advice on evac bag

[rockriver]

looking for advice on the list of things some of you would put in a emergency bag. It would be used in case of evacuation from a storm. The current bag I have now is blackhawk 3 day pack. Need to be light enough for the wife to handle (with a baby) and not use to much space. Have already placed 9 MREs broken down so to save on room. When it comes to medical what specific things would you all suggest.

Maybe this has been address before and if it has can you point me to the thread.

[Sltwtr1]

looking for advice on the list of things some of you would put in a emergency bag. It would be used in case of evacuation from a storm. The current bag I have now is blackhawk 3 day pack. Need to be light enough for the wife to handle (with a baby) and not use to much space. Have already placed 9 MREs broken down so to save on room. When it comes to medical what specific things would you all suggest.

Maybe this has been address before and if it has can you point me to the thread.

For someone who has needed a "GO" bag for at least five hurricanes amongst other things, I would say that a 3 day assault pack is way to small. I don't have a blanket answer that would cover everyones situation, but being the owner of a three day assault pack, I would not say that is the type of bag I would use as my "GO" bag... I use a flyers kit bag OD green at the moment, but you can't really put it on your shoulder like a backpack.

Sltwtr1

OUT

[rockriver]

Thanks for the advise and will look into getting bigger bag. As far as you do you just carry a basic first aid kit or are you more detailed than that.

[SFS0AVN]

Your first aid kit should contain items YOU know how to use and things you will expect to use. It should be big enough to last you for the time you expect to be gone.

[TPD1280]

Take a look at this bag.

http://www.pipergear.com/prodview.cfm?catid=2&item=43

I bought one for each member of my family. Luggage has gone the way of the do-do bird.

It has a Camelback compartment, waist straps, side cinch straps, the main compartment can unzip and add another 3" of depth to the storage, shoulder straps are very well padded and there is a chest strap connecting the shoulder straps for stability.

Best freakin back pack I have ever used.

It's bigger and better constructed than the Blackhawk 3Day pack, and about 30 bucks cheaper. The Blackhawk day is about the same size as the back pack my kids carried their school books in.

[SFS0AVN]

Take a look at this bag.

http://www.pipergear.com/prodview.cfm?catid=2&item=43

I bought one for each member of my family. Luggage has gone the way of the do-do bird.

Nice bag. That one is kind of small, but I guess they come in all sizes.

[Sltwtr1]

Thanks for the advise and will look into getting bigger bag. As far as you do you just carry a basic first aid kit or are you more detailed than that.

As far as medical gear you probably want to post that question in the medical forum. I will just say that for me, space is generally a big issue. I am probably going to have different items with me if I was evacuating from a storm with girlfriend etc vs. if I was going somewhere I thought I might get shot or stabbed. With the latter example, I would make sure I had with me Quick clot or a similar product as well as an Israeli bandage (due to its multiple uses) as well as sheers or a suitable knife to get to and expose the wound ASAP. Not sure if I would be in the same mindset if traveling with wife and kids etc. Might go more heavily on slings, Band-Aids, antiseptic ointments saline, thermal blanket etc.....

Sltwtr1

OUT

[TPD1280]

Nice bag. That one is kind of small, but I guess they come in all sizes.

The picture doesn't do it justice. We packed for 5 days vacation in one bag per, and each had room left over for stuff we bought while at Dizzyland.

[rockriver]

That is really a nice bag have to look in to getting one. Thanks for the advice on the medical info and will consider my situation. I believe I will have to pack two bags like you said depending on the situation. That way there a guy covers his ass on both sides. Will review the med forum to see what they all had to say on simular issues.

Thank gents for the info.

[Doczilla]

Preventive medicine is always a step ahead of treatment. If you look at injuries and illnesses in natural disasters, there tend to be very few injuries and illnesses during the disaster, but a wave of illnesses afterward. Most are injuries inflicted during cleanup (chainsaws, soft tissue infections) or illnesses as a result of exposure to contaminated water or lack of medications taken for chronic disease. With that in mind, here's what I'd have in my bag:
Knife
Means to make fire, i.e., a couple of butane lighters and a flint for backup. Keeping warm is the most important. We don't generally cauterize traumatic wounds outside of surgery, so don't get any ideas about heating your knife and sticking it into a cut.
Method for purifying water. You will rapidly run out of water if all you have is what's on your back. Water supplies are almost always contaminated after a major natural disaster. Planning for this is as simple as a couple of coffee filters and a small bottle of iodine tablets from the outdoors store. You can also improvise the filter with a sock and some sand. Yes, they taste like shit and we all love MIOX, but the tablets are extremely small, light, and cheap.
MREs are not a bad idea. Anything high calorie and low weight is good. Trail mix is that for a reason: lots of energy, not a lot of weight and cube.
You don't actually need to bring bandages. They can be improvised from just about anything you have or can find.
I would not waste a lot of weight and cube on stuff like Quikclot. A tourniquet would not be a bad idea. The MAT or CAT is lightweight, small, and highly effective.
Medications that you take every day for anything. This is extremely important in the case of medications for high blood pressure or diabetes. Stopping these drugs suddenly can be a disaster in itself.
Painkiller/antiinflammatory, Advil and tylenol.
Antibiotic ointment, i.e., small tube of neosporin.
An antihistamine, benadryl or claritin. The latter is nonsedating.
ciprofloxacin, good for soft tissue infections, UTI, and GI infections. NOT good for pneumonia. (prescription only)
Pepto bismol, helps with diarrhea and has some antimicrobial effect.
Aspirin: if, God forbid, you have a heart attack in this situation, a single adult tablet (324mg) cuts mortality by 30%. It's also a great antiinflammatory drug.
Tweezers.

