LEVEL I
- A good knife and something to sharpen it with. A blunt knife is worse than not having one.
- A good quality multi-tool and a Swiss army knife (no imitations).
- A good torch, maglight preferable; set of spare batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Candles can’t get enough of these. Check out three wick long burning candles available from most camping stores. These can be used to slow cook or boil water.
- Three days supply of food. It’s a great idea to have as supplements; energy bars, trail mix, nuts, snacks of high nutritional value. It’s also a good idea to have ready cooked meals. Like MRE’S which can be bought cheaply from surplus stores. Avoid soft drinks. No nutritional value they don’t quench your thirst, and don’t aid digestion. Remember your body needs water to digest.
- WATER: The human body can not last longer than three days without it. It’s importance can not be under estimated. Even for a three day supply purification tablets or iodine is essential. You must be aware of the damage contaminated water can inflict. In Bangladesh floods caused two hundred thousand deaths. But over a million died from disease and contaminated water. In a disaster situation dysentery and diarrhea are killers. Storing water one must remember the two enemies light and heat. You must rotate water, keep drinking water in clean containers. This can not be emphasized enough. Rancid water can kill even the survival instinct.
- Water Carrier – buckets, buckets, buckets preferably with lids. Many hurricane and tornado victims have found that the government is good at providing emergency water supplies, but water trucks as a rule don’t carry and endless supply of buckets.
- A good camping cooker and a good lighter or waterproof matches.
- Two hundred dollars cash in small denominations ( no one will change a hundred dollar bill in a emergency).
- Level one can be achieved with a minimum of cost. We estimate around five hundred dollars. The best place to shop is military surplus stores, camping stores, and don’t forget your local Walmart. Don’t skimp and save, quality should be your number one priority. Food should have long expirations dates. Look at the nutritional value, your going to need it.
BASIC SUPPLIES
- Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Disposable baby bottle liners
- Manual can opener
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic storage containers
- Needles, thread
- Medicine dropper
- Plastic sheeting
SANITATION
- Toilet paper, towelettes
- Soap, liquid detergent
- Antibacterial soap that doesn’t use water
- Feminine supplies
- Personal hygiene items: deodorant, toothbrush and paste
- Baby needs (diapers, ointments, etc.)
- Contact lenses and solution
- Denture needs
- Extra eyeglasses
- Plastic garbage bags, ties, various sizes
- Disinfectant
- Household chlorine bleach
FIRST AID KIT
Put together a basic first aid kit,
you can obtain a manual
From your local American
Red Cross
- Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
- 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
- Hypo allergenic adhesive tape
- Triangular bandages (3)
- 2-inch sterile bandages (3 rolls)
- 3-inch sterile bandages (3 rolls)
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Needles
- Moistened towelettes
- Antiseptic
- Thermometer
- Tongue blades (2)
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Assorted sizes of safety pins
- Cleansing agent/soap
- Latex gloves (2 pair)
- Sunscreen
- Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
- Antidiarrhea medication
- Antacid (upset stomach)
- Syrup of Ipecac (to induce vomiting)
- Laxative
- Vitamins and mineral supplements
