Organizing the 5 Gallon Emergency Kit

The emergency kit is divided into a few broad categories to keep his supplies organized and well rounded:

General Supplies
Hygiene Supplies
First Aid Kit

Every item is listed in detail in a printed contents document. On the back is a list of important phone numbers such as relatives, insurance companies, local law enforcement, fire department, etc.

Did you catch the line second from the top? It’s the most important detail on the loadout document – the date. This helps you remember when the bucket was put together so you can keep track of all your expiration dates. A good emergency kit can easily last 5 years or more, but not everything inside will be good for that long and may need to be replaced periodically.

Shopping List: 5 Gallon Emergency Kit

It may be instructive to compare this list with the much higher calorie emergency kit from Mayday disaster preparation company. Human beings need about 2,000 calories every single day – which adds up really fast. Depending on your anticipated needs, you may want one or several food-geared buckets in addition to your emergency supply kit.

General Supplies

glow sticks (12 hrs)
flashlight
liquid candle
matchbooks
mylar blankets
hand warmers
AM/FM radio
whistle and lanyard
sewing kit
blank notebook
pencils
extra batteries (for flashlight and radio)
zip ties
P-38 can opener
trash bags
N95 dust masks
duct tape
small tarp
paracord
safety goggles
split leather gloves

Hygiene Supplies

Hygiene supplies are packaged inside their own separate bag. These basic supplies should look familiar – it’s similar to a toiletries bag you might take on vacation.

bar soap

kleenex

floss

baby shampoo

hand lotion

sunscreen

toothpaste

toothbrushes

feminine hygiene pads

comb

toilet paper

washcloths

First Aid Kit

The first aid box is packaged with a list of contents taped to the inside of the lid. Moist towelettes and antiseptic towelettes and latex gloves kept on top so you can clean your hands before digging through supplies.

basic first-aid guide
moist towelettes
antiseptic towelettes
latex gloves
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
ibuprofen (Advil)
aspirin
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
loperamide (Imodium A-D)
burn cream
sting relief towelettes
hydrocortisone cream
triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
cough drops
earplugs
instant ice pack
tweezers
nail clippers
scissors
digital thermometer
cotton balls
waterproof adhesive tape
gauze rolls
gauze pads
moleskin
band-aids
butterfly bandages
ace bandage
triangular bandage
hand sanitizer
Q-tips
petroleum jelly
RAD sticker (personal radiation dosimeter)
potassium iodide (radiation emergency thyroid blocker)

From: http://fivegallonideas.com/emergency-kit/