The 72-Hour Kit
The foundation of all preparedness: a bag that keeps you alive and comfortable for 3 days if you need to leave home or lose utilities. Not a military fantasy — just a sensible, practical kit for realistic UK emergencies: floods, storms, power cuts, gas leaks.
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The UK government's own advice is to be prepared for 72 hours without external help. This isn't prepper paranoia — it's official guidance.
A 30L rucksack is the right size. Big enough to carry 3 days of essentials, small enough to grab and go. Don't over-pack — you need to be able to carry it.
Build one per person in the household. A family of four needs four kits, not one giant bag.
Review and rotate every 6 months: check food dates, battery charge, medication expiry, seasonal clothing.
Choose a bag: 25-35L rucksack, durable, comfortable to carry. Keep it packed and accessible
WATER: 2L per person per day minimum. Store 6L in bottles + water purification tablets as backup
FOOD: 3 days of non-perishable, no-cook food. Energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers
SHELTER: Emergency bivvy bag (SOL or Lifesystems), foil blanket, waterproof poncho
LIGHT & POWER: Head torch (with spare batteries), USB power bank (charged), wind-up radio
FIRST AID: Mini kit (see First Aid Module 06). Include personal medications for 7 days
DOCUMENTS: Photocopies of passport, insurance, driving licence in a waterproof bag. Emergency contacts list
WARMTH: Spare base layer, socks, hat, gloves (season-appropriate). Hand warmers in winter
TOOLS: Multi-tool, duct tape (wrapped around a pencil to save space), paracord 10m, whistle
CASH: £50-100 in small notes. ATMs don't work without power
HYGIENE: Toothbrush, wet wipes, small towel, toilet roll in a ziplock bag, hand sanitiser
Store the bag in an accessible place — hallway cupboard, under the stairs, by the front door
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