CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

COPYRIGHT AlwaysBePrepard.com 2012 1

LDS 72 hour survival kit

Latter-day Saints and Emergency Preparedness and

Response

Modern prophets and apostles have for years been warning members

of the LDS Church to be prepared for adversities, whether they're

natural disasters, social issues or even, personal and national

financial crises. Preparing not only oneself but also one's family

spiritually and temporally, can eliminate worry.

Choosing to follow the guidance and counsel of our sustained church

leaders, will help not only individuals, families but the Church as a

whole be prepared and ready to become or remain self-reliant during

times of individual or perhaps extensive emergencies.

What about 72-hour kits?

Church members are counseled to get prepared for potential and

often unseen emergencies by putting together a basic food supplies,

drinkable water, sufficient money, and as one's means allow, long-

term supplies. Over and above this, the Church states:

"Church members may choose to store additional items that could be

of use during times of distress." - FAQ about LDS emergency

preparedness

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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LDS Emergency Preparation and 72 Hour Kits

The best advice any survival

expert could offer you, is to

prepare for the types of

catastrophes (natural or otherwise)

you'd face where you live. If you

live in an area prone to

earthquakes, buy or build a 72

hour kit which focuses more on

having deal with unsafe structures

and the possibility of being

evacuated.

Further, if you live in near a military or government facility or, near a

railroad system which could be hit by a terrorist attack, consider that

you may have shelter in place, meaning staying put in your home.

Ultimately, think back to how long it took FEMA to render any

significant aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Remember seeing

all the long lines of people trying to escape New Orleans? Imagine

how much easier things would have been if they each had a personal

72 hour kit.

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3 good reasons why Latter-day Saints need a 72 hour

kit

Reason #1 - Prepare Ahead of Time - You simply can't guess when

the next dilemma or perhaps serious events like a terrorist attack,

natural disaster will occur. And, once it takes place, the time to prep is

passed...because of this, prepare now!

Reason #2 - The Prepared 'shall not fear' - Remember, it's not a

question of if something happens but WHEN. Being fully prepared

gives peace of mind to both you and your family.

Reason #3 -The best reason - The Lord both warns and

forewarned the Saints

Here's two quotes from modern-day Apostles on the importance of

heeding the counsel to get prepared:

"In mercy the Lord warns and forewarns. He sees the coming

storm, knows the forces operating to produce it, and calls

aloud through His prophets, advises, counsels, exhorts, even

commands-that we prepare for what is about to befall and take shelter

while yet there is time. But we go our several ways, feasting and

making merry, consoling conscience with the easy fancy of “time

enough” and in idle hope that the tempest will pass us by, or that,

when it begins to gather thick and black about us we can turn back

and find shelter."

- Elder James E. Talmage, The Parables of James E. Talmage, p. 50

This leads to this quote by George Q. Cannon...

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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"The greatest events that have been spoken of

by all the Holy Prophets will come along so

naturally as the consequences of certain causes,

that unless our eyes are enlightened by the Spirit

of God, and the spirit of revelation rests upon us, we will fail to see

that these are the events predicted by the Holy Prophets." - George Q.

Cannon, Nov. 2, 1879, Journal of Discourses, 21:266-67

Think about these two quotes and ask yourself...'am I ready?'

Each LDS Church member should ask themselves

these simple questions:

Question #1 - What is definitely the most critical thing I am able

to do pertaining to preparing myself and my family?

Simple...GET STARTED NOW.

Don't wait. You can afford to start somewhere, even with basic

emergency preparedness. Believing that you can't start until you're

married, have that next promotion or, some other lie will shorten your

chances of survival when something happens; and, by then, it'll be too

late.

Question #2 - Where do I start?

Get started with your individual or family prepping by simply

purchasing and adding to your food storage and prepping supplies a

small amount of storable things which you generally actually eat,

storing drinking water, as well as setting aside and saving as much

extra money as you can without risk. Doing these simple things will,

after awhile, increase these preliminary efforts-as personal conditions

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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permit and wherever permitted, planning for and creating a long-term

supply of survival basic food stocks such as wheat and other grains,

legumes, beans, as well as other main food staples.

Question #3 - Do we need a 72 hour kit for everyone?

YES, everyone. It's critical that you either buy or start building a 72

hour kit for everybody in your household; even little children.

Remember that with the size of most LDS families; Mom and Dad

won't be able to carry everything their family will need.

Question #4 - Is my 72 hour kit all I need?

The answers obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people think

that once they have the 72 hour survival kit that 'they're done.' If you're

LDS, you understand that your 72 hour kit is just one part of the total

solution...not THE solution. You shouldn't be duped into supposing

that simple because you bought or built a personal 72 hour kit that you

happen to be done. Far from it.

