Review of an emergency bag (disaster supply kit) and explanation of it's importance is described in a booklet recently issued by State fire and rescue service of Latvia. Although it's only in Latvian, if you've ever been interested in survival topics, most probably you already know most of its content. In this article we will try to look more closely at the details what could be new for you. These recommendations should not be treated as rules; you need to evaluate your own priorities for making an emergency bag and listing supplies what you may need in a crisis situation.

Before discussing an emergency bag and its contents, it's important to remind that you have to know how to use each and every of the items yo plan to put in your emergency bag.

If you first see a gas burner or ax and you try to use it in rural conditions, it's best not to take it with you at all because it can end with a catastrophe for you and your companions.

Emergency bag contents

The emergency bag or disaster supply kit is designed for various crisis situations - fire, earthquake, technological disasters, warfare, etc. The bag should be prepared in advance, so that in a crisis situation you can grab and go in few minutes without packing. Accordingly, this bag holds the most essential things.

The easiest way to choose items for packing in the emergency bag is to write down everything that comes to mind  and then strike out the excess.

You can take the following for a sample.

1. Personal documents. You will not store them in the emergency bag on a daily basis, but save some place for them in it. By documents we mean birth and marriage certificates, land registers, ID documents, etc. It's the whole range of papers that matters to you. Preferably, if they are already stored in a separate waterproof folder, therefore in a crisis situation you can quickly grab the whole folder without necessity to look for each page individually.
   
2. Clothing. For you and for your family members. It is advisable to pack warm clothing in your bag, because in the summer, as well, the nights are cold. Pack two sets of underwear and several pairs of socks. Usually, you don't know how long time you'll spend outdoors. A small amount of detergent can also be added, which will help to extend the use of the clothes.
   
3. First Aid Kit. Standard auto first aid kit will be sufficient, as well as the most important medications you use on a daily basis. If there are children in the family, don't forget medicines for them, because children usually are the weakest chain element, if we may say so. It is advisable to take medicines against temperature, allergies, and vitamins. The activated carbon or other diarrhea medicine must be packed in the emergency bag - the more, the better. You do not know what food you will need to eat and under what circumstances to live. To die due to dehydration caused by diarrhea would not be a good idea. Follow carefully the expiration dates of medications - as soon as it is shorten than 6 months, exchange them to new ones! It is important to remember that in an emergency situation the pharmacies may not work, in the event of war they definitely won't
4. Cash and some valuables. ATMs may be inaccessible and non-cash transactions may also not work. Valuables can be used as a substitute for money. In the event of a war, money usually loses its value and even a large amount of money can become worthless. In turn, a gold chain or ring can let you feed your family for some time. Create a hideout in the emergency bag where you can save money and valuables, preferably in several places. 
5. Little amount of food. The easiest option would be to take the MRE (meal ready to eat) food packages, but you must answer to yourself first, whether you're ready to give this food to your child. A more expensive alternative is a special ready-made outdoor food for tourists, which in several cases also has a longer shelf life. Generally, the shelf life of such a food varies depending on the manufacturer. A very good alternative to this special food is a variety of grains - rice, buckwheat, oat flakes, groats. They are easy to make and store, but they should be protected them from moisture. If the grains are in a dry place, they can be stored much longer than indicated on their packaging.
   Where should they be kept then? A good storage container would be, for example, a 0.5l Coca-Cola bottle. However, if you are going to store grains for a long time, then it is better to choose special dishes for that purpose. Dishes of food for daily use are made of the most affordable plastic products (each with a special plastic label meaning of which you can easily get familiarized with), intended for the storage of food within the time limit specified therein. For example, the term of above mentioned carbonated drink is usually 3 to 12 months. For specialized food storage containers, these terms are much longer.
   You can also put sugar, salt, honey - they can also be stored for a long time and will provide the necessary instant energy. Especially the honey. As well as raisins, nuts, dried fruits, chocolate and energy bars. Canned food this time will not be the best solution - it can be damaged due to different external conditions and it is heavy. Ideally, the bag contains several liters of drinking water.
   Do not forget the dishes - at least one metal bowl for two people and spoons. Forks won't be necessary, they will occupy the place and give the emergency bag extra weight. A good choice certainly would be metal cups - durable, relatively lightweight and gives the opportunity to heat food on fire. 
6. Most necessary tools. A small folding saw, a tourist ax, a knife. Compact and useful would be also so called multi-tool, which has already been mentioned in the article - DIY Survival Kit.  A twine, a wire. It is also advisable to pack a metal saw and at least one blade. In general, you should certainly choose high-quality and multi-functional tools that can be relied upon and which won't take up much space. The purpose of the tools is to make a shelter, start fire and repair your equipment. 
7. Items for sleep. At least one tourist mat and sleeping bag. If there is spare place, one or two plaids can be packed as well. They don't weight much, but their heating properties are significant. Instead of the plaid, you can use an army blanket or poncho liner (inner, heating layer). The sleeping bags' comfort temperature must be at least 0 degree Celsius. So-called room sleeping bags are not worth taking, because they will take up space and will be suitable only indoors with heating. The heavier alternative is an army-type wool blanket. Although it weighs more, this kind of blanket has a number of good features: *warms even being wet, *eliminates fire, *suitable for several persons simultaneously, *when cut, can be used as swathe for legs or gloves for hands, *can make clothing or cape of it, *suitable for making shelter.  Pillow should stay at home, it's an unnecessary luxury. If the pillow is very important, remember that you can use spare clothes instead.
   
