72 Hour Kits For Children
Children need their own 72-hour kit to meet their dietary needs, hygiene, and comfort items to keep them occupied during long stretches of time during emergencies. When preparing a backpack or bag for them, attach a tag to the kit with the child’s name. If your child takes special medications or prescriptions, also add a tag as a reminder to grab those medicines. Items that could be included in the kit (be sure to rotate perishable items yearly):
- Family picture(s) with names and phone numbers/email addresses (in case they get separated from you or if you have a child who can’t verbalize who they are)
- Water (enough for three days)
- Food that is age appropriate or that your child will eat: MRE’s (Meals Ready To Eat—just add water), food that is ready to eat without water, freeze-dried veggies, freeze dried fruit, freeze-dried yogurt bites, snacks, graham crackers, peanut butter crackers, cereal, raisins, fruit leather, fruit snacks, etc.
- Candy (such as suckers)
- Juice boxes
- Cup, plate, bowl & silverware/child mess kit
- Reading books
- Colored pencils/non-electric pencil sharpener or markers, crayons (not for car or garage-they’d melt)
- Paper, tablets, coloring books
- Puzzles, games, small activities and Play Dough
- Medications: Motrin/Tylenol, Cough syrup (rotate yearly)
- Any medication you use occasionally: antibiotic ointment, Vaseline, saline spray, etc.
- Baby wipes/diapers/formula/baby food/baby food grinder/pacifiers
- Solar or small blankets
- Small pillow
- Hand sanitizer
- First Aid Kit (child size Band-Aids)
- Extra clothes/jacket/sweater (sweat suits are ideal for storage because you can cut the sleeves and legs off if the weather is too warm or wear them as is in cold weather)
- Child size N-95 masks–practice with these BEFORE you need to use them
- Bible/Scriptures, etc.
- Printable: FSM 72-hour kit children
