50 Essential Emergency Supplies to Stock Up On
Keeping emergency supplies at home is just plain smart. You never know when something bad will happen to your friends or family. Whether you’re trying to be prepared for weather, a medical emergency or just to stock up on things you might need, these 50 essential emergency supplies to stock up on are a fantastic way to make sure you’re ready for whatever may come.
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1. Duct tape
2. Batteries
3. Peanut Butter
4. Rice
5. Beans
6. Band-aids
7. Anti-bacterial ointment
8. ACE Bandages
9. Gauze Pads
10. Medical Tape
11. Diaper Rash Cream
12. Paracord or clothesline
13. Blankets
14. Cold Packs
15. Hot Packs (aka hand warmers)
16. Fire tinder
17. Feminine napkins
18. Strike anywhere matches
19. Disposable lighters
20. Paper towels
21. Oats and Oatmeal
22. Powdered Milk
23. Baby formula (if you have a baby)
24. Baby wipes
25. Flashlights
26. Candles
27. Fire Extinguisher
28. Flour
29. Sugar
30. Honey
31. Baking Soda
32. Baking Powder
33. Tuna and Other Canned Meat
34. Trash Bags
35. Bleach
36. Essential Oils – to use in case your medications are expired
37. Toilet Paper
38. Diapers (if you have an infant)
39. Vitamins
40. Laundry Detergent
41. Vinegar – both apple cider and white
42. Motrin
43. Tums or Pepto Bismol
44. Children’s pain and fever medications
45. Cough syrup
46. Water
47. Prescription Medications that you may take
48. Tent
49. Lantern
50. Cash – both dollar bills and coins
As you can see, the list can just go on and on. These 50 aren’t the end all be all, but they’re certainly a great place to start. For items like medications, you won’t want to have too many of them on hand due to expiration dates, but it never hurts to have an extra bottle or two.
What else would you recommend stocking up on?
Other that non perishable food items…..must have batteries!
This is a great long list of emergency supplies, and there are a lot that I still need to get. I am going to work on this list until I get most of them. It is important to have on hand in case of an emergency!
Buy a few fresh cases of Deluxe MRES from either Emergency Essentials or Amazon.com: These come with a heating pouch to warm up the food (which isn’t vital but will improve flavor): Meals ready to eat will keep 5 years or more if stored correctly. I have a backpack in our car filled with essential items and I am seriously contemplating another backpack for my cats’ food & litter.
Great list with lots of things to think about and have on hand. First aid, batteries, tape, and flashlights are musts. Keeping water and nonperishable food items are good, too. If you have pets, remember them, too.
I have nothing put away and seeing this list makes me think I better get a move on, going to go by your list it’s fantastic!!
If you’re talking about disposable diapers, I am thinking that a mountain-sized quantity would be required to last any time at all. Instead of these, toilet paper and disposable feminine napkins, I would suggest washable rags and towels, which should be on the list whether or not you have disposables. Remember that disposables have to go somewhere after they are used and may need to be considered hazardous waste. (In an emergency, where is away? You may be confined to a small area.)
I am concerned that over-the-counter medications (OTC meds) might be in short supply, depending on the emergency. I like your mention of essential oils (EOs). Perhaps you could expand on that idea with maybe half dozen EOs and how they could be used in place of OTC meds. Considering that very small amounts of EOs are required, a bottle would last a good long time.
Even though I have been through several “emergencies” I cannot say I am prepared even now.
Thanks for the heads up!.
This is a great list to get you started to make up your own emergency chest, and I should make one up as well, you just never know!
I think that water is the thing I have the most trouble stocking. I have bought bottled water numerous times to have on hand in case of an emergency. Every time, my son has gone through all of it. I don’t drink bottled water (due to concerns for health and the environment), but kept trying to have at least 24 bottles on hand. I guess I will have to try again!
I store water in old juice jugs–2 qt. sized. Maybe that will solve the problem of family members drinking it casually due to its convenience (I’m guessing that lugging a big jug of it around would deter those drinking it casually), but in any case it would save the cost of buying the bottled version. Even if your stocks are raided by young’uns, you can wash the jug and refill it.
Is all that suppose to be in a big trunk to grab and go? That seems like too much and too heavy. My family doesn’t keep/buy anything special just in case. Quite sure nothing horrible will happen here. AND IF we had to leave I’m sure wherever we went would have stores!