As promised in yesterday’s post I am going to share with you the care package I took to my three college kids this weekend. Usually my care packages include lots of goodies like candy corn shaped Rice Krispie treats and arrive in very cute containers like my Trick or Treat cans. But the care package my kids received this weekend was a little bit different.
This care package came in a backpack and contained food - food they are not suppose to eat. This care package is one I hope my children will never have to use!
You see, the care package was a 72 hour kit. For those of you who don’t know what a 72 hour kit is - it is a collection of items that would help you survive for 72 hours in case of some type of emergency or disasters.
Thanks to our church we are big believers in preparedness. We try to have everything we need on hand in case of an emergency. We have had 72 hour kits waiting ready in our garage for years. I realized several weeks ago that those kits weren’t going to do my college kids any good sitting in our garage.
So I packed an extra suitcase this last weekend and took them to Utah with me where they are now stored in each of my children’s dorm rooms/apartments.
Here is what is in their 72 hour kit…
I purchased some used backpacks at Goodwill for each family member. Having your 72 hour kit in an easy to grab and carry container is important!
The kit contains:
3 water bottles, 3 juice boxes
Cans of chili, ravioli and pineapple(Cali’s request – I told her she had to have at least two cans of food that contained protein!)
granola bars, graham crackers, fruit leather, peanuts
A roll of toilet paper, hand warmers, can opener, whistle, a sheet of foil, a solar blanket, rain poncho, flashlight, glo sticks, first aid kit, hand wipes, a dust mask, a plastic cup and silverware, matches, heavy duty garbage bag as well as some money (don’t even think about spending this kids!!) and personal hygiene products such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand santizer etc.
Knowing that my kids have what they need to survive the first 72 hours of an emergency or disaster gives me peace of mind.
There are lots of resources available on the internet for putting together your own kit – you can even buy them pre-made (but they come with yucky food)
Here are a few links to check out:
Everyone needs a 72 hour kit – not just college students. Once you put them together don’t forget to rotate the food every 6 months or so and put in fresh batteries. I need to be better at that – the food in our kits was 3 years old and the batteries in the flashlights were dead!
Do you have a 72 hour kit – what’s something fun you have put in yours??
Great idea! I’m going to make one up for my family. A couple of things I would add…a prepaid phone card (in case our cell phones are not charged or unable to use) and since my kids are small and easily bored, I might include a couple of small books or coloring books and crayons to keep them entertained.
Suzanne » The prepaid phone card and some form of entertaiinment are both great ideas. I did put in a bag of change into each kit so that if cell phones weren’t working they could hopefully find a payphone and use that. Have fun putting your kits together!
Thanks for the advice on what to put in the backpack. I’ve had it for a year now, but it hangs in the broom closet (right next to the garage exit) EMPTY! I also thought about putting in a book (either something I want to read someday, or a favorite I wouldn’t mind re-reading).
in a couple of weeks, I’m getting my backpack PACKED!
Definitely change out the food every few months. Have you tasted a super-stale graham cracker? I have personal experience on that- they’re bad news! As soon as we get home from Paris
Thanks for the great ideas you had some things in there that I hadn’t thought of. I also include a family picture in my children’s packs. A little reminder of home and how much they are loved. A little note or reassuring bible verse would be nice too!
Thanks for the reminder Leigh Anne! I think I need to update ours ~ stale food is no good!!! What a great gift for your kids!
Thanks for this awesome post. . . .I’ve been giving my children things for their 72 hour kits for years. I’ve given flashlights without batteries, a hand cranked radio, rolls of quarters, food, small stove with propane, first aid items, scriptures, some simple games, cards, etc. In mine I have my genealogy and pictures on a stick, plus a binder with vital info on insurance, credit card info, important papers, will, trust, etc. I even gave the grandchildren 72 hour kits one year. . . .The food always needs to be replaced, so you can continually give this for Christmas or birthdays. THANKS!
We have our emergency kit in the garage and this was a good reminder to refresh it and add some of the suggestions. I’m thinking canned food with the pop tops eliminates the need for the can opener. We have way more than one roll of toliet paper but then I realized you have individual kits and we packed ours for all six of us–everyone should have their own roll! LOL
You should make me one!
On the weekend prior to final exams, the town of Rexburg, ID and surrounding towns were plunged into darkness for several hours on a Friday night. I had thought earlier in the semester about sending my DD a 72 hour kit, but then lost track of the idea. How I was wishing I had sent it when she called to tell me about the blackout. Luckily, she could go onto the campus, where they had emergency generators, but it was pitch black between her apartment and the campus and icy, too. She slipped on the ice and banged her knee up pretty badly. I have since purchased a LED headlamp for her, so that she can carry other things in her hands if necessary.
I had so much fun putting together care packages for my sister her first year in college. I wish I had thought about sending emergency supplies (other than toilet paper emergencies ;0)) We actually used the toilet paper as padding for anything breakable. The next year was my turn to go to college and got to be the recipient of care package. I can’t wait to send care packages to my son when he goes off to school.