How to Build a 72-Hour Emergency Kit (Grab Bag / Go Bag)

A calm, official-list-first guide to a three-day kit you can use at home or pick up if you have to leave. Written for readers in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Merritt Lang researches everyday preparedness and writes plain-language guides that point readers back to official sources such as Ready.gov, GOV.UK and the Red Cross. This article is research-based: Merritt Lang has not tested these products hands-on, and does not claim medical, first-aid or water-treatment credentials.

Every safety claim below is linked to its source. See How we researched this piece.

Affiliate disclosure. This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect what we recommend. How we make money

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Safety note

This is a household preparedness guide, not medical advice and not a substitute for first-aid training or the emergency services.

In a medical emergency, call 911 in the US, or 999 / 112 in the UK (NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice). Learn some basic first aid if you can: GOV.UK Be Ready specifically suggests checking for free workshops or asking whether your employer will pay for a course (GOV.UK Be Ready).

Do not stockpile prescription medicines beyond what your doctor, GP or pharmacist advises. In the UK, GOV.UK says to request repeat prescriptions up to five working days before you need the medicine, so you are less likely to run short in an emergency (GOV.UK Be Ready).

A portable filter can help with some microbiological risks in freshwater. It will not make water that contains fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive material safe. Use a different source, such as sealed bottled water, and follow local health advice (CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency). See How to store emergency water at home.

The short version

Official US and UK advice is more modest than most “bug-out bag” pages. You are aiming for about three days of supplies, built from things many households already have, and topped up gradually — not a wilderness expedition packed overnight.

Think of two layers, not one heroic rucksack:

• A home store of water, food, light, a radio, a first-aid kit, medicines and warmth, so you can get through a power cut or a short disruption where you are. This is what most UK emergencies, and many US ones, actually look like (British Red Cross; Ready.gov).
• A grab bag (UK) / go bag (US) by the door: a smaller, portable kit of documents, medicines, some water and snacks, a torch (flashlight), a radio or power bank, a change of clothes and anything you would hate to leave behind if you were asked to evacuate quickly. GOV.UK describes this as a spare bag of essentials if you have to leave home in a hurry (GOV.UK Be Ready).

Build your own kit against the official lists below. A pre-packed “72-hour backpack” can be a starting point if you want one box, but you should audit the contents — especially the water, which is often far short of official quantities — and add what your household actually needs.

The items worth buying with care are a comfortable 30-ish litre pack with a hip belt, a water filter as a backup to bottled water, a torch or headlamp, a radio that matches your country (NOAA weather radio in the US; FM, and DAB if you want it, in the UK), a first-aid kit you have actually looked inside, a charged power bank, and blankets or foil emergency blankets. Specific products are linked later, with verified ASINs only, and no stock-status claims in this copy. Check current price and availability on Amazon.

What official guidance says (US and UK)

The lists overlap more than they differ. The differences that matter are how much water, which radio, how medicines are handled, and whether the kit is mainly for staying put or leaving quickly.

United States

Ready.gov says that after an emergency you may need to get by on your own for several days, and that a disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need. Put items in airtight bags and keep the kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as plastic bins or a duffel bag (Ready.gov, Build A Kit, page last updated 1 July 2026).

A basic US kit, according to Ready.gov, could include:

• Water — one gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food — at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• A flashlight (torch), first-aid kit and extra batteries
• A whistle, a dust mask, and plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (sanitation)
• A wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities), a manual can opener, local maps
• A mobile phone with chargers and a backup battery

Ready.gov also suggests adding, according to your needs: prescription and non-prescription medicines, glasses, infant supplies, pet food and extra water, cash or traveller’s cheques, copies of important documents, a sleeping bag or warm blanket, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes, a fire extinguisher, matches in a waterproof container, hygiene items, and activities for children. Keep a kit at home, a smaller “grab and go” case at work (Ready.gov suggests being ready to shelter at work for at least 24 hours), and supplies in the car in case you are stranded.

The American Red Cross uses a similar core list, and is more specific on quantities in two places: a three-day supply of water and food for evacuation, and a two-week supply for home; and a seven-day supply of medications. It also lists a multi-purpose tool, an emergency blanket, maps, cash, and copies of documents including a medication list (American Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies).