As Latter-day Saints, we know that we absolutely need to prepare for

dangerous weather conditions; electrical power black outs or outages,

civil turmoil, as well as potential terrorist attacks which may

necessitate having to abandon our homes and travel (think Jackson

County).

Emergency Preparedness: How we can help

When you're ready to move to the next level of family preparedness,

we supply a wide range of additional products and solutions to assist

and help you round out your current preparedness strategy which will

begin with a well-stocked 72 hour survival kit.

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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We offer a large variety of survival kits from single person baggie 72

hour kits to 20 people, multiple day options. However, we also offer

you the option to build your very own 72 hour kit

NOTE - Below is a list of 72 hour kit essentials. Please understand

that you don't need all of this; pick and choose what best suits your

individual needs, circumstances and financial means. However,

consider each item in this LDS-focused 72 hour kit checklist against

the specific types of disaster situations you will most likely face within

your area.

Finally, understand that your LDS 72 hour kit needs to be made up of

several more compact crisis-specific survival kit sections. The below

72 hour supplies checklist offers several recommendations for almost

every section to help you decide which accommodates your financial

situation.

What To Do Next

Step 1 - Start with what you have already.

Step 2 - Supplement your existing emergency preparedness supplies

by following the step-by-step checklist

Step 3 - Check off each item as you build your survival kit

Step 4 - Customize your survival kit to fit you...not us. Change things

according to the potential situations you may face.

Step 5 - Share this list with others...remember, 'Every man who has

been warned should warn his neighbor...' (D&C 88:81)

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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LDS 72 Hour Kit Checklist

SHELTER - FIRE - FOOD

As you begin prepping, look at everything you buy and make sure it

fits into one of the three words - shelter - fire - food. If it doesn't solve

one of these three critical survival needs...you don't need it. First, you

must have shelter, then fire and finally, food and water. All your

planning will come to naught if you freeze to death or, die of sun

stroke. Build a shelter, get a fire going and then work on getting your

meals.

The Basics: Food and Water

Every emergency professional will immediately inform you that

everyone needs a the minimum of 72 hours worth of good, clean

drinking water together with 3 days of emergency meals for every

single person without exception. An individual might go a few weeks

without any food on the other hand, most people can't last more than

3 days and nights without having drinking water.

Don't Plan On The Calvary Showing Up

Think back on what happened after Hurricane Katrina. Consider just

how long it took for FEMA to finally make it to New Orleans. Your

emergency plans need to made with the single fact that the Calvary

may never come and you're going to be completely on your own.

This single factor is why having good drinking water must absolutely

become the most important factor of one’s personalized emergency

strategy. In fact, having a continual supply or access to clean drinking

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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water must absolutely consume virtually every thought of preparation

and planning since literally everybody's personal survival will depend

upon having and safeguarding your potable water stores.

HOW MUCH WATER IS ENOUGH?

Ideally, 2 gallons of water per person, per day; but, storing that much

water may possibly turn out to be challenging. Therefore, start with the

basics and set aside at least enough water to last 72 hours, and then

plan for more using 55 Gallon Water Barrel Package.

Emergency Water

Your emergency water supplies need to be potable as

well as portable. Keep in mind that you may have to be on the move

and lugging a gallon jug of water will be a pain. Consider individually

packaged water pouches.

❏ 100% Pure Emergency Survival Water: 6 Pack

❏ 2 Gallon Water Bag

❏ Water filter - bring the instruction booklet

❏ Ultra violet water purifier - UV light kills 99.999% of anything

living in water you may need to filter

❏ Germicidal Water Purification Tablets (50 Tablets) - great back

up for your water filter and UV water purifier

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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❏ Aqua Blox 3 Pack - pre-packaged boxes of water

Emergency Food Supplies

Everyone reacts differently during a crisis situation. Some

eat a lot, some not at all. However, to survive you must eat. Consider

storing high caloric survival food bars with long a long shelf life.

❏ Survival food bars - 3600 Calories Emergency Mayday Food Bars

for disaster situations: Case of 20

❏ Emergency Food Storage Package - Deluxe Survival Product

and Food Kit

❏ Portable Stove with 8 Fuel Tablets - Ideal for cooking. Warm food

equals comfort.

❏ MRE: Meals Ready to Eat - MRE's are ideal for 72 hour kits and

Go Bags because you can eat the cold (see above), they're sealed

and are high in both calories and salt (good things during disasters)

❏ 12 Assorted Hot Meals with Heater - MRE meals which come

with a heating device to warm up your MRE food if you're without

power or, on the move.

