Review: Red Cross 3-day Kit

My 3-day (1 adult) emergency preparedness kit arrived today.

http://www.redcrossstore.org/Shopper...niqueItemId=64

First impression: nice kit
Second impression: dang, this thing is heavy!

The bag is an army-green duffel, about the size of the average gym bag. The Red Cross logo is subtle and the bag color is subtle, so I expect it won't look too exciting or tempting in my car (where it will stay).

The kit is heavy because of the many 125 ml envelopes of water in it. I'm very happy about that water. You can get by for 3 days without a lot of things, but water is mighty hard to give up.

It isn't so heavy that you can't lift it with one hand, however. (mine will be by the time I get done adding to it... ;) ) Probably even after it is packed full it will still fit bungeed on top of a bike rack if you plan to use your bike in a disaster. I don't think it would fit in a pannier.

If you look at the website description, it gives a complete list of what is in the kit. Well thought-out. I'm pleased.

All the pockets inside the duffel are clear plastic with clear plastic velcro flaps or zippers. Open the bag, you see what is in there instantly. There are enough empty pockets that you can put your own small items into it in an organized fashion. The bag itself has plenty of room for larger things.

The first aid kit has its own army-green zippered pouch which velcroes to the inside of one end of the duffel. Easy to find and get out in a hurry.

The sling-strap for the duffel is hidden under the water envelopes

The rations have a shelf-life of 5 years. They are dense coconut biscuits in vacuum packed blocks. If you don't like coconut, or if you don't tolerate the ingredients (wheat flour, vegetable shortening, cane sugar, water, coconut, and salt), be sure to add some rations that meet your needs, but DON'T THROW OUT THE COCONUT BISCUITS! Chances are, if you gotta bust into your kit for food things are probably pretty bad where-ever you are, and someone else might really need to eat those biscuits.

Well worth the $55 for a starter kit, and the money goes to the Red Cross so you can have a warm fuzzy from your purchase.

You'll want to add photocopies of all important documents (passport, drivers license, insurance info, prescriptions for medication, etc) for the whole family. Although I don't think you want to store that in the car. But you should have it in a place that is fast and easy to access in an emergency.

Also you'll want a change of clothes including shoes.