United Kingdom

GOV.UK Be Ready frames three days as enough “to help you manage while support reaches those most in need.” You do not need to do it all at once. Check what you already have, pick up missing items on ordinary shopping trips, and set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates (GOV.UK Be Ready).

The Be Ready checklist includes:

• Bottled water for three days — 3 litres per person per day for drinking, and more for cooking and washing
• Non-perishable food for three days that you would usually eat, and that does not need refrigeration or cooking (for example tinned/canned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts)
• Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products
• A torch and spare batteries — torches are safer than candles — plus blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
• An FM radio (battery or wind-up), and a note of the frequencies of national or local stations you use for news
• A charged power bank, for phones or compatible medical devices
• Cash (a mix of coins and notes) and cards; printed copies of important documents; a paper list of phone numbers, and of regular medication and doses
• A first-aid kit or first-aid items, and essential medication
• Ready-to-feed baby formula if needed, nappies/diapers and wipes, and pet food and bottled water

GOV.UK also mentions keeping essential items you might need if asked to leave quickly “in a spare bag — you might hear some people call this a ‘grab bag’.”

The British Red Cross, last updated 29 October 2026, publishes a 3-day or 72-hour home-kit list along the same lines, and is explicit that you do not need specialist or expensive equipment. Its essentials include a paper list of contact numbers, a charger and power bank, cash, a torch and spare batteries, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, essential medication and copies of prescriptions, a basic first-aid kit, hand sanitiser and wet wipes, three days of drinking water and long-life or ready-to-eat food, a tin/can opener, copies of documents in a waterproof bag, pen and paper, and spare home and car keys (British Red Cross, Prepare an emergency kit). For drinking water it gives around 2.5 to 3 litres per person per day, and notes that including basic cooking, washing and hygiene can increase that to around 10 litres per person per day.

Where the lists differ

Both sides agree on the unglamorous items: food you already eat, a first-aid kit, copies of documents, cash in case card payments fail, a way to charge a phone, warmth, and supplies for babies, pets or anyone who relies on medical equipment.

A home store and a grab bag

A 32-litre rucksack will not magically hold a family-sized official water supply. One person, for three days, at the Ready.gov rate of one gallon a day, is already about 11.4 litres of water — more than 11 kg (about 25 lb) before you add food, clothes or a first-aid kit. That is at the top of a typical daypack’s comfortable load range.

So:

• Keep the bulk of the water and food at home, in a place everyone can find, and rotate it. That is the job of a home store, not a packed bag. See How to store emergency water at home.
• Pack the grab bag / go bag with what you would need if you had to leave: documents, medicines, some bottled water and snacks, a torch, a radio or power bank, a first-aid kit, a foil blanket, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes, keys, cash, and anything personal (spare glasses, baby or pet supplies, chargers for a medical device).
• Ready.gov also wants a smaller kit at work and something in the car. GOV.UK suggests a winter car kit (torch, in-car charger, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink, a shovel, and a first-aid kit). Those are extras, not a reason to over-pack the bag by the door.

If you live in a small flat, one well-chosen pack plus a box of water and tins in a cupboard is enough to start.

Water and food

Official lists start with bottled or stored water and ordinary long-life food, not a pallet of freeze-dried meals.

Use the official figure for your country, then add more for pets, hot weather, or anyone with higher needs. In the US, plan on about 3.8 litres (1 gallon) per person per day for drinking and sanitation. In the UK, plan on 3 litres per person per day for drinking, and more if you also need water for cooking and washing.

For a portable bag, pack as much bottled water as you can reasonably carry, and treat a filter as a backup, not a replacement for stored water. The filters below are for fresh water. They are not purifiers, they do not remove viruses, and they will not fix chemically contaminated or salt water. If you are under a boil-water notice, follow the local instruction first.

Food should be things you already eat, that keep well, and that you can manage if you cannot cook or refrigerate. Ready.gov and GOV.UK both make that point. Include a manual tin/can opener if you pack tins. Ready-to-feed (ready-to-use) infant formula is the official UK preference in an outage, because you may not be able to boil water safely to make up powder (GOV.UK Be Ready).

Build your own, or buy a pre-packed kit?

