• Welding setup
• Transportation
• Keep all vehicles in good repair
• Four wheel drive on main vehicle, or traction-enhanced (locking differentials, etc.)
• Main vehicle needs to be able to carry everyone in family, including a minimum of gear and supplies for 1 week
• Main vehicle needs to run on standardized fuel (gasoline, diesel), not specialized fuel (high octane, bio-mix, propane,etc.)
• Stored fuel for one full tank (e.g., if your vehicle’s tank holds 20 gallons, store 20 gallons) in man-portable containers
• ‘Fix a flat’ or Slime
• Self-vulcanizing plug kit
• Air compressor (12 VDC)
• Hose clamps, various sizes (or hose wrap or duct tape)
• Siphon hose
• Funnels
• Full-sized spare tire
• Emergency road equipment (flares, warning reflectors, etc.)
• Navigation (maps, GPS, etc.), stored in vehicle
• Basic spare parts (hoses, belts, sparks plugs, fasteners, etc.)
• Extra fluids (oil, coolant, transmission fluid, washer fluid, etc.)
• Tool kit, stored in vehicle
• Fire extinguisher
• Jumper cables
• Recovery strap/tow rope
• Extended fuel storage
• Additional spare parts for vehicle
Water
• Bottled Water
• Canteen/Camelback
• Rain Barrel
• Water Bottle with Filter
• Water Purification Tablets
• Pool Shock/Bleach
• Kettle w/ Lid for Boiling Water
• Charcoal and Sand
• Mosquito Netting
• Coffee Filters
• Purify / disinfect water with Bleach or Calcium Hypochlorite
• Pre-filter / purify / disinfect water with coffee filters or panty hose
• Berkey Water Filter, a Life Straw, or similar devices for home and bugging out
• Dedicated “dirty water ” containers* equal to about 30 gallons, plus additional containers to catch rain water
• Spigot-controlled water (on / off valve) – Sillcock Key
• Have 5-day supply stored in containers that are easy to move when full
• Portable capability to pre-filter / purify / disinfect water for additional 30 days or more
• Gather large quantities of water, in excess of 100 gallons at a time
• Rain Catchment System
Weather Information
• NOAA weather radio
• Basic understanding of clouds, weather systems and storms typical in your area
• Weather reference book or poster
• Thorough understanding of weather related alerts, watches and warnings
• Handheld weather measurement instruments
• Powered Weather monitoring station
• Attend Weather Spotter class/participate in area SKYWARN activities/training
Medical Supplies
• Nitrile Gloves (hypoallergenic), in various sizes for larger group supplies
• Cold packs/Hot packs, instant and/or reusable
• Scalpels and/or Field Knife
• Ace Wraps
• Israeli Bandage or other compression bandages
• Celox or Quikclot hemostatic clotting agents (stops moderate to severe bleeding in wounds)
• Tourniquets (CAT, SOF-T, SWAT, EMT are examples)
• Compressed Gauze (H and H brand is an example)
• Steri-strips or Butterfly Closures and Tincture of Benzoin (to help the strips stick to skin)
• Nail Scissors or Clippers
• Hemostat Clamp 5”, Straight or Curved
• 3-0 Nylon or Silk Suture
• Super Glue or Medical Glue
• Penlight and Headlamp
• Bandage Scissors 7.25” Stainless steel (better) or EMT scissors
• Adhesive Bandages, various sizes (non-latex if possible)
• ABD Dressings, in small and large sizes
• Gauze Dressings Sterile and Non-sterile, various sizes
• Non-Stick Sterile Dressings (Telfa type), various sizes
• Roller Gauze Sterile Dressings (Kerlix), various sizes
• Moleskin or Molepad
• Mylar, Solar, or Survival blanket
• Cloth Medical Tape
• Duct Tape
• Triangular Bandage with safety pins, and bandannas
• Ammonia Inhalants
• Antibiotic Ointment or Creams, like Triple, Bacitracin, Neomycin and Bactroban (Rx)
• Alcohol Wipes, Povidone-iodine (Betadine) Wipes, BZK wipes (Benzalkonium Chloride)
• Burn Gel and Hydrocortisone Cream
• Sting Relief Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Lip balm, and Sunscreen
• Ibuprofen Tablets, Benadryl Tablets and Rehydration Packets
• Waterproof Paper and Pencil
• First Aid Reference Book
• Headlamps, with extra batteries (for night or poor lighting conditions)
• Instant Glucose and/or Raw Unprocessed Honey
• Chest Seals, Vented, 2 per pack (entry and exit wound coverage)
• Oral Airways (to keep airway open)
• Nasal airways- NPAs (keeps airways open) and Surgical lube
• Soap and/or Dr. Bronner’s Castile liquid soap
• CPR Shields
• Safety Pins (large), Rubber Bands and Paper Clips
• Scalpel and disposable blades (lots)
• Neck Collars, various sizes
• Extra Large Absorbent Pads (ABD or other brand)
• Petrolatum/Xeroform dressings in various sizes
• Burn Dressings and Burn Blankets
• Coban or Self-Adhering Wraps
• Liquid Bandage (Like New Skin)
• Medical Tapes, various types (Elastoplast, Silk, and Paper) and sizes (1 inch, 2 inch etc.)
