However, just because a company declares its survival kit to be “emergency gear,” there’s really no guarantee that these items will actually be of good quality, or will be effective in a dire situation. There’s nothing worse than reaching for your survival kit during a power blackout in hurricane season, and realizing that the flashlights come with weak batteries.

Here are a few of the things to look for when you buy a survival kit.

The Kit Should Contain All Basic Supplies

You would be surprised at the number of kits out there that neglect to pack water. No matter what the emergency, water is one of the biggest necessities you will face.  It’s also common to have kits that don’t contain other bare essentials, like torch lights or matches.  Always look at the accompanying picture of your survival kit to determine if it has all the things you’ll need.

Items Must Be of High Quality

The items in your kit should be top of the line. Before ordering a kit, don’t hesitate to ask the company where they source their items from.  Compasses must not be mere showpieces, but must function well.  A knife must be a high quality one, with a fixed blade and sturdy handles.  Buying a poor quality kit may be cheaper, but ultimately, it all comes down to the price you’re willing to pay for your survival.

Adequate Quantity of Items

Make sure that you’re not being hoodwinked about the number of items in your kit.  Some unscrupulous companies actually add up the number of matches in the matchbox to pump up the number of items in the kit.  Make sure you have adequate quantities of the supplies before you make a purchase. A first aid package that’s part of a survival kit must contain more than a 50 ml bottle of antiseptic solution and four Band Aids.

Versatility

Your kit should contain a few things that can be used in a multitude of ways in a pinch. For instance, garbage bags and duct tape have so many uses, they are hard to count.  These don’t take up a lot of space, but can be incredibly handy. 

Expensive vs. Low Cost Ones

Low cost survival kits that seem like a bargain may have you playing Russian roulette with your life. Remember, when you finally do open your survival kit, it may be when you realize you’re out of fresh water supplies during an incoming storm, and the announcer on the TV intones that government help won’t be arriving for at least 36 hours.  Do you really want to be stuck with two packets of potable water for your family of four? 

Expiration Dates

Ask your kit supplier about the expiration dates for the items in your list. Remember, that even if they are marked as being good for five years or more, they may lose some of their longevity or potability, in harsh conditions in warehouses, or during transportation.

Easy to open

Your survival kit should be easy to open in an emergency.  This is where high quality and expensive emergency gear comes into the picture again. You don’t want to be left grappling with a bag zipper, in an emergency.

Easy to Use

Emergency survival gear can range from basic kits that are designed for use by those who have little experience surviving the great outdoors, to full-scale, ultra sophisticated, military-style kits that can require some skill to use.  If your idea of survival is doing without the air conditioner in autumn, you are probably better off with a simple and basic kit that doesn’t requite high-end expertise to use.

Buy More Than One Kit Depending Your Needs

There can’t be a single survival kit that can prepare you for everything from a power breakdown to a biological attack.  It’s always best to customize your requirements at different points, with a choice of two or more survival kits.  For instance, if you are an avid trekker, you’ll probably need more than one wilderness survival kit, in addition to a basic survival kit.  Besides, it’s a wise idea to have a kit each in your home, car and office.

Most emergency survival kits you see in stores are designed for outdoor trips. While they would certainly do as well, they would nevertheless cost more than it should. Here are a few tips to make your own budget-friendly emergency home kit.

One Kit Per Person

To ensure that every person’s need is covered, it’s best to have one emergency kit per person.

For maximum safety and protection, consider basing your emergency home kit on a 72-hour period prior to receiving help. Lastly, every emergency home kit must be capable of meeting any type of disaster or emergency, whether it’s natural or man-made.

Food and Water

Medication can only go so far. To stay alive in any emergency, you’ll need sustenance. Include a sufficient amount of Aqua Blox water boxes – at least a gallon of water per person per day, but you may need more depending on climate conditions. Remember also that shelf life for Aqua Blox is five years. Bottled water, water purification tablets, and water storage bags should also be included.

As for food, carbohydrate-rich foods are your best bet because they’re effective in replenishing your energy. Canned goods are always useful as they require little to no preparation.

Clothing and Shelter

Instead of thermal blankets, you’ll be a lot dryer, warmer, and safer with 2 large-sized garbage bags per person. Wool blankets would be better while sleeping bags, albeit bulky, are the best. Include one set of working clothes and boots.

First Aid

Bandages of all types, adhesive tape, gauze pads, various kinds of antiseptics, analgesics, and antibiotic ointment are the basics of first aid. Be sure to take note of special medication needs of your loved ones such as diabetic medication or a spare pair of eyeglasses for those visually impaired.

Tools

Include flashlight, matches, camping stove with fuel or burner if possible. Forks, spoons, and various sizes and types of knives (not just for culinary use) would be handy. Swiss army knife sets, screwdrivers, and a hammer and pry bar would definitely be helpful.

Special Needs during Emergencies

Your emergency home kit will naturally differ in terms of content and size if you have an infant with you. Because their immune system is not as strong as those of adults, you need to be extra careful in choosing the right foods, medicine, and supplies to ensure their health and safety. Last but not the least, remember to have an emergency home kit ready for your pets, too!