Favour building your own. Official UK advice is to start with what is already in the house and add items over time. Ready.gov’s list is also a shopping checklist, not a requirement to buy a branded backpack. A kit you have assembled is easier to trust: you know the food is food you will eat, the medicines are yours, the torch works, and the water quantity matches the official figure.

A pre-packed “72-hour” or “3-day” backpack can still be useful if you want a single purchase as a starting point. If you go that way:

• Audit the water. Many kits include a handful of small pouches. Compare the volume with one gallon (about 3.8 L) or 3 litres per person per day, for everyone the kit claims to cover, for three days. Top it up.
• Read the first-aid list, not the “piece count.” A hundred plasters and no sterile dressing is not a kit.
• Check the food — calories, whether it needs water or a cooker, and whether anyone in the house will actually eat it.
• Look at the radio. A US kit with a NOAA radio is not a substitute for an FM radio in the UK, and the reverse is also true.
• Add your documents, medicines, glasses, cash and spare keys. No vendor can pack those for you.

We have not included a named pre-packed kit in this version, because we wanted every linked product to have specs checked on a manufacturer or Amazon page and a verified ASIN. The fair test above still applies whenever you look at one. Check current price and availability on Amazon, and compare the contents with the checklist at the end of this article.

The bag

You do not need a “tactical” pack. Official lists are happy with a duffel, a plastic bin (for a home store) or a rucksack you can actually carry. For a grab bag, a hiking pack of around 30–40 litres with a padded hip belt is a sensible shape: it keeps weight on your hips, leaves your hands free, and will hold a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, documents and some water without pretending to be a week’s expedition kit.

Osprey Hikelite 32

Lead pick for a grab-bag rucksack, US and UK. This is a 32-litre hiking pack, not a 50-litre trekking bag, which is the point: it is large enough for a personal go bag and small enough that you are less tempted to overload it.

Osprey’s official page for the Hikelite 32 states a 32 litre volume; dimensions of 58 × 32 × 32 cm (about 22.8 × 12.6 × 12.6 in); a weight of 1.03 kg (2.28 lb); a padded, mesh-covered hip belt with a zippered pocket and a stretch drop-in pocket; an AirSpeed tensioned mesh back panel; an included rain cover stored in a base pocket; a hydration-reservoir sleeve; an adjustable sternum strap with a safety whistle; and a stated load range of 2–11 kg (5–25 lb) (Osprey, Hikelite 32).

That load range is a useful warning. Official three-day water for even one person can use most of it on its own, which is why the heavy water store belongs at home.

• Availability: listed on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Check availability on Amazon. Choose a size that matches your torso; Osprey offers more than one size on some listings.
• Who should skip it: anyone who only needs a box in a cupboard for a home store; anyone who wants a much larger pack for a long walk-out (that is a different article).

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Water in the bag, and a filter as backup

Pack bottled water first. A filter is for when you have a freshwater source and no safe bottled supply, or for topping up on the move. Neither of the filters below is a purifier, and neither claims to remove viruses, dissolved chemicals or salt. If the water may be chemically contaminated, do not use them — find another source and follow local advice.

Lead pick — Sawyer Squeeze (SP129)

Best for: filtering freshwater into a bottle or pouch, in either the US or the UK, as a compact backup to stored water.

Sawyer’s official product page describes a 0.1 micron absolute hollow-fibre membrane filter that removes 99.99999% of bacteria (it names Salmonella, cholera and E. coli), 99.9999% of protozoa (it names Giardia and Cryptosporidium), and 100% of microplastics. It says the filter does not remove viruses, heavy metals, dissolved chemicals or salt. The filter is stated to weigh just 3 ounces (about 85 g) and to fit standard 28 mm bottle threads. Sawyer cites independent microbiological testing (Hydreion, LLC, report S05-03) and a manufacturer’s lifetime limited warranty (Sawyer, Squeeze Water Filtration System).