• Skin Tac Liquid Adhesive Barrier (prepares skin for application of tapes, dressings and protects the skin with a hypo-allergenic sticky film) or equivalent Skin Prep Wipes
• Moleskin or Spenco Second Skin Blister kit
• Styptic Pencils
• Eye Cups, Eye Pads, Patches and Eye wash
• SAM splints and Slings
• Blood Pressure Cuff, various sizes (sphygmomanometer)
• Stethoscopes
• Bio Glo Strips (Fluorescein sodium Rx only)- used to stain the eye
• Cobalt Blue light bulb to shine on the injured eye – visualization of cuts or foreign objects
• Cotton Swabs (Q-tips), Cotton Balls, Cotton-tipped applicators, Cotton Rounds
• Face Masks (surgical and N95)
• Chest Decompression Needles
• Tongue Depressors
• Magnifying Glasses
• Extra Batteries
• Glow Sticks
• Multi Tools
• Safety Pins and Rubber bands
• Paracord 550
• Ring Cutter
• Kelly Clamps, straight and curved in various sizes
• Needle Holders
• Half Circle sewing needles and Silk Thread
• Sutures in many variations, such as:
• Silk, Nylon and Prolene 0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0(non-absorbable)
• Sharps Disposal Box
• Suture Removal Tray
• Iodoform Sterile Packing Gauze
• Micropore Tape
• Styptic Pencil (stops bleeding from superficial cuts)
• Silver Nitrate Sticks and Cautery Pens
• Saline Solution (several liter bottles), or DIY with reci
pe in this book
• Irrigation Syringes (60-100 ml is good) and Irrigation Cups (like Zerowet)
• Hair Combs and Brushes (hygiene)
• Nail Files, Foot Files and Heel Creams
• Thermometers (rectal and ear)
• Hot Water Bottles and Ice Bags (both reusable)
• Ziploc Bags, Plastic Wrap
• Aluminum Foil (use to sharpen scissors, by cutting the foil several times)
• Cotton Sheets (100% in white)
• Eye Droppers and Bulb Syringes
• Measuring Spoons and Cups
• Antiseptic Solutions in large and medium quantities (Betadine, Hibiclens, etc.)
• Hydrogen Peroxide 3% and 6-7%
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Enema Bags
• Nutritional Supplements (Boost, Ensure)
• Vitamins, multi, and Pregnancy Vitamins
• Sunblock
• Lip Balms
• Insect Repellants
• Bactine or equivalent (for cuts and bug bites)
• Fels-Naptha/Zanfel Soap (poison ivy, oak and sumac)
• Poison Ivy Wipes (like Zanfel)
• Hydrocortisone Cream 1%
• Lidocaine Cream or jelly 2.5% (topical anesthetic)
• Dermoplast Spray and Solarcaine Cool Aloe Burn
• Medi-First Burn Spray (analgesic, antiseptic and liquid bandaid all in one)
• Biofreeze Gel or Cold Freeze Spray for intact skin only
• Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen/Aspirin
• Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
• Epinephrine (Epi-pen, prescription injection for severe allergic reactions)
• Claritin (Loratadine)
• Anti-Nausea Medication (Meclizine hydrochloride 2.5mg tablets)
• Zofran (Rx for nausea and vomiting)
• Ear and Eye Drops
• Cough Syrup and Lozenges/Drops
• Expectorants (to loosen up thick mucus)
• Decongestants (to move mucus out of the respiratory system)
• Vicks Vapor Rub
• Nebulizer, saline, tubing, mask or mouth piece (plus Rx Albuterol single dose liquid)
• Sleep Aids (like Alteril, Tylenol PM, Melatonin, Chamomile or Valerian Tea etc.)
