It is almost impossible to know exactly what stuff you will need to prepare for the next potential disaster, which is one of the main reasons that having a survival kit is so important.

While many larger "all-inclusive kits" can seem daunting, and sometimes a bit pricey, there are things you can do to create your kits, or buy smaller kits that you can easily add your preferred items to, making your kits more specific to your family's needs.

You can use a few of these ideas as the basis for your own planned survival bug-out nags.

The first consideration of a Bug Out / Survival bag is often the size of your kit. The recommendation for most average kits is a small "gym bag", but there are a few ways to think about it:

Bigger is hard to carry around, and smaller is hard to put all your items in.

A recommendation here is to consider having a couple of smaller, super-efficient bags, such as a medical kit, fire extinguisher, every day carry knife, in your car, one in your home, and then also keep a larger "bug out bag" that has a few days worth of supplies at the minimum located someplace that is easy to find, such as a closet or car trunk, where it is ready to go.

Food Supplies

Food is subjective, as you should have some form of nourishment, but you should include food that is dried, vacuum sealed, and stored long-term.

You don't want to keep having to change the food out every few days. Make sure that if you have pets you also include a few items for them as well.

Water Supplies

The average person requires at least one gallon of water, per person, per day for three days. This is often too much to place into a "Bug out bag", but you can keep water bottles, perhaps a case nearby that you can grab and take with you, depending on the severity of the emergency.

What you can do for your water supply are some forms of the water purification process, such as water purification tablets, water filtering straws, pour through carbon filters, or a metal cup that can be used for boiling water.

Basic First Aid Items in Your Kit:

• Sterile gloves

• Sterile dressings

• Super glue

• Eye shield or pad

• Large triangular bandage (may be used as a sling)

• Aluminum finger splint

• Instant cold packs

• Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs

• Soap and antibiotic towelettes

• Antibiotic ointment

• Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes

• Eye wash solution

• Scissors and tweezers

• Hand sanitizer

• sharp pocket knife

• Duct tape

• Petroleum jelly or another lubricant

• Plastic bags, assorted sizes

• Safety pins in assorted sizes

• Thermometer

• sewing needle and thread (medical grade sutures are better)

• alcohol wipes

• Prescription medications you take every day

• Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies

• First Aid book

• Non-prescription drugs (aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, anti-diarrhea medication, antacid, laxative)​

Any advanced medical supplies based on skills, like

• scalpels, sutures, splints, self-hardening casts, tourniquets, CPR Shields, survival blankets, instant cold packs, flashlights, small tools, clamps, sanitary cups, etc...