The Amazon listings for model SP129 on both stores describe the same 0.1 micron absolute filter and include collapsible pouches (the US “two standard pouches” option, and the UK “Personal System” listing, share ASIN B00B1OSU4W). Follow the maker’s cleaning and back-flushing instructions, and do not use the filter as a substitute for the official stored-water quantities.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Also listed — LifeStraw Personal

A smaller, straw-only option if you want something that takes almost no room as a second filter. LifeStraw’s official page states a 0.2 micron membrane microfilter; removal of 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and 99.999% of microplastics, plus dirt, sand and cloudiness; a life of up to 4,000 litres (1,000 gallons); dimensions of 22.9 × 2.5 cm (9 × 1.2 in); and a weight of 46 g (1.6 oz). It is described as BPA-free, with no stated shelf life before first use. LifeStraw says it meets US EPA and NSF P231 standards for the removal of bacteria and parasites. It does not claim virus, salt or chemical removal (LifeStraw, Personal Water Filter).

You drink through the straw, so it does not fill a bottle for later the way the Squeeze can. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

For a longer look at filter versus purifier claims, and other portable options, see Best portable water filters for emergencies.

Light: a torch or a headlamp

Ready.gov asks for a flashlight and extra batteries. GOV.UK asks for a torch and spare batteries, and says torches are safer than candles. The British Red Cross lists a torch and spare batteries as an essential, and also mentions fully charged power banks in a power cut.

A headlamp is often more practical than a hand-held torch in a kit, because it leaves your hands free. Look for:

• A stated brightness in lumens, measured to a published standard if the maker cites one (for example ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• Either spare batteries in the size the lamp actually takes, or a rechargeable lamp you can top up from your power bank, plus a backup way to run it
• A weather-resistance rating (IPX4 and similar mean splash resistance, not underwater use)
• A lock-out function so it does not turn on in the bag and drain itself

A simple battery torch plus spare cells already meets the official lists. A rechargeable headlamp is a useful upgrade if you also pack a spare power source.

Petzl ACTIK CORE (E065AB00)

Lead pick for a kit headlamp, US and UK. This is the current ACTIK CORE generation: model E065AB00 (black), with the same GTIN (3342540846371) on both Amazon stores.

Petzl’s official page states 625 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1) and a weight of 88 g (about 3.1 oz) with the CORE rechargeable battery; USB-C charging (Petzl says the cable is not included); IPX4 weather resistance; a HYBRID design that also works with three AAA/LR03 batteries (not included); a lock function; and, with the CORE battery, a maximum-power setting of 625 lumens for 2 hours, or a standard setting of 100 lumens for 7 hours. The CORE battery is stated as 1,250 mAh / 3.6 V / 4.5 Wh. On AAA batteries, Petzl rates maximum power at 450 lumens for 2 hours (Petzl, ACTIK CORE).

Charge it via USB-C, as Petzl specifies (the official page says the cable is not included). Pack spare AAA cells as a backup, and keep the lamp locked off in the bag.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Radio: NOAA in the US, FM in the UK

This is the clearest equipment split in the official lists. Do not treat a US NOAA weather radio as a default UK pick, and do not assume a UK DAB radio will give you US weather alerts.

United States

Ready.gov and the American Red Cross both want a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, and preferably a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, so that official weather warnings can reach you when the power and the internet are down. Midland’s ER310 is a well-known example of that type, but a previously cited Amazon.com ASIN no longer resolved to that model when we checked. The linked US pick below is a hand-crank radio that can receive the NOAA weather band; it is not presented here as a tone-alert radio. If you specifically want official tone-alert behaviour, confirm that feature on the listing before you buy.

FosPower Model A1 (FOSPWB-2376) — US only

Lead pick for a US grab-bag radio. This is a compact hand-crank and solar radio with AM, FM and NOAA weather-band reception. It is not a UK pick: NOAA weather broadcasts are a US (and Canada) service, and this model is linked on Amazon.com only. It is also not described here as a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.

FosPower’s official product page for model A1 / FOSPWB-2376 states four power sources: a rechargeable lithium-ion pack the maker rates at 7,400 mWh (2,000 mAh) / 3.7 V, a hand crank, a solar panel, and AAA batteries (not included). It receives AM 520–1,710 kHz, FM 87–108 MHz, and the NOAA weather band 162.400–162.550 MHz. Other stated specifications include dimensions of 6.2 × 2.9 × 2.1 in (157 × 74 × 53 mm); a weight of 10.9 oz (310 g); IPX-3 water resistance; a 1 W / 20 lumen LED flashlight plus a four-LED reading light; an SOS alarm; a limited lifetime warranty; and a box that includes a USB-C to USB-A cable, a carabiner and a user manual (FosPower, Model A1).