❏ Protein bars - Needs to be high in protein but remember, peanut

and other food allergies

❏ Granola bars - individually packaged and sealed

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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❏ Trail Mix/Dried Fruit - keep in original bag or vacuum seal

❏ Crackers - keep in original bag or vacuum seal

❏ Dried cereal - keep in original bag or vacuum seal in meal-sized

bags

❏ Beef Jerky - remember to check the expiration date and vacuum

seal in smaller bags

❏ Canned Foods- Buy the pull tab opening varieties and also pack a

can opener. Remember not to expose your can foods to high

temperatures.

❏ Can opener

❏ Snacks - Candy/Gum

Emergency Shelter

Shelter is the FIRST thing you need to worry about when creating your

family emergency plan...even before water! If your family is exposed

to the elements, all your advanced planning, water storage and first

aid classes won't matter.

❏ Tent - 5 or 6 Person Tent

❏ Tube tent - Tube Tent 2 Person

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❏ Tent - 4 Person Dome Tent for Family Preparedness

❏ Vinyl Tarp - 16 foot x 24 foot

Emergency Warmth and Clothing

Remember, you're carrying a 72 hour kit on your back;

therefore, pack as light as possible. If you've built your 72

hour kit in a large, expedition backpack then consider

purchasing -0 zero degree sleeping bags (always plan for the worst). If

you want to pack and stay light, purchase solar sleeping bags are

they're made of the same reflective mylar used by NASA for

astronauts and they'll reflect your body heat back at you and thus,

keep you warm.

Regarding the type of clothes you should pack: First, consider the type

of weather you'll typically face but, use synthetic fabrics...NEVER

COTTON! Cotton acts like a sponge and holds water which makes

you cold. Second, always pack long sleeve shirts and pants, never

short sleeves or shorts. The reason is simple - protection from both

heat and cold. Long sleeves keep you from becoming sunburned and

will keep you warm in cold temperatures.

Make sure your rain suits or ponchos are 2 times larger than you'd

normally wear. You'll want them larger because you'll layer your

clothes underneath and, you'll want the poncho to cover your 72 hour

kit to keep it dry.

❏ Mayday Solar Sleeping Bag

❏ Mayday Solar Blanket

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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❏ Wool Blanket - Always wool, never cotton

❏ Change of Clothing - long and short sleeved shirts, pants, jackets,

socks, and etcetera.

❏ Undergarments - dry loft or nylon to wick sweat and moisture from

body NO COTTON

❏ 2 Piece Rain Suit Heavy Duty PVC - Adult

❏ Emergency Poncho Kids Heavy Duty - Children

Emergency Light

Battery-powered flashlights are convenient but, batteries

die or go bad. Therefore, our survival experts

recommend purchasing a hand crank dynamo / solar

powered flashlight which will always be charged up

without relying on batteries. If you do take a battery-powered

flashlight, separately a tape both ends of each battery and then, place

them backwards in the flashlight so they won't accidently run down

before you need them. Also, purchase road flares. Emergency road

flares are a MacGyver favorite; it will start fires, signal help and ward

off predators.

❏ Solar / Dynamo Voyager Trek Radio Flashlight - Hand crank

dynamo flashlight with AM/FM radio is the best option

❏ Solar Light with Battery Back Up

❏ Goal Zero Scout 150 Solar Explorer Kit

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❏ Flashlight - D cell battery type - Batteries go bad therefore, have

this flashlight as a backup to your hand crank flashlight

❏ Additional Batteries

❏ Flares - great for starting fires

❏ Glow Light Stick - 30 Minute High Intensity Emergency Lighting

Emergency Fire

The second most important part of surviving, fire is both

essential to keeping warm, but it serves to keep

predators at bay and offers comfort. You won't need a

roaring fire, just a small cooking fire to boil water and

warm up food while you're making more permanent survival plans.

❏ Waterproof Survival Matches - Storm Proof for Wind and Water

❏ 120 Hour Candle

❏ Lighters - at least 5

❏ 6 In 1 Dynamo Fire Starter

❏ Fuel tablets Pack of 8

❏ Hand Warmer

CHECKLIST - How to build an LDS 72 hour kit

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Emergency Communication

Your first item to get with regard to emergency

communication is an AM/FM NOAA shortwave radio that's

both solar and dynamo-powered. Depending on the type of

disaster you're facing, you'll want to stay in contact with the

outside world and change your survival tactics based both on news

reports and upcoming weather. Finally, if possible, buy everyone in

your family a simple walkie-talkie, determine the family's specific

emergency channel and then practice staying in touch.

