Emergency Kit Checklist: Kids and Families

How to make an emergency kit

An emergency kit has all of the things that you and your family may need during an emergency. This could be times when you may have to stay inside for longer than usual or when the electricity goes out.

Stay prepared

• Make separate emergency kits for your home, your work, and your car. You never know where you'll be when an emergency happens.
• Update medical and personal records at least once per year.
• Keep canned or packaged food in a cool, dry place. Check the expiration dates at least twice per year.
• Store boxed food in tightly-closed plastic or metal containers.
• Replace the water supply every six months.
• Review your needs every year and update your kit as your family's needs change.
• If you can't contact your doctor or pharmacy in a disaster, ask for help from emergency responders or staff at emergency shelters or service centers.

Make it a fun activity

Making a family emergency kit can be fun for the family to do together. Here’s how to have a family emergency kit treasure hunt:

1. Find a large plastic bin or box to put things into.
2. Use the sections in this list to guide your treasure hunt.
3. Check items off the list as you put them into your emergency kit box.
4. Put an updated copy of your checklist inside your large plastic bin or box once your kit is put together. This helps you to know what is inside the kit and to know where you can always find your checklist.

Basic supplies

Food and drink

• A three-day water supply (at least one gallon for each person, each day)
• A three-day supply of non-perishable food. This can include:
  • Dried fruit
  • Canned tuna fish
  • Peanut butter
• A manual can opener
• Items for cooking and eating
  • Mess kits
  • Paper plates
  • Disposable cups
  • Utensils (spoons, forks, knives)
• Paper towels
• Small camp stove to boil water for sanitizing

Essential items

• Cash or traveler's checks
• A whistle to signal for help
• Local maps
• Extra set of car keys
• Extra set of house keys
• Matches in a waterproof container or re-sealable plastic bag
• A change of clothes appropriate for the weather in your area
• Sturdy shoes for each person in the house
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for everyone in your family

Backup power and electronics

• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio with extra batteries
• Cell phone with charger, extra battery, and solar charger

Important documents

• Copies of important family documents in a waterproof and/or fireproof, portable container. This can include:
  • Medical records
  • Insurance policies
  • Identification (ID) cards, including ID for each child in case your family members get separated
  • Bank records
• Family and emergency contact information
• Prescription information
  • Medicine name
  • Dose
  • Pharmacy name and number
  • Doctor's name and number

Personal care

Body care

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen
• Glasses and contact lens solution
• Moist towelettes or baby wipes
• Toilet paper (at least two rolls)
• Tissues
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

Medical care

• First aid kit
• At least a two-week supply of prescription medicines for each family member
• Medical alert bracelet or necklace for family members with special healthcare needs
• Non-prescription medicines
  • Pain relievers
  • Anti-diarrhea medicine
  • Antacids
  • Laxatives

Child care

Comfort items

• Books, games, puzzles, or other fun things to do
• A favorite stuffed animal or blanket
• Paper and pencil/markers/crayons

Babies and toddlers

• A well-stocked diaper bag
• At least one pack of diapers
• At least two packs of baby wipes
• Baby powder
• Diaper rash cream
• Baby wash and lotion
• Re-sealable plastic bags (gallon size) to put dirty diapers and clothes
• Ready-to-feed infant formula in single-serving cans or bottles (for formula-fed infants only)
• 1–2 boxes of nursing pads (if disposable—reusable will require laundry and bleach daily)
• Burp rags or smaller blanket
• Pacifiers (at least two)
• Teething tablets or gel
• Infant pain reliever with acetaminophen
• Bulb syringe
• Toddler snacks
• Extra clothes
• Extra emergency blankets (at least two)
• Receiving blankets (at least two)
• Thermos (to keep formula cool or warm longer)
  

Pet care

• A three-day supply of water for each pet
• A three-day supply of pet food for each pet
• Food/water bowls
• Medical records
• Two-week supply of medicines (if any)
• Disposable litter trays for cats
• Cat litter, newspaper, or paper toweling
• Puppy pads
• Disposable bags for clean up
• Crate or sturdy carrier
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
• Toys and/or treats
• Blanket
• Extra collar with nametag and contact information
• Extra leash

Specialized items

• Fire extinguisher
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Extra emergency blankets for everyone in your family
• Garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Items to help filter contaminated air and shelter in place
  • Dust mask
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape
• Latex gloves or non-latex (such as nitrile or vinyl) gloves for people with latex allergies