How to Look After Your Emergency Kit

So you’ve put together some form of emergency kit. You are feeling prepared and good about having something in place in case of an emergency. Make sure you take care of it, so it can take care of you when you need it the most.

Store Your Emergency Kit Correctly

• Try and keep it in one location, so you know where it is when needed.
• Store it out of direct sunlight in a cool dark location.
• Keep it from getting wet or being kept damp. Mold isn’t good.
• Work out the best orientation it should be stored. Upright or laying down.

Routine Checks of your Emergency Kit

You will want to come up with a system of checking your emergency kit.

• Check the kits are where they are supposed to be stored
• Check that the kits are in good condition externally
• Check that the contents of the kits are still working and not expired

Location Check of Emergency Kits

Check Frequency: Monthly or Weekly

I check on this in my usual day to day activities around home. This is due to my kit being easily accessible and in an area I frequent for other things.

The first check is to make sure it is where you left it. If it has moved, why? Who has moved it?

The second check is to make sure it has everything that it is supposed to have. Did someone “borrow” something and not return it? Did an emergency occur and items were used.

A checklist will help you.

Check Individual Items

Check Frequency: 4-6 Months

The next check will be for each individual item.

• If it has an expiry date, has it expired?
• Is the condition of the item OK? No mold, not damp, no rust, no leaking etc?
• Does it work as expected?
• Check power supplies, do they have power and are they working?
• Is any of its packaging if it has any, damaged?

If it has expired, or there is a problem, or it’s not working as expected, then it’s probably time to replace it.

Make Two Lists

Contents List

This is a simple list that has everything inside the emergency kit listed. This can help anyone that might need to use the emergency kit. Without going through the kit they can see what it contains.

This list can also be used to check off the items to make sure they are there.

I like to have this list either stuck to the inside of the lid of the storage box. Or sitting on top in the box so it can easily be found once opened.

Expiry Date List

This list will have noted down all the expiry dates of items that have them. Think food and water, first-aid items and anything else that may eventually expire.

Check all packaging to see if anything is mentioned.

These two lists can actually be combined onto the one if you like. Handwritten or within a spreadsheet, the choice is yours.

If you sign up to the newsletter at the bottom, I will send you a checklist sheet you can fill out for your emergency kit.

How Often to Check Your Emergency Kit

6 months is a good frequency to check your emergency kits. Some people use daylight savings as a good reminder.

Setting Reminders for Expiring Items

To help you not waste any items in your emergency kits, it pays to set a reminder before the items expire.

The type of items and how long it takes to use said item will dictate when you should set a reminder. There are two parts to think about.

One is how long will it take for you to use this item? This is why I recommend you use food products that you eat normally in your emergency kits.

The other thing to think about is just how long it would take for you to replace the item.

Let’s say it is a first-aid type item that needs replacing. Does it cost a lot of money, or do you need to order it from somewhere? In this instance waiting until you have the new one before disposing of the old one is probably OK. 

Maybe not so much with food items.

In my example, lets say I have a jar of peanut butter. Usually it will take us a month to eat through it. I would set my reminder for 2 months before the expiry date. I would buy a new jar to go into the kit, noting down the expiry date of course.

Bringing the other one out to go into our normal pantry.

Create a System

Create a system that works for you. Work out what will help you reduce wastage while making sure everything in your kits is fine to use when you need it.

I use 2 sets of reminders so I don’t forget to check and switch out items. It’s all part of my emergency preparedness.

My system consists of a calendar with reminders that get sent to my phone and email.

Between the reminders and the routine checking of items I shouldn’t have anything that goes bad, or have problems with items.