• Fiber Supplements (Metamucil)
• Stool Softeners and Laxatives
• Suppositories and Finger Cots
• Beano or equivalent (to reduce gas formation with certain foods)
• Anti-Diarrheal, Imodium (Loperamide)
• Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate)
• Heartburn Medications and natural treatments
• Rid Shampoo/Nix Lotion or Creme Rinse and Nix Electric Lice Comb (for lice)
• Oral Rehydration Packs and Gatorade Packets (or make it from scratch)
• Water Purification Tablets
• Emergency Water Bag
• Water Filters, portable and large family size
• Waterproof Matches, lighters and other methods to start fires
• Gold Bond Foot Powder
• Calamine lotion
• Burn Cream (Rx Silvadene), Burn Gel or burn treatments (sprays) with anesthetic
• Colloidal Silver (for external treatments)
• Anti-fungal Cream (Terconazole)
• Anti-fungal Powder (Tinactin)
• Fluconazole 100 or 150mg tablets (Rx antifungal)
• Urinary Pain Reliever (Uristat or AZO tablets)
• Wart Removal cream/ointment/solution/freeze
• Hemorrhoid Cream or Ointment (Preparation H)
• Zinc Oxide cream or ointment
• A & D ointment
• Vaseline
• Muscle Rub (like Icy Hot, Blue Emu, or Arnica salve)
• Tens Unit or equivalent (Muscle Stimulation pain reliever machine)
• Oral Antibiotics (discussed later)
• Radiation Pills, Thyrosafe or equivalent, one box per person (if your area may be exposed to radiation)
• PMS Medication, like Pamprin (which acts as a mild diuretic also), and natural remedies
• Caffeine Pills
• Natural Equivalents of any the above; see natural medicine chapters
• Birth Control Accessories (condoms, birth control pills, cervical caps, etc.)
• Emergency Obstetric Kit (comes as a pack) and Nitrazine strips (pH strips)
• Midwifery Reference Books
• Fetal Electronic Doppler or Fetoscope
• Maxi Pads and Tampons (female use, and tampons for nose bleeds)
• Measuring Tapes
• Paper, pencils, pens and permanent markers
Dental Kit
• Cotton Pellets and Rolls
• Dental mirror
• Tongue Blades
• Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
• Baking Soda and Peppermint Oil
• Hydrogen Peroxide 3% (oral rinse to treat or prevent gum issues)
• Syringes 12cc Curved tip
• Dental Scraper
• Dental Pick and Toothpicks
• Dental Floss and Dental Wax
• Oral Analgesics
• Canker Sore Tx (like Orajel or Hurricane Gel and Kank-A, and Orabase)
• Clove Bud Oil (anesthetic for toothache)
• Zinc Oxide (make a paste with oil of cloves and you get temporary dental cement), or…
• Commercial dental kits (Den-Temp, Cavit)
• Hank’s Solution (used to preserve viability in knocked-out teeth)
• Pill Cups
• Scalpels, disposable
• 4-0 Chromic sutures (absorbable)
• Needle Holder
• Gauze 2 x 2 inches
• Actcel Hemostatic agent (stops dental bleeding, and dissolves naturally)
• Extraction Equipment (several different extractors and elevators)
• Spoon Excavator
• Generic or brand name Ibuprofen
• Gloves, Masks, and Eye protection
Natural Medicine: Supplies and Equipment
• Witch Hazel and Extract
• Bag Balm ointment
• Drawing Salve
• Raw Unprocessed Honey (local is best)
• Cayenne Pepper Powder (see medicinal garden chapter)
• Aloe Vera
• Herbal Teas, Tinctures, Salves, and Essential Oils (see Natural Remedies)
• Neti Pot (use only with sterile solutions) and Diffusers
• Medicinal Herb and Plant seeds (in long-term storage packaging)
• Herbal Medicine Reference Books
• Gardening Reference Books
• Mortar and Pestle
• Graters, Stainless Steel
• Clear and Brown Glass Jars with Lids
• Glass Bottles (various sizes) Green, Brown and Clear with Cork Tops