N95 face mask
- pepper spray
- whistle on lanyard
- toilet paper
- small flashlight with batteries
- pen & paper
Pen suggestion: Rite in the Rain is a pen that works in wet conditions.
Top Layer - 3 to 12 Hours
- water
- food bars
- personal hygiene kit
- detailed area map
- compass
- hand-held GPS navigator
- hand-crank radio
- headlamp & batteries
- matces/lighter
- tinder
- mult-tool
- paracord-100 feet / lots of different uses
- work gloves
- cash stored inside sealed envelope
- Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Padding (for blistered feet)
Food and water suggestions: Food bars such as Mainstay, SOS, Millennium and others, are shelf stable, last for 5 years, and can be stored in a hot car. Datrex Emergency Purified Drinking Water Pouches have a 5 year shelf life and can also 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
Here are some suggested items. Be sure to add anything else that is specific to your child. Ask the child's teacher how to handle daily medications as some are not allowed to be brought to school.
- ID card – laminated
- family contact info card – laminated
- family photo – laminated
- food: shelf stable foods like food bars / protein bars / hard candy
- water: 6 datrex 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 if needed
- first aid kit - 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 at all 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 items in a container and place it 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 his school kit back and forth from school. This way, there is always easy access to the kit's contents. If left at school, it can't be used for any emergencies on on the way to school or on the way home.
Talk to your child's school teacher or administrator
Here are some questions to ask your child's school 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.
- 1.Does the school have emergency plans in place?
- 2.What types of emergencies do these plans address?
- 3.Do you require a home-assembled kit for each child?
- 4.If so, what items do you want each child to include in their kit?
- 5.Do you store emergency supplies for your students?
- 6.What types of supplies do you store?
- 7.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
Store the following items in a backpack somewhere in your office or place of work.
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 - examples: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter and others
- water purification tables - examples: Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide Tablets and others
Light & Warmth
- flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
- 3 light sticks - 12 hours each
- blanket
- thermal mylar blanket
- hand & body warmer pack
- small camping pillow
Sanitation
- unisex urinal with sealed lid
- toilet paper or wet wipes
- garbage bags with plastic ties
- super sorb powder
- hand sanitizing wipes
Hygiene
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- comb/brush
- hand sanitizer
- feminine products if applicable
Communications
- Cell phone charger
- Whistle with 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”
- Multi-tool (like a Leatherman)
- Pocket Knife
- Duct Tape
Tip: Take a look at the grab & go bag to see if there is any thing else you may want to add to your office kit.