Step 3. 72-Hour Kit

There is no perfect formula for a 72-Hour Kit. As long as you have food and water for 72-hours you can most likly survive. So, with that being said you need to ask yourself a few questions before creating your kit.


*How many people do I need my 72-hour kit to provide for?

*How much food and water will I need in my kit? (2,000+ calories per day/1 Gal. H20 per day)

*What are my options for food? (keep allergies in mind)

*Do I need to provide for a pet?

*What special needs do I need to prepare for? -diapers, formula, medications, disabilities, sanitation

*What else do I need in my kit? -flashlight, emergency blanket, poncho, whistle, TP, band aids, radio, etc.

*What will I store my kit in? (backpack, duffel bag, plastic tub, bucket, #10 can, milk carton)

*Where do I want to keep my 72-hour kit? (temperature regulated location)


Please click on our list to the left for help and ideas when creating your 72-hour kit. Below are some additional links to help in this process.

Links

72-Hours Kit List

72-hour kit supplies

2,400 cal. SOS survival food bar

Aqua Blox- 3pack water

Step 2. Water Storage/Treatment

On Wednesday night we enjoyed learning all about water storage and treatment.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE 1 GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY!!!!!!!

(1/2 Gal. Drinking- 1/2 Gal. cleaning and cooking)

Mike Ducker's water treatment and storage presentation included the following:

Water Storage
First, we need to remember we have some water storage already:

Water Heater,
Plumbing/pipes,
Toilets-Water in tank,
Swimming pools-if we're desperate we'll drink it.

As long as the above water has not been contaminated in anyway we can drink this water!

There are several ways we can store additional water, for up to 6 months at a time.

55Gal. barrels,
30Gal. barrels,
5Gal. containers,
flats of water bottles, etc.

All of the above need to be rotated on a 6 month basis. Also, keeping your water storage in an environment that is temp. regulated is advised.

WATER TREATMENT:
Click here for the CDC's information on the treatment and disinfection of water. Ways we can treat our water are as follows...

Filtration systems,
Tablets,
Boiling H2O,
Chemical Treatment-Bleach/Iodine.


Decide what is most practical for your family.


Mike Duckers Two bucket treatment system...
Item list:

1. 2-5gal. buckets (one for retrieving contaminated water/one for treating water)
2. 1-micron filter bag (can be purchased at most water treatment places or online)
3. 1-1gal. Ziploc bag
4. 1- steel spring clamp
5. 1-bottle household bleach
6. measuring spoon
   
   Treatment process- Use bucket #1 to get your contaminated water from the water source. Allow water to sit for up to an hour so that sediment will fall to bottom and anything that floats on the surface can be removed. While you wait attach micron filter bag to bucket #2 using your steel spring clamp. Remove floating debris from surface of bucket #1(contaminated water) and poor into micron bag in bucket #2. Do not poor sediment from bottom of bucket #1 into micron bag. Bucket #1 will need to be cleaned out to remove left over sediment from bottom before it dries. Next, remove micron bag and allow water to drain from it completely. Micron bag will need to be cleaned with treated water and dried before being placing in a Ziploc bag. Make sure your micron bag is not placed on the ground or in contaminated water. Now you can treat bucket #2 chemically using household bleach.

Flyers That can be printed for your Water Storage and Treatment kits:

Drink safe Water

Make Water Safe

Drinking Water Treatment Methods for Back country and Travel