The official page describes access to NOAA weather broadcasts. It does not clearly state an automatic tone-alert function, so do not assume it will wake you the way a dedicated weather-alert radio can. The 2,000 mAh USB output is a backup, not a substitute for a dedicated power bank. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

United Kingdom

GOV.UK specifies an FM radio, battery or wind-up, and tells you to write down the frequencies of the national or local stations you use for news. The British Red Cross similarly recommends a battery-powered or wind-up radio so you can get information during a power cut. DAB or DAB+ can be a useful extra where those services are available, but FM is the official baseline.

Also write down the power-cut number: 105 in England, Scotland and Wales, and 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland (GOV.UK Be Ready).

August MB290 — UK only

Lead pick for a UK grab-bag radio. This is a hand-crank, solar and USB-C DAB+/FM radio from August, a UK consumer-electronics brand. It is not a US NOAA weather radio, and should not be treated as one.

August’s official page states FM 87.5–108 MHz and DAB 174–240 MHz; three charging methods (hand crank, solar panel and USB-C); a 4,500 mAh rechargeable battery; a weight of 300 g; dimensions of 15 × 7.5 × 4 cm; Bluetooth 5.0; a 3.5 mm headphone socket; a three-level LED torch (high, low and reading/night light, using 3 × 1 W COB LEDs); and an SOS function. August states up to 30 hours of radio playback, or up to 60 hours of Bluetooth playback at 60% volume, from one charge, and that the USB output can charge a phone or tablet (it specifies a maximum external charge of 2 A). The box includes a USB to USB-C cable and a user manual (August, MB290).

Write your station frequencies on paper anyway. Keep this charged, and treat the USB output as a backup to a dedicated power bank. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

If you later add two-way radios to a kit, licensing is not optional. In the US, FRS is licence-free, GMRS needs an FCC licence, and amateur radio needs a licence. In the UK, licence-free use is PMR446 only; transmitting on amateur bands, including on many imported handhelds, needs an Ofcom amateur licence.

First aid and medicines

Keep a first-aid kit in the home kit and a compact one in the grab bag. Official lists are about materials plus training, not about improvising treatment from an article.

GOV.UK Be Ready suggests a first-aid kit or first-aid items including waterproof plasters (adhesive bandages), bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape and tweezers. The American Red Cross publishes a detailed recommended contents list for a family-of-four kit, including absorbent compresses, a range of adhesive bandages, cloth tape, antibiotic and antiseptic products, a small dose of aspirin, an emergency blanket, a breathing barrier, an instant cold compress, non-latex gloves, hydrocortisone, roller bandages, sterile gauze, a non-mercury thermometer, triangular bandages, tweezers and first-aid instructions (American Red Cross, Make a First Aid Kit). St John Ambulance describes a similar set of dressings, plasters, roller and triangular bandages, eye pads, cleansing wipes, tape, scissors, gloves, a CPR face shield and an aluminium blanket (St John Ambulance, What to put in a first aid kit).

Whether you buy a ready-made kit or assemble your own, open it once, compare it with those lists, and add anything your household actually uses. Check expiry dates. Keep medicines out of children’s reach.

American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit (9161-RC) — US only

Lead pick for a US home first-aid kit. This is a First Aid Only kit made for the American Red Cross, model 9161-RC, in a plastic case with a handle and wall-mount tabs. First Aid Only’s official contents page describes it as a 114-piece kit designed for a family of four, with a case measuring 11 × 10.75 × 3 in (about 28 × 27 × 8 cm) and a weight of 2.8 lb (about 1.3 kg). Use that official 114-piece list when you audit the contents.

The official contents include two 81 mg chewable aspirin tablets; five triple-antibiotic ointment packs; six antiseptic wipes; two 1% hydrocortisone packs; a range of adhesive bandages (including junior, knuckle and fingertip sizes); an instant cold compress; a latex-free CPR face shield; an emergency blanket; two triangular bandages; two 5 × 9 in trauma pads; gauze pads and conforming gauze rolls; first-aid tape; four single-use thermometers; tweezers; scissors; two pairs of latex-free vinyl gloves; and an American Red Cross first-aid guide (First Aid Only, American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit).

