Putting a "Ready Bag" Together

[M G]

I was shopping the other day and decided to buy a bunch of stuff including extra clothing and other items such as toiletries to put together a bag I can just pick up and run with if something bad happens and I have to go to an incident scene for days. I was curious If this is something anyone else is doing and what you are packing in your bags if anything. My mindset was similar to the lines of the USAR cache personal equipment list in a scaled down version.

[xenophon13]

I have come to find the importance of a bag like you are talking about. I keep an ALICE pack in the back of my POV with a complete change of clothes, a couple MRE's, 5 liters of H2O, 250' of rescue rope, an assortment of batteries, a Maglite, a knife, a box of matches, a folding shovel, a small personal first aid kit and some carabiners. After all nothing sux worse than comming back from a large working fire that is a long way away, and having to make the trip in wet clothes or bunkers.

[volunteercareer]

I keep my Wildland Red Bag ready to go at all times. Has everything I need for many days!

[T80tank]

im putting in my truck a trauma kit, and some light rescue gear. so far thats all I got. Not sure what else i'll put in it.

[choad33]

Google advanced group search for bob (bug-out-bag), pe-rk or 72 hour kit you should find lots of ideas what to include and what not to include

[bubblesboyd]

First, thank you Choad33 for the suggestion about the google search - I'm gonna check it out!!

I have often wondered myself about how many people have a "ready bag" in their vehicle or tucked by the back door. My friends tease me about how safety conscious I am and about my hockey bag - filled with extra clothing, change of socks and boots, clothing approapriate for the season (ie. hats and extra mittens for winter season), fold up shovel,bottles of water, flashlight, extra batteries, advance first aid kit, games, candles, sleeping bag, food (and can opener)...etc. I'm involved in disaster services...so I try to be ready.

Important thing to remember: Keep clothing clean and wash periodically to keep fresh. Bottled water and canned goods are usually okay for about six months - but can get stale or breakdown...maybe a three month check is better.

Oh my - I didn't mean to go on so lengthy...this forum touches on an area that interests me. I do a lot of presentations on "Be prepared, Not scared". Knowing what to do and having prepared in advance (like having a "Ready Bag" helps de-esculate the panic.