Why Have an Emergency Kit Checklist

An emergency checklist is a list you can use to help you manage your emergency kit better. Read on to find out how having a checklist makes a lot of sense.

The checklist can first be used to help organise and put your supplies together and you build a kit. Once that has been done you can use your checklist to maintain your preparedness kit.

What is a checklist?

A checklist is a simple list that is used to check things off. You may be checking things to see if the items are there, if the items have been removed, if there is damage or if something has expired.

In your day to day life you might already use some sort of checklist. From a to-do list to a grocery list. These simple lists can make things easier.

Why is a checklist important for an emergency kit?

You can’t rely on your memory, no matter how good it may be.

There could be large stretches of time between checking your emergency kit. Having a checklist keeps things simple. It allows you to quickly verify your items are OK, or items that might need replacing or repairing.

In the event of an emergency a list can help you or others know what is inside your kit. It can even be used to duplicate your kit, or help if you kit goes missing or is stolen.

The different ways a checklist can be made

Digital checklist

This can be created in a spreadsheet program or in an app on your phone.

Pros of a digital checklist

Easy to create
Easy to read, even in dark conditions
Could include images of items
Could be quicker to check off items

Cons of a digital checklist

Might not be accessible in an emergency
Could be hard for other people to access

Physical Checklist

A printed checklist on a piece of paper

Pros of a physical checklist

It’s simple
Easily accessible by others
Easily stored with the emergency kit

Cons of a physical checklist

Might be hard to read in dark conditions
If handwritten could be hard to read
Could be more easily damaged
Could be time consuming to update or reprint

A hybrid approach

The best option is to combine both of them.

For this approach I like to make a spreadsheet on the computer or in Google docs. This allows me to easily add items, create boxes and gives me the ability to sort the list if I need to.

I then print this out and put it with the kit. Depending on the size of the kit, this checklist might be laminated to help protect it.

Details to have on a checklist for your emergency kit

I’m one of those people that likes to have a lot of information.

To handle this I usually have a very detailed list to keep track of things, and I sometimes have a simple list that might just be used to check if the item is there.

Here’s some of the things you could have on your list:

Date of purchase
Where it was purchased from
Date it was put into the kit
Expiry date if the item has one
Date last checked
A space for notes

Even if you aren’t a checklist type of person they make a lot of sense when it comes to organizing your emergency kit and making sure it is in the best condition it can be.

What Happens if you Don’t Have a Checklist?

It’s not the end of the world if you don’t have a checklist for your emergency kits. It’s just a lot easier if you do.

Get my Emergency Kit Checklist Template

Want to have a template to start your own emergency kit checklist? Sign up at the bottom of the website and I’ll send it to you, not only that you’ll get a copy of my planning doc and gear lists as well, all for FREE.