This is a home-store kit more than a tiny grab-bag pouch. Put the case where everyone can find it, and move a smaller selection (or a compact kit) into the bag by the door if you need to leave quickly. Do not give aspirin to children under 16 unless a doctor has prescribed it. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit — UK only

Lead pick for a UK first-aid kit. This is a compact St John Ambulance home kit in a soft green pouch, listed on Amazon.co.uk at 20 × 13 × 6 cm and about 290 g. That size is a better fit for a grab bag than a hard family case.

The Amazon seller, Safelincs, publishes a contents list for this kit: one First Aid in an Emergency booklet; four cleansing wipes; two packs of 10 waterproof low-allergy plasters (adhesive bandages); one disposable triangular bandage; two HSE medium dressings (12 × 12 cm); two HSE large dressings (18 × 18 cm); one pair of medium nitrile powder-free gloves; and one finger dressing (Safelincs, St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit). Compare that with the official GOV.UK and St John lists above: you may still want to add tape, scissors, tweezers, an eye pad or eyewash, and a foil blanket, depending on what you already own. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

On medicines:

• Pack your essential prescription medicines, a copy of the prescription or a written list of doses, and any device supplies you rely on (for example spare batteries for a hearing aid, or a charger the device maker says is suitable).
• Do not build a private stockpile of prescription drugs outside medical advice.
• In the UK, request repeats up to five working days before you need them (GOV.UK Be Ready).
• The American Red Cross suggests considering a seven-day supply of medications in a survival kit.
• Over-the-counter pain relief and similar products belong only if they are appropriate for the people in your house. Do not give aspirin to children under 16 unless a doctor has prescribed it. If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist.

If you or someone you live with depends on mains-powered medical equipment, ask the device maker how to keep it running in a power cut, and register for extra support: the UK Priority Services Register (Customer Care Registers in Northern Ireland), or your US utility’s medical-baseline or similar programme.

Power bank

Ready.gov includes a mobile phone with chargers and a backup battery. GOV.UK and the British Red Cross both want a charged power bank, including for compatible medical devices.

A power bank is one of the more transferable items between the US and the UK, because it charges over USB rather than from a 120 V or 230 V wall outlet. You still need the correct plug for recharging the bank itself.

Anker Zolo 20,000 mAh, 45 W, dual built-in USB-C cables

Lead pick for a kit power bank, US and UK. This is a high-capacity USB power bank with built-in cables, so you are less likely to leave the lead behind.

The Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk listings are for the same Anker model, A110M, described as a 20,000 mAh, 45 W power bank with two built-in USB-C cables, plus a USB-C port and a USB-A port, measuring about 12 × 7.3 × 3.2 cm (4.72 × 2.89 × 1.24 in) and weighing 365 g (12.85 oz), with an 18-month warranty. Anker’s listing states that a single USB-C port can deliver up to 45 W, and that when several ports are used the output is shared (the listing describes a 15 W / 5 V 3 A shared total in that case). Keep it charged, and only use it with a medical device if the device manufacturer says that is appropriate.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Warmth, documents and the unglamorous rest

Official lists are stubbornly practical here.

Warmth. GOV.UK and the British Red Cross emphasise blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, because homes cool quickly when the heating stops. The American Red Cross includes an emergency blanket in both the survival-kit and first-aid-kit lists; St John Ambulance includes an aluminium foil blanket in its first-aid contents. Pack at least one foil emergency blanket in the grab bag (they take almost no space) and keep proper blankets at home. A small pack is useful so you can also leave one in the car. These are a thin reflective layer, not a substitute for a sleeping bag or household blankets.