8. Other useful items. *Candles, *flashlight with spare batteries, preferably rechargeable, *whistle, *mirror for signaling, *matches, lighters, *gas burner with a gas container or a dry/ liquid spirits cooker *tent for shed. The rest of the items should be selected by yourself as necessary.
   
9. Hygiene. When a person stops taking care of his hygiene, it's a half way to the end. The reason for this is that disregarding hygiene, first, demoralizes or exacerbates the mood and lowers the willpower, secondly, it causes illness, which in a crisis situation can lead to a fatal outcome. For personal hygiene, it is advisable to take both soap and wet wipes. You may not always get some water to wash your face and hands, therefore wet wipes will be very useful at this time.
   Towel. Toothpaste and toothbrush. An anesthetic is added to the standard toothpastes. If put on the bruise, it will slightly reduce the pain and decrease the edema, as well as toothache. For women, sanitary napkins must be packed in the emergency bag. A trifle that tends to be forgotten. Napkins may also be useful in putting up a pressure dressing or as an insoles in boots. There is no point in taking a deodorant with you. When there will be flooded or collapsed houses all around, nobody will pay attention to the scent that you distribute. Instead, you can put a 0.5 liter vodka bottle in the emergency bag.  It will be useful for both wound healing and against temperature by rubbing the skin. In the worst case, you can exchange it for food or a free path. Hand disinfecting cream, however, will be useful after using a toilet or to take care of wounds. 

Picking a bag for emergency kit

As can be seen from the above, the amount of inventory that should be packed in the emergency bag is impressive. And most probably you will want to supplement it with the items you need. How big then the emergency bag should be?

If you are alone, it is advisable to choose a 80-100-liter bag. If you are with a family, then you can split everything into several bags, following the principle that the first necessities are in all bags. Then in case you get split up, somebody does not stay completely without nothing. If there are children in the family, then it is advisable to prepare also bags for them with a waterproof tag on the inside containing child's name, personal identity number, parent's name and contact information. This information can be printed also on the metal badge for putting on the child's neck. Children can easily get lost from their parents in crisis situations. The child's bag can contain his favorite toy, spare gloves, socks, hat and light food such as energy bars, cereal flakes and water. In case he gets lost the child will be able to exist autonomously for a while until he is found.

You should not use a sports bag or travel bag for the emergency kit. You won't be glad dragging it across the ruins or through the forest. The bags of this type are not comfortable to carry and are not durable.

Also, you should not choose army bags or tourist bags with army color (camouflage). In a war situation, anything connected with military is a potential goal. The same applies to clothing. The warriors of all parties will perceive any military coloring as a threat and will act according to a principle - first shoot and judge afterwards. They won't show any mercy even for a child dressed in khaki colored jacket. Clothing and bags should be in neutral colors, but not masking. Another important reason - a masking outfit or bag will also make it harder for rescuers to do their job, to  find and evacuate you.

The best choice for an emergency bag is a travel type backpack that has at least:

• wide, padded shoulder straps,
  
• hip belt,
• 80-100 l volume,
• outside pockets, 
• possibility to attach some stuff,
• rain cover.

A reflective vest can be affixed to the bag, so that it is clear to anyone that you want to attract attention.

Do not choose cheap backpacks. Avarice can play back to you when the bag will get torn during a hike or it will scratch your shoulders or back. It's better to purchase used but still a good bag from respectable brand, than new bag with poor quality.

Do not choose a very expensive or attention-grabbing bag as it will easily be spotted by robbers. In any crunch or crisis situation, marauding is an inevitable phenomenon. If you've bought a new bag, make it look old by smearing  it with mud or construction dust or coloring it. In a crisis situation, the emergency bag does not have to be a status symbol - it should serve your safety and convenience. The same applies to clothing. Do not wear any  noticeable, expensive or accentuated clothing, as you will only attract unnecessary attention.

Before taking the final decision that exactly this one is going to be my emergency bag, it's advisable to fill it with your planned weight and take it with you everywhere for one day. This will help you to understand if you are satisfied with it.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, this information is a recommendation, not a rule. It should not be perceived as the only truth - it is up to each individual to choose and understand what could be the most important things in an emergency situation. Our goal is to give an insight into this problem and provide possible solutions.

Additional information:

• Booklet issued by State fire and rescue service of Latvia download here.
• You can get more ideas in this great article - Best Bug Out Bag Backpack: Features to Look for and Considerations.

The author of the article - M. Ruģēns (FB Page- Āra dzīves knifi, padomi un viedokļi), edited by H. Galino (Lynxgear.lv). Article is arranged with permission of the author. Reproduction without permission of the author is prohibited.