72 Hour kits - Why I recommend getting a bug out bag first?

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When I talk to people who do not prep or are talking about getting started up I always mention a 72 hour kit or a basic bug out kit. 


I am hoping that building an emergency kit will set a mild sense of urgency in them and they will branch out to the other preparedness topics. 


The kit is the one thing you CAN have set aside quickly. 


Gathering food storage takes habit and discipline over time where a bug out kit can be put together in a few hours or a couple of days. The basic kit should be heavy enough to carry your basic essentials in and not overload the person carrying it. 


For myself, I am a small framed woman. Having a kit that weighs 60 pounds is foolish. I need something around 30 pounds so that if I had to run or carry it with me for any length of time it will not impede my ability to do so.
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The picture shows my basic kit without my bedroll or personal care bag. This is my starter kit. I will be adding to id and as I search out more things I can use I will also be thinking about what items are truly the necessities and which ones I can use for several purposes. Be as compact as possible. I have a friend that has huge pile of "emergency" supplies yet I wonder how much of that is portable. 
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My basic kit started with the emergency kit shown here. It is less than $60 and contains enough supplies by itself to sustain one person for 3 days. 


Listed below are some great survival items I have added to the initial kit. 

Emergency Kits

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A 72 hour kit, bug out bag, emergency or survival kit, whatever you choose to call it should be the very first goal you complete in survival recovery. If you are assembling a kit or purchasing one you need a good idea of what you might need to prepare for. 
Are you in a natural disaster zone? Is the area you live in prone to heavy duty winter storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or flooding? 
The gear you prepare can be a genuine comfort and even a life saving necessity. Wherever you live having a kit of tools, short term water, and food supply, a change of clothes, and toiletries can be a major blessing. 
FREE!!! 
Emergency Kit Check List
Supplies for One Person
View and Print Document
Click Here 

Build Your Own Bug Out Kit

Use these handy emergency kit elements to build your own 72 hour bug out kit. Pack food, water, shelter, first aid, hygiene, and energy supplies!
It wouldn't hurt to have some Paracord in your pack either...

VISM by NcStar Tactical Back Pack

Product Features
  • Heavyweight polyester and 6 side pouches
  • Includes top carry handle and 2 side handles, padded shoulder straps and waist belt
  • Hydration system compatible for 2 hydration bladder and PAL compatible webbing
  • Dimensions are 20 x 18 x 7-Inch

Coleman 
Aluminum Mess Kit

Product Features
  • Five-piece kit stores and cleans easily
  • Includes eight-ounce cup, six-inch deep dish plate, 7.5-inch frying pan, and 16-ounce pot with lid
  • All pieces stack and store within the pot
  • Includes limited manufacturer's warranty; details included with purchase

Mayday 1200 Calorie Food Bar

Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard 
Mayday emergency food bars have a five year shelf life. And they  have that great taste of apple cinnamon.
  Mayday food rations can be stored outside up to 149 F degrees. 

Mayday Emergency Water Pouch

An individual emergency water ration over 4 oz. in mylar packaging. 

The shelf life of the Mayday Emergency Water Pouch is 5 years. 

Frontier Emergency Water Filter-Aquamira

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Recommended for any emergency kit. This nifty little straw filter will process about 20 gallons. Removes more than 99.9 percent of cryptosporidium and Giardia

Stainless Steel Sports Water Bottle - BPA Free

BPA free stainless steel sports water bottle
  • Capacity: 750 mL, 25 Oz
  • Wide mouth design with loop cap

Johnson & Johnson
All Purpose First Aid Kit

Provides essential items to help deal with cuts, scrapes, minor burns, sprains, strains, pain, fever, and more...

Adventure Medical Kits UltraLight and Watertight

Ultralight & Watertight 
Includes Medications - After Bite Sting and Itch Relief, Wipes, Antihistamine,  Ibuprofen, items to treat wounds, burns, bites, and more...

Excalibur Electronic Forever Flashlight

Never need to find batteries for a flashlight again with this Excalibur Electronic Forever Flashlight. Simply shake to recharge batteries.

Emergency Pocket Radio

Now receive 24-hour-a-day National Weather Bureau Broadcasts no matter where you are. This handheld, portable unit has an ALERT system that turns the unit on when a dangerous weather or civil emergencies arises. 
 

Magnesium Fire Starter

The Magnesium Fire Starter tool makes building a camp fire so simple. Strike over kindling and you have a heat and cooking source in minutes. Compact and easy to pack in your kit, make sure you add one of these great tools to your shopping list!

Wing Stove with Esbit Fuel

Compact yet powerful the Wing Stove is sturdy enough to support a container with a gallon of water yet is no larger than a deck of cards! Comes with 6 fuel tablets.Wing stove is strong enough to hold a container with up to a gallon of water. 

Mylar Emergency Blankets 

The compact size of these Mylar Emergency Blankets makes packing a few of these per kit possible. Warm and convenient. Space blankets are a great item in an emergency kit.

Adult Hooded Vinyl Rain Poncho (Camouflage) 

Don't forget an Emergency Poncho! It is a small package but it will help you keep dry and protected from the elements.