Swiss Safe emergency Mylar blankets, 4-pack — US only

Lead pick for a US foil-blanket pack. The Amazon.com listing for this four-pack (model BLA001, “4 Pack — Standard”, silver) describes aluminized Mylar blankets and gives an unfolded size of 82 × 52 in (about 208 × 132 cm). The same listing claims that the blankets retain 90% of body heat; that figure is the seller’s claim, not an independently verified specification. The listing also describes them as waterproof and compact enough for a bag or glove box. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

JFA Medical foil survival blankets, pack of 5 — UK only

Lead pick for a UK foil-blanket pack. The Amazon.co.uk listing is for five individually wrapped first-aid foil blankets from JFA Medical, each measuring 1.32 × 2.1 m (about 52 × 83 in). The listing describes a reflective surface intended to help maintain body heat, and a compact pack for a first-aid kit or bag. It does not state a heat-reflection percentage, so none is claimed here. Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Documents and money. Copies of IDs, insurance, prescriptions and any medical-equipment instructions, in a waterproof bag. A paper list of phone numbers, including people you would want to check on, and radio frequencies. Cash as well as cards, because card machines and cashpoints may not work in a power cut. GOV.UK says the amount of cash depends on your household’s needs for essentials. Spare home and car keys.

Sanitation and comfort. Wet wipes, hand sanitiser, rubbish bags, hygiene supplies, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes. A whistle is on the Ready.gov basic list and on the British Red Cross “useful additional” list; the Osprey pack above already has a whistle on the sternum strap.

Household-specific. Ready-to-feed formula, nappies and wipes for a baby. Pet food, water, a lead or carrier, and any pet medicine. Spare glasses. Activities for children. If flooding is a local risk, keep the grab bag and the document pouch easy to pick up.

Printable checklist

Use this as a shopping and packing list. It combines the official US and UK items. Tick what you already have, then add the rest over time. Quantities are per person unless noted.

Water and food

• Stored drinking water for three days, at the official rate for your country (US: about 3.8 L / 1 gallon per person per day including sanitation; UK: 3 L per person per day for drinking, plus more for cooking and washing)
• Extra water for pets
• Three days of non-perishable food you already eat, including some that needs no cooking
• Manual tin/can opener
• Ready-to-feed infant formula, if needed

Light, warmth and power

• Torch (flashlight) or headlamp, plus spare batteries or a charged spare
• Charged power bank and the right cable or plug
• Blankets, sleeping bags or warm clothing
• Foil emergency blanket in the grab bag

Communication

• US: battery or hand-crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• UK: FM radio, battery or wind-up; optional DAB; written station frequencies
• UK: power-cut number on paper (105, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland)
• Phone, charger, and a paper list of important numbers

First aid and medicines

• First-aid kit, contents checked against an official list
• Essential prescription medicines and a written list of doses (only as advised by your clinician or pharmacist)
• Spare glasses or contact-lens supplies
• Supplies and charging instructions for any medical device you rely on

Documents, money and keys

• Waterproof copies of IDs, insurance and other key documents
• Cash (coins and notes) and cards
• Spare home and car keys
• Local maps (especially useful if you may have to drive or walk without a signal)

Sanitation and personal

• Wet wipes, hand sanitiser, bags, and hygiene supplies
• Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
• Whistle
• US, if relevant: dust mask, plastic sheeting, scissors, duct tape, wrench or pliers

People and animals you are responsible for

• Baby supplies
• Pet food, water, lead or carrier, and medicine
• Anything needed for accessibility or care

Where it lives

• Home store, in a known place
• Grab bag / go bag, ready to pick up
• Smaller work and car kits, if those official suggestions apply to you

Maintenance

• Reminder set (GOV.UK suggests every six months) to check dates, recharge the power bank, and test the torch and radio

How to keep the kit usable

A kit that is never opened is only a box of expired batteries. GOV.UK suggests a six-month reminder to check expiry dates and to update the kit if your household has changed. Ready.gov says to replace expired items as needed, and to rethink the kit every year. The British Red Cross says to check food and medicine dates, test the torch and radio, recharge power banks, and replace used items.

When you check it, actually turn the torch and radio on. Recharge the power bank. Look at the water bottles. Put borrowed items back.

Common mistakes

• Buying a pre-packed bag and assuming the water is enough. Compare it with the official quantities.
• Packing the entire home store into a rucksack. You will not carry 11 litres of water plus food for a family comfortably in a 32-litre pack. Split “stay at home” and “leave quickly.”
• Choosing the wrong radio for the country. NOAA alerts are a US service. UK official advice is FM, with frequencies written down.
• Candles instead of a torch. GOV.UK says torches are safer.
• No paper backup. Phones die. Write down numbers, medicine doses and radio frequencies.
• Medicines left to chance. Do not improvise a stockpile, but do request repeats in time and keep a copy of what you take.
• Never opening the first-aid kit until you need it.
• Ignoring official differences on infant formula — ready-to-feed is the UK outage preference.

