Flashlight. Check! Clothing. Yep. Food. Of course! You’ve got your bug out bag filled to the brim with tons of items, but are you missing some key essentials? Before you stow away your survival kit, make sure it has all the right things. Keeping your bug out bag packed with these tools and supplies can make a world of difference in an emergency.
1. First-Aid Kit
First things first — your first-aid kit. No bug out bag is complete without one. Accidents happen. If you’re not prepared to treat minor injuries, then you’re not prepared. The food, water, and flashlight that you probably already have in your bug out bag will only get you so far. Here are a few items to keep handy for first-aid purposes:
- Scissors
- Compress dressings
- Bandages
- Cloth tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Disinfectant wipes
- Aspirin
- Emergency blanket
- Cold compress
- Latex-Free gloves
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Gauze
- Sterile gauze pads
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
You need to be able to keep a small scrape or bite from becoming infected. You also need to make sure you can stay moving despite a minor injury. This can make all the difference in an emergency. A well-stocked first-aid kit is important to your family’s safety, so don’t forget this basic bug out bag essential.
2. Cooking Gear
Food is not an item you’re likely to overlook. What about all those things you need to, you know, cook it? You probably remember the last great meal you had. But do you remember the dishes and utensils that went into making it? Don’t be caught off guard when you can’t rely on a well-stocked kitchen to cook your dinner.
The next item you’ll want to check off on your bug out bag checklist is emergency cooking gear. After all, what good is the food if you can’t eat it? A few things you won’t want to forget:
- Pots and pans
- Plates, bowls, forks, knives, and spoons
- Stoves
- Water filter
- Canteen
- Dish soap
With those items safely stowed in your bug out bag, you can rest easy knowing you’re ready to eat, stay hydrated, and clean up. You’ll be prepared no matter what the world throws at you.
3. Emergency Radio
Knowledge is power, as they say. You don’t want to go without information during a crisis. The power at home might go out during the next ice storm, or there might be an unexpected emergency weather alert.
Adding an emergency radio to your bug out bag will help you be as prepared as possible. Look for a radio that doesn’t rely on electricity for a charge. A solar-powered radio is a great option. You can power it with the sun and not have to rely on the power grid.
Find essential survival supplies and tools at 4Patriots. From rechargeable batteries and solar cookers to long-term survival food, we have everything you need to keep your family prepared during an emergency.
