Well, my buddy Guri and I have been talking about emergency preparedness and I have to tell you, it’s been some interesting and noodle-stirrer types of conversations. Things that make you go “Hmmmmm…”
I mean all families have routines and such that they follow and know, especially when you can’t pick someone up and you know which friend might be able to do so, or where to meet outside if there is a fire or just things that you know. But, emergency situations change a lot of the normal day to day types of routines and I don’t think many families really thing about that.
Here’s something I found a while back and I thought, wow… great idea. It’s a survival bucket.
Of course, you can buy one all pre-packed and they were pretty reasonable, I thought. Even Costco has one available. They seem to range around $75 to $150 and are designed in different formulas… like a single person for 30 days or a family of 4 for a week, etc. IN a pinch, getting one or two of these might just save your life in a true natural or national emergency, or that of your family members. If nothing else it would be comforting to know that in a minute, you could grab a bucket and run. Throw in a car, etc. And the bucket is truely useful as well! Toting water, carrying things, etc. It’s a great idea for really a reasonable amount of cash.
I’ve been thinking… what to put in our bucket. We don’t have one yet, but I’d like to think about making one over the next month. See just how much stuff we can stash in our bucket.
Of course, you’ll want things like matches, and toilet paper (high priority there) and of course plastic bags for storage and also for safe waste removal. You’ll need things like a good knife, some rope, water purification tablets and maybe an emergency filtering device. A good small hand crank radio would be great. Small candles. Maybe a crank light. A good first aid collection including women’s monthly products, which in a pinch can double as absorbent wound dressing and fire starters!
You’ll want a collection of the medicines that your family members use on a frequent basis, including some comfort things such as antacids and itch cream, maybe even a couple disposable razors and Chapstick. SO many of these things can fit in super tiny spaces and can make a miserable situation at least tolerable. (Who alive doesn’t know how terrible it can be to have something itching so bad you want to die!!!!)
I think a pack of cards would be a good addition, and some notepads and pens and pencils. They are small and can be very very useful as well as help to pass the time. I think a teeny toy like a couple matchbook cars or a little bitty stuff animal might save the day if you have little people or encounter a hurt child, that kind of thing. Heck, you might be able to barter with someone for it in exchange for food or something. You just never know and those are the kinds of things that can take up teeny bits of extra space.
I think a good first aid/emergency guide book would be a good thing. The Red Cross has been publishing good how to books in small compact sizes for years and years. Might really come in handy when you have to set a bone or trap a rabbit or something. Build a shelter?
You should have some cash. Small bills, change. Remember, ATMS might not be working and the same for credit card networks. I think it would be a good thing to have photocopies of your families important documents too, perhaps shrunk down on copier and then seal good and compactly in a bag to keep from getting yucky. Remember to have some good clear ID photos of your each of your family members, pets, etc., so that if you have to search for someone, you have something to show officials. Anything that you think is very important to have, make a copy of it and stash it in your bucket. Bank accounts, savings information, deeds, etc.
And then theres food. This is a hard thing… you want easy to fix, simple and nutritious as well as long lasting. I would suggest that you purchase back packing products and energy bars, dense compact long term food options. There are a lot of websites that sell all kinds of products designed just for survival kits. You could also add small packs of rice, noodles, and dried and dehydrated foods like veggies and meat so that you can cook, if possible. Remember to pack a MANUAL CAN OPENER!!!! Maybe two! And some cooking utensils, like a large spoon to stir with, and simple compact camping sets for personal eating tools. I think I would find a good pot that was about the size of my bucket bottom to nestle down in the bottom of the bucket. You could cook with it, and tote with it, and bath with it as well. Very useful. Check the thrift store for some of these items. Remember, it’s survival, not what you might want to decorate your kitchen with and all.
I think you need to include a good bar of basic all purpose soap. And some personal hygiene items like a comb and maybe a couple washcloths, personal razor, maybe some shampoo in a small bottle. If you minitureize, you can really get a TON of stuff in your bucket I think. And don’t forget a bit of sewing stuff… like maybe a packet of different sized needles and a spool of good heavy duty thread. Maybe even a few buttons, and small pair of scissors, etc. Could come in handy.
Small flashlights, parachute cord/rope, bullion cubes and tea bags. Ah… oh, how about a little stash of restaurant condiment packs! Hey, you never know… that possom you snagged in the deadfall trap might benefit from a little mustard or maybe ketchup? Oh, definately a thing of salt. Salt is useful for many things. Sugar. Maybe in little packs again. Glue! Yeah, a little thing of super glue might save the day.
Whew! Well, as you can see, there are a lot of considerations for your own survival bucket. I would think that you would want it to be so solidly packed that there wasn’t an INCH of space available. After all, if you have an inch, that could be packed with sugar packs, or maybe some super glue or maybe some buttons…. or whatever!
Leave me some comments and suggestions…. what will you put in your bucket!!! What did I miss? Any good suggestions?
Pin It