'zilla

[Black Knight]

Investing in a vacuum sealer is not a bad idea. It will water-proof all of your goods and shrink bulky things for better storage.

In regards to survival needs just go back to the basics.

Water - You must have WATER or a way to purify it! Look at Katrina, this was one of the most sought after and needed goods. You can go a few days without food, not so with water. Doczilla gives great advice and I will not add anything other than a cheap lemonade powder will fix the yucky iodine taste. Many of you say "screw the taste", I say try giving shitty tasting water to your kid. It aint happening! Yeah they would drink it eventually, but chances are it might be too late.

Shelter - Tent tech has gotten real good over the years. Just get something small that can get your family out of the elements. Those foil emergency blankets work in a pinch, but only in a pinch. In winter keep warm through layering.

Food - Broken down MRE's are great. Just remember you need a ton of water when eating them. I'm sure there has been more than one guy on this forum that has been locked up tight from an MRE. NOT FUN!!!

It goes without saying that the med list from Doczilla is awesome. Just remember that most of the antibiotics and meds have expiration dates. Being a Tactical Medic I always change out my meds prior to their due date. I'm not sure in an actual emergent situation how well out of date stuff would work. Possibly someone else could weigh in on it.

Hope this helps,
BK

[rockriver]

I don't really know how to start. This all great information and helps alot. I was going through my stuff this morning and cut a few items. They were a change of clothes and boots. I believe I'll put them in the main bag where I have more room. This will make a lot more space for basic items of meds.

I will try to put all the things with early expiration dates towards the top and easy to get to. For the small cost, it would be foolish not to replace it.
Just one question if the bag is set up for the camel back would you also use it for that or have a second bag to carry it to help save weight. Just wondering

Thanks again on the info it really helps.

[TPD1280]

Don't forget 1 gal size ziplock bags.

Aside from the waterproofing the stuff inside the bag, it helps to compartmentalize/organize your stuff. Put your date sensitives in one, your clothes in another. You should be able to get at least weeks worth of socks into one.

It also protects the other contents of you bag should something leak inside.

[rockriver]

Just added them before I seen your post. The bag is getting full and will have to up grade to a bigger one.

Thanks again.

[Blue Tengu]

The following link has a lot of information about building a "bug out bag"
http://www.captaindaves.com/dl-list/dl1-toc.htm

[Doczilla]

Actually, that reminds me, all of the stuff I mentioned can be stored in a single 1qt nalgene or polycarbonate widemouth bottle with plenty of room to spare. And you'll need the bottle for water purification.

'zilla

[adk]

Comes in different sizes. I have the medium. Waterproof, can be worn on the back. http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=CA&model=AAW1&language=en

[MADdog58]

I know this won't be earth shattering to anyone here, but I'll mention it just because in such complex planning often the lesser details can become obscured (it's the little things that kill you, no?):

Give serious consideration to where you store your evacuation bag(s). Part of a course I teach up here includes disaster preparedness and the 72 hour theory. It's amazing how often I hear that someone has stored an emergency bag in a damp basement, or in a scorching hot attic, atop a fridge (cooking the contents), or even stored it in their basement while living on a flood plain. Others have stored their bags in their "gear room" which is locked and their spouses/family can't access it.

After all of this effort goes into establishing an evacuation kit, ensure it is stored in the most operationally sound location, taking into consideration the most likely events to befall you and your family. I suggest disassembling, inspecting, and re-packing once every six months (I do it the same days I change my smoke alarm batteries).

Two final points, then I'm going back to hiding: 1) Ensure everyone knows how to use everything in the kit. 2) Don't underestimate the utility of the tinfoil blankets (have a true shelter option, but have these too, for many uses) and duct tape (wound on a tongue depressor or paint stir stick saves lots of room).

That's my two Canadian cents; their worth: determined by the markets today I suppose.

[rockriver]

Thanks for weighing in and my bags are in my closet. As I have been preparing them my wife has been with me at the same time so she will have a grasp as to what is in them. Been following the list on cpt daves and found alot of things I hadn't thought of yet.

Thanks again to all that have posted and your advice has been valuable.

[Doczilla]

I forgot to mention field hygiene. Bring a small bar of soap (like you get in a hotel) and/or some baby wipes.

'zilla

[Doczilla]

Oh, Hell no.

'zilla

[ussfpa]

Zulucharlie
Post some hairbrained backwoods medicinal remedy and try to pass it off as science once more and I will make certain you do not post again.
There may be folks who believe the snakeoil salesman, but the rest of the world comes to places like SOCNet for USEFUL information. Of which you have provided ZERO.
NOT a good first post. Your ice is thin...take heed.

PA