72 Hour Kits Checklist

“Obviously, it does not take a prophet to comment on what should have been done after the opportunity for preparation has passed. Therefore, would not wisdom dictate that the warning to prepare should come at a time and season conducive to preparation? Yet, because there would seem, at that moment, no discernible need to make preparation, a natural response would be to put the matter off.

A true test of one’s testimony of a prophet is whether or not he will follow his counsel, even if there seems at that moment no logical reason to do so. The only way is to live obediently, every day of our lives, so that we stay ready to meet our Lord and Savior.” Neil H. Leash, Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for Latter-day Saints, p. 31

“Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?” Alma 60:21

My mother has been saying for the past few years, “It’s time to be prepared, it’s time to get food storage…” I have felt an urgency lately to be prepared! We are doing what we can, given our situation. We live in a small apartment. I do my best to keep our cupboards packed with food. There are canned foods under our bed, that we use and rotate. We now have our 72-hour kits in our coat closet, ready to go. There is a peace that comes when you have done your best to do what the Prophets have been asking us to do for years.

I have prepared a list to help you get started. I bought most everything at Wal-Mart that wasn’t a part of the Trekker Pack. I spent around $100.00 to buy everything that does not have an “*” by it. Some of the items I had on hand, like Ziploc bags, matches, paper and pen, medicine (aleve, ibuprofen, acetaminophen), oatmeal and the mini shampoos and conditioners that were left over from our honeymoon. They are perfect for these kits! You may have a lot of these items already, so you already have a head start! I hope this helps! I searched several different sources and lists of 72-hour kit items and this is the outcome:

VANESSA’S BAG

Sandwich sized Ziploc bag:
Loose matches
Small rope
2-AA batteries*
Poncho*
3- hand warmers*
Emergency/survival bag* (foil that reflects and retains body heat)

Quart Size Ziploc bag:
12 Paper towels, folded into quarters
1 Drawstring garbage bag
2 Gallon-sized Ziploc bags
1 Quart-sized Ziploc bags
$90.00 cash (small bills)
$5.00 in quarters
6×4-inch spiral notebook + pen

Quart Size Ziploc Bag:
Kleenex pocket tissue*
Deodorant
Toothbrush*
Bar of face soap
Face lotion
Bar of body soap
Body lotion
Shampoo
Conditioner
2-Hair rubber bands + 6 bobby pins + 12 mini hair rubber bands
Hand sanitizer
Razor/shaver*

Quart Size bag:
9 Tampons
6 Maxi-pads*

Gallon Size Ziploc Bag:
Chicken of the Sea Pink Salmon packet
Star-Kist Albacore white tuna packet
4-Instant Oatmeal
2-Hot Chocolate
3-Fruit Snacks
3-Sweet & Salty Granola bars
2-Nutri-Grain Cereal bars
1 4-ounce bag of beef jerky
Pack of gum and Tic-Tacs
(Still need: raisins)

Gallon Size Ziploc Bag:

40 Cough drops
10 Glucose tablets
20 One-A-Day pills
20 Vitamin C
12 Aleve
20 Acetaminophen
45 Ibuprofen
36 Chewable Low Dose Bayer
24 Benadryl tablets(I put all these pills into one small sandwich size ziploc bag and on a 3×5 card listed the color of the pill, dosage, quantity and expiration date)
3 10-tablet rolls Rolaids
5 Toilet seat covers
1 Package of 24 hand/flushable wipes
1 Pair gloves*
30 Q-tips
First Aid Cream
1 Tongue depressor*
2 Sun Protection Wipes*
2 Alcohol Prep Pad*
2 Antiseptic chloride towelettes*
2 Non adherent Sterile Pads*
2 Antiseptic Povidone-Iodine prep pad*
2 2×2 inch Sterile Gauze Sponges*
1 Mosquito repellent patch* (wipe style)
1 Ammonia Inhalant*
22 basic Band-Aids*
1 box of 36 First Aid cots (Protection for the finger tip)
5 Safety Pins*
1 roll medical tape*
1 long-range whistle*
1 light stick*
Blistex lip protector
Nail clippers
Toe clippers

Loose:

Map of area
1 Roll toilet paper*
6 Boxes of water*
1 Hand towel
1 Washcloth
Face mask (air purifying respirator for particles)
1 Mess Kit
1 15-ounce can of soup (pull open top)
1 15-ounce can of chowder (pull open top)
1 4-ounce bag of beef jerky
1 Package of 9-serving emergency food rations* (400 calories per square)
Eating utensils (knife, tablespoon, teaspoon, fork-metal or heavy duty)
AM/FM pocket radio* (for barter)
6 in 1 Safety Light (cellular phone charger, Emergency FM radio, Directional Compass, Signal Flasher, Super bright light LED flashlight, 130 decibel Siren)

Here are some close-ups of the goodies:


A picture of everything currently in my bag:

RICK’S BAG:

First Aid Book*
Boy Scout book
Compass
Tube tent*
Flagging tape (neon orange)
Duct tape
Scissors
18 inch bungee cord
50-foot poly rope
Aluminum foil
Hammer
Ax
Mini Book of Mormon
Toothpaste
Potable aqua*
Basic First Aid booklet*
Waterproof matches*
Lightweight tripod stove and 3 fuel bars*
Metal pot for tripod stove*
100- Hour plus Candle*
1 small jar Peanut Butter
Lemonhead drops
Utility Tool*
Flashlight* (no battery or bulb needed)
Eton FR 250 Red Cross Emergency Crank radio
One inch width rubber belt (ya never know, could come in handy!)
Stethoscope
Blood pressure cuff
Military bag
Comb

Underwear
Socks
Shirt
Jeans

We still need: flint and steel, saw, small round mirror, sleeping bags and a sewing kit.

All of my stuff fits into this little backpack! I am looking to buy a larger backpack that will fit my clothing. When you stick to the basics, the clothes will fit into this size of a back pack. I think Rick and I could survive a week on these bags, not just 72 hours.

Rick is preparing our health records, phone numbers, family information that will be laminated and placed in each backpack. We divided single items by weight; Rick carries the Ax and hammer, I carry the bag of medicine, etc. We will update our bags at the end of every year to make sure the food is still edible and clothes still fit.

* = Part of the Trekker II kit from Emergency Essentials. Rick received the kit for Christmas a couple of years ago and I added to it.

Italics = Items that are in both Rick’s bag and my bag.

My sister, Megan, just created a check list and PHR that you can now download and print:

The Master List for 72-Hour Kits

Personal History Record

Happy Preparation!

Helpful Websites:

READY

SAFETYCROSS

DHS

CITIZEN CORPS

LIFE SECURE