10 Essential Survival Kit Items

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10 Essential survival kit items.

Disasters and natural calamities strike when we least expect them. The best way to prepare for a survival situation is to have a survival kit.

Be it at home, place of work, classroom, or inside the car, having a survival kit is important in readiness for a calamity especially if you live in disaster-prone areas.

The best survival kits come with the necessary tools, bedding, and food items that should last for months or years when stored correctly.

While the best kit for survival should be tailored to one’s needs, stocking up on the kit from time to time is an important thing to do to keep your loved ones and yourself.

10 Essential Survival Kit Items

Here are the most essential items that should be in every survival kit.

  1. Water, water filters, and tablets

The kit must have a three-day water supply with at least one gallon per person per day. If you run into a survival situation away from home, clean access to water will be an issue if the rescue team takes more than 3 days to find you. In such a situation, water filters or tablets come in handy as they ensure the water you drink is free of contamination.

  1. Emergency food

Any survival kit must have enough food supply to last for at least 3 days. Emergency food such as ration bars, freeze-dried packs, energy bars among other survival food can be used. Make sure that the food is non-perishable with an extensive shelf life of at least 6 months.

  1. Shelter and clothing

You’ll need a tent to protect yourself from rain, snow or cold at night. The keep should also have blankets and ponchos that protect you from extreme cold.

  1. Hygiene and sanitation

A travel-size toothpaste, toiletries, sanitary towels, baby diapers, shampoo, and hand sanitizer are a must-have in any survival kit.

  1. Fire Starters

Firestarters are a lifesaver in a survival situation. You’ll need to start a fire to keep yourself warm, provide lighting at night and cook. Instead of lighting fire the old-fashioned way, a fire starter helps you make a fire instantly without wasting time or energy.

  1. First aid kits

When it comes to emergency medical situations, a basic first aid kit is very important. A basic first aid kit should have adequate medical supplies for treating a wide range of injuries and maladies. The kit’s contents should also master the disaster you are likely to face.

  1. Survival knife

A knife is the most versatile tool in a survival situation. You can use it as hunting or self-defense weapon. You can also use it to cut ropes, clear the surrounding, carve wood, or skin prey.

  1. Communication device

You’ll need to stay in contact with different people during a survival situation. You’ll want to know how far the rescue team is, so you’ll need a shortwave radio and a cell phone so you can make calls.

  1. Books and maps

When stuck in the wild with no internet access, a map comes in handy if you want to know your way out. Additionally, having a survival book is important to complete the knowledge in your head.

  1. Prescription medication

If you frequently use prescribed medication, it is important that you have access to that medication in an emergency. Ask your healthcare provider to provide you with an extra supply so you can stock it in your survival kit.

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