FAQ

Do I really need a 72-hour kit if I live in a city? Official advice in both countries is aimed at ordinary households, including people who would usually just go to the shops. The point is a short disruption to power, water, phones or transport, not a fantasy scenario. The British Red Cross is explicit that most emergencies are short-lived, but can still stop daily life.

Should I buy a ready-made 72-hour backpack? Only as a start, and only if you then audit it against the official lists, especially water. Building your own from what you already own is the approach both GOV.UK and, in practice, Ready.gov’s checklist support.

How much water should I put in the bag itself? As much bottled water as you can carry without making the bag unusable, plus a filter as a backup. Keep the rest in the home store. Use the official daily figure for your country, times three days, times the number of people (and pets) you are planning for.

What kind of radio do I need? In the US, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and, if possible, a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. In the UK, an FM radio that runs on batteries or a wind-up dynamo, with station frequencies written on paper. A phone is not a substitute if the network or the battery is down.

Can I keep prescription medicines “just in case”? Follow your clinician or pharmacist. This article does not recommend stockpiling prescription drugs outside that advice. In the UK, request repeats up to five working days before you need them.

Where should I keep the kit? Somewhere everyone in the house can find, ready if you have to leave quickly. Ready.gov also suggests a work kit and a car kit. GOV.UK suggests a spare “grab bag” and a winter kit in the car.

How we researched this piece

On 10 November 2026 we compared current official kit lists from Ready.gov (FEMA), the American Red Cross, GOV.UK Be Ready, the British Red Cross, and first-aid contents guidance from the American Red Cross and St John Ambulance, together with GOV.UK advice on repeat prescriptions and CDC advice on making water safe. Product specifications were taken from manufacturer pages where they exist (Osprey, Sawyer, LifeStraw, Petzl, FosPower, August, First Aid Only) and otherwise from the Amazon listing or the seller’s product page (Anker A110M on both stores; Safelincs contents for the St John Ambulance home kit; Swiss Safe and JFA Medical blanket listings). Listings were cross-checked for genuine marketplace sellers (not Amazon Global Store) and reasonable dispatch. We have not tested these products in person, and we have not invented capacities, materials or certifications. Prices are deliberately omitted; use “Check current price on Amazon”.

If a local authority’s advice differs from a general national page, follow the local advice.

Sources

1. Ready.gov / FEMA, Build A Kit — accessed 10 November 2026 (page last updated 1 July 2026).
2. American Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies — accessed 10 November 2026.
3. American Red Cross, Make a First Aid Kit — accessed 10 November 2026.
4. GOV.UK Be Ready, Be ready for emergencies — accessed 10 November 2026.
5. British Red Cross, Prepare an emergency kit — accessed 10 November 2026 (page last updated 29 October 2026).
6. St John Ambulance, What to put in a first aid kit — accessed 10 November 2026.
7. CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency — accessed 10 November 2026.
8. Osprey, Hikelite 32 — accessed 10 November 2026.
9. Sawyer, Squeeze Water Filtration System — accessed 10 November 2026.
10. LifeStraw, Personal Water Filter — accessed 10 November 2026.
11. Petzl, ACTIK CORE — accessed 10 November 2026.
12. FosPower, Model A1 Emergency Solar Hand Crank NOAA Weather Radio — accessed 10 November 2026.
13. August, MB290 Camping Radio and Torch — accessed 10 November 2026.
14. First Aid Only, American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit — accessed 10 November 2026.
15. Safelincs, St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit — accessed 10 November 2026 (contents list for the Amazon.co.uk listing).
16. Amazon.com listing, Swiss Safe emergency Mylar blankets, 4-pack, model BLA001 (ASIN B0717143P2) — accessed 10 November 2026.
17. Amazon.co.uk listing, JFA Medical foil survival blankets, pack of 5 (ASIN B01M2BT92T) — accessed 10 November 2026.
18. Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk listings, Anker Zolo Power Bank 20,000 mAh 45 W, model A110M (ASINs B0DSZF8HNJ and B0DSZKKJTK) — accessed 10 November 2026.