Christmas stockings are an ideal opportunity to stick in some items for your 72 hour kit or for general household preparedness. If you celebrate Hanukkah, incorporate some of these items into the nightly gifts! Most of these gifts can be found in the camping section of your local discount store. You may still be able to find some on clearance from the autumn camping and hunting season. Here are some ideas (of course consider the appropriateness of the item in relation to the gift recipient’s age):
- Small flashlights for each bedroom. The best ones have a lanyard or other string attached so that they can hang from a bedpost, out of sight.
- Batteries for those electronic gadgets
- Waterproof matches and container
- Swiss army knife –there is one available that is the size of a credit card and holds all sorts of cool stuff
- Screwdriver set–a mini set is a great thing to have in each car as well as your 72-hour kit
- Compass or a combination whistle and compass device
- Reflective mirror
- Small toiletries, including a disposable razer, travel sized toothbrush and tooth paste, small soap, shampoo and lotion. Check out the travel section at your local discount store for other items.
- ‘Space’ emergency blanket
- Folding cup
- Camp utensil set and/or ‘mess kit’
- Pocket size survival guide
- Rain poncho
- Hand and/or foot warmers
- Key chain whistle and/or flashlight
- Thermal socks and/or wool mittens/gloves
- A wool ‘watch’ cap–the type used by the military is warm, water repellent and folds compactly.
- Small first aid kit
- Small, purse sized holder for band-aids
- Mini battery operated alarm clock
- Headlamp style flashlight
- ‘Power’ bars
- 100 hour candle
- Water purifying tablets or ’sani straw’ device
- Long shelf life boxed water
- Pocket-sized package of toilet paper and tissues
- A Bowie knife with sheath
- Flint and steel
- Small knife sharpener
- Mini first aid primer–check with your local Red Cross or County Extension office for free ones
- CPR mouth shield
- Small card games or other sources of entertainment such as Sudoku books
- Mini sewing kit–you can easily assemble one in an old prescription bottle or empty 35mm film canister. Include several sharp needles, thread, thread clipper, buttons, a snap and several safety pins
- Travel sized hand sanitizer, hand wipes and disinfectant spray
- Jumper cables
- Small size roll of duct tape
- Small roll of heavy twine or rope
Check out the camping aisles and see what little goodies might be interesting and helpful. You never know what you might find!
And be sure to save all of that excess hard candy you and your family receive during the holidays. Seal it up tight in a ziploc bag, food saver bag or other air tight container to add to your long-term storage and 72-hour kits.