REVIEW. A ready-made emergency kit

More and more people are getting emergency kits at home. These should not only serve as preparation for war: in this way we prepare ourselves for all kinds of unforeseen circumstances.

An emergency kit with which you can survive for several days without help from outside: more and more people are getting one. They can be used in various circumstances:

• If you must remain indoors during social unrest or riots
• If there is no tap water available for days
• During prolonged power cuts
• During natural disasters such as storms, heatwaves and wildfires

But what exactly should be in it? Below we discuss what definitely should not be missing from your emergency kit.

Ready-made emergency kits

Various sellers offer ready-made emergency kits online. For example, we bought the complete emergency kit from DreamGoods to test out. Below we tell you what we thought of it.

Contents

The emergency kit contained a lot of materials. A number of logical ones, such as the emergency radio and the first aid kit, but also a number of less obvious ones, such as a fishing line and a small hatchet.

This is what’s in the emergency kit

• Wind-up emergency radio with torch function
• Power bank with solar panels
• Water purifier
• A complete survival kit
• A complete first aid kit

The first aid kit contains everything that is needed.

• Disinfecting wipes
• Scissors and tweezers
• Plasters and compresses
• Cotton buds
• Cotton wool
• Tape
• Safety pins

The survival kit is also extensive yet compactly assembled:

Our findings

The emergency kit and the first aid kit are compact, cleverly packaged and easy to take with you. For the emergency radio, the water purifier and the powerbank there is little space left – so you need to provide extra luggage for that.

All in all, these are sound, sturdy products. The emergency radio and the solar powerbank work well. Some products are duplicated: for example, there is an extra ‘first aid kit’ in the survival kit, which may make the separate first aid kit redundant.

Components of an emergency kit

Those who prefer to get to work themselves and put together their own emergency kit should definitely do so! Nobody knows better than you what you need. For example, if you need certain medication daily, you must make sure that you also put it in your emergency kit. Below we discuss a number of things that everyone should take with them.

Water first, the rest comes later

Water is the most important thing: Every day we need about 2 to 3 litres to function normally. With heavy exertion or heat, this can increase to more than 6 litres per day.

You can choose to store water – always make sure you take a few litres of water per person with you, but you can also filter your water yourself. In the following articles we investigated how to do that:

• 6 ways to make drinking water
• From rainwater to drinking water: how to do it
• How you can safely drink water from a river

Did you know that with a portable water filter you can easily make drinking water from, for example, running river water? It is important to always test the water for chemical contamination.

Food

An emergency supply consists of food that lasts a long time without refrigeration. Tinned vegetables, fruit and meat form the basis. Rice, pasta and porridge oats are carbohydrate-rich products that provide energy and take up little space.

Important foodstuffs:

• Tinned soup and vegetables
• Rice, pasta, porridge oats
• Dried beans and lentils
• Nuts and seeds

Emergency radio

Emergency radios work on batteries, on solar panels and an internal battery, or they can be wound up. If an emergency situation occurs or a power cut occurs, TV, internet and mobile data networks can fail.

With an emergency radio you can receive updates via AM/FM stations or emergency channels, so that you know what is going on and what you best can do.

Torch

Choose an emergency radio with built-in torch, or choose a sturdy model that can also help you in self-defence situations. For example, there are tactical torches that can also be used as a self-defence weapon, when necessary.

First aid kit

The ideal first aid kit for on the go? Choose a waterproof variant. A complete first aid kit contains according to the Red Cross at minimum:

• Emergency blanket (insulation blanket)
• Various types of plasters and wound dressings
• Sterile compresses and quick bandage
• Disinfectant for wounds
• Bandage scissors and tweezers
• Gloves for hygienic assistance
• Triangular bandage or sling

Batteries

Ensure that you bring sufficient charging options or extra batteries for all electronic equipment in your emergency kit.

Plastic sheet or emergency blanket

Emergency blankets, also known as insulation blankets or survival blankets, are amongst the most versatile and compact tools that can save lives in emergency situations. These thin, lightweight blankets typically consist of a layer of plastic with a reflective coating of aluminium foil. Although they appear simple, they play a crucial role in retaining body heat in emergency situations.

Wet wipes and bin bags

Personal hygiene remains of crucial importance during crisis situations. When access to running water and sanitary facilities disappears, personal care requires practical alternatives.

Wet wipes offer an effective solution for daily cleansing without water. They take up little space and are easy to use. Choose products without perfume to prevent skin irritation. Baby wipes work well as an alternative due to their mild composition.

Bin bags fulfil multiple functions in emergency situations. They serve as waterproof storage for clean clothing, can be transformed into rain ponchos and are indispensable for waste management. Sturdy 120-litre examples are versatile in use.

Mobile phone

A battery radio keeps you informed of news, but to contact people yourself, you need something else. Your smartphone is a good start, but sometimes the traditional internet and mobile networks fail.

• Some smartphones have a back-up satellite function that you can use in an emergency. Read more about this in this article.
• Another option is to acquire a Starlink for yourself, so that you can go online even during power cuts. We wrote more about this in this article.