Here's what's in a survival kit (and why we all need one)

 

We've got to start with something a little... real. In the event of a disaster, emergency responders won't be able to reach everyone immediately. And that means all of us should be prepared to take care of ourselves for a while.

Now, that emergency can take a number of shapes. New Zealand is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, fires, floods, storms, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. But if the last few years have shown us anything, it's that the list doesn't stop there. Emergencies can also include domestic terror attacks and sudden lockdowns.

When crises appear out of the blue, a well-equipped survival kit can deliver peace of mind to us and our families.

So, what exactly should we pack into a survival kit?

When planning your kit, you should include enough essential supplies, food and water to sustain yourself and your family for at least 72 hours.

It's a reality that basic services like electricity, water, gas, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for multiple days, and that means that your survival kit should also include basic items that your household or workplace may need to get through these outages.

In the case that you need to evacuate your household at a moment's notice, an emergency "grab bag" is ideal to keep at home, in the car, or at the office. 

But here's what's funny about New Zealanders

Why do you think that most of us fail to prepare the basics, even when the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management recommends we all assemble our kits well in advance of an emergency?

We're sure that the main reason is time. It's a big ask to research and put together a survival kit when you're already juggling a modern life.

And it's that dilemma that's inspired The Survival Co. Combining our backgrounds in the military, logistics, civil defence response and emergency management, we can help busy New Zealanders prepare.

Based on the scenario we described above, it's a good idea to meet with your family and coworkers, and discuss exactly what you'll need for 72 hours of self-sufficiency (if you're in Auckland, we're happy to come in and guide you through this for free). From here, find a quality dry bag to fit it all, and you're good to go.

And if you simply don't have the time, we've got your back.

Just head over to our website and check out the range of 1-6 person kits and grab bags that you can keep close at hand in your home, car, boat, or office. They all include food, water, first aid, warmth, shelter, and more (either meeting or exceeding Civil Defence guidelines). We can even put together a bespoke kit for your organisation - just give us a shout at sales@thesurvivalco.nz.

To your safety.

Sam & Mel.