❏ 7 n 1 Survival Whistle

❏ Orange Plactic Floating Whistle

❏ Whistle with Compass and Thermometer

❏ AM/FM NOAA Shortwave Solar / Dynamo Emergency Radio

❏ Walkie Talkie Radios (Pair)

❏ Emergency Contact Form

❏ Lifeline Emergency Kit with Phone

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Survival Tools and Equipment

Of all the tools and gear you could purchase, having a

great 10 Function Survival Tool. You don't need a

worthless Rambo knife, a simple multi-function

Leatherman will be of more value to you during a disaster

than some stupidly large knife that is both heavy and pointless.

❏ Dishes/Utensils - basic plastic glass, fork, knife and spoon

❏ 10 Function Survival Tool

❏ 6-in-1 Survival Shovel

❏ Pen and Paper - C.E.R.T. Emergency Field Reporting Notebook

❏ Camp Axe Rubber Handle - smaller the better

❏ Multi-tool / Pocket Knife - Swiss Army knife is perfect

❏ Black and Orange Rope ½ X 50 feet

❏ Duct Tape - everything from waterproofing to 1st aid uses!

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Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Supplies

Here's the interesting part of personal hygiene in a

disaster situation; think multiple uses for each item.

Women's tampons work amazing great for 1st aid,

especially for puncture wounds. However, you'll feel and

think better if you're cleaned up and not looking like Mad Max.

❏ Biodegradable Toilet Paper 2 rolls-great for backpackers

❏ Female Personal Hygiene Kit - tampons, pads, etc.

❏ Tooth brushes

❏ Hair brushes

Personal Medical Items

Hard laminate a copy of your prescriptions and all necessary medical

records. Each parent should have a carry a separate copy (CD, thumb

drive and hard laminate) of the family's medical records and needs as

well as those family members who have special medical needs.

❏ Immunizations - Make sure everyone's up-to date on their shots

❏ Medications (Acetaminophen, Nuprin, your children's medication

etc.)

❏ Prescription Drugs - pack enough for a minimum of 72 hours

❏ Vaccination Papers

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❏ Health Insurance Policies

Emergency First Aid Kit and Items

After a disaster strikes, you're on your own...please

understand; that the cavalry’s NOT going to come.

Therefore, do your family a life-saving favor and get CPR

and 1st aid certified. Learn how to set a broken bone,

suture a wound and deal with shock and snake bites. If you're

squimish about blood, GET OVER IT. Remember, plan for the worst.

Finally, first aid supplies make great bartering items during rough

times; stock up.

❏ Snake Bite Kit

❏ Backpacker's 1st Aid Kit

❏ Superglue - for closing small cuts

❏ 25 - Adhesive Bandages of various sizes

❏ 1 - Butterfly Closure Bandage

❏ 5 - Cotton Tip Applicators

❏ 1 - First Aid Guide

❏ 2 - Sterile Gauze Pads

❏ 1 - Burn Ointment

❏ 1 - Antibacterial Ointment

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❏ 6 - Alcohol Prep Pads

❏ 6 - Extra Strength Pain Relievers

❏ 2 - Pain Stoppers – 100

❏ 2 - Antacid Tablets

❏ 2 - Non-Aspirin – 50 / 2 Packs

❏ 1 - Ace Bandage 4 inches x 4.5 Yards

❏ Alcohol Wipes (Medium) – Box of 100

❏ Bite Relief Pens

❏ Blood Stopper Trauma Dressing

❏ Fever Scan Thermometer

❏ Fingertip Bandages - Woven - box of 100

❏ Insect Repellant Spray 6 oz.

❏ Keychain CPR Mouthpiece w Gloves

❏ Latex Gloves – Medium 100 count

❏ Antiseptic Towelettes – Box of 100

❏ Bloodborne Pathogen & Bodily Fluid Disposal Kit

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Housecleaning Items

❏ Small hand sanitizer

❏ Soap

❏ Shampoo and conditioner

❏ Liquid dish soap - non-fragrant brands only as it will taint the

flavor of your food

Personal Items

❏ Personal Records and Legal Documents - Hard laminate, copy

to a thumb drive and burn a CD of all your personal records - car titles,

medical records, prescriptions, birth / marriage certificates, wills,

passports, contracts, etc)

❏ Hard cash - each adult should carry small bills for buying things.

Remember, if the power's out you're not going to be using your credit

cards. However, just in case, include them.

❏ Visa or MasterCard

❏ Scriptures

❏ Patriarchal blessings - Hard laminate, copy to a thumb drive and

burn a CD

❏ Genealogy records - Hard laminate, copy to a thumb drive and

burn a CD

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Miscellaneous Survival Items

❏ Yard Trash Bags and Ziploc Bags - Put everything into Ziploc

bags for added water protection.

❏ Baby Necessities - consider using cloth diapers

❏ Safety Vest with a Clear Insert