Car Earthquake Kits [What to Put in Them]
It can be extremely helpful to have an earthquake kit. Driving to work or while on the road, getting stuck can be a hassle. During an emergency, you might be stuck at work or on the road for long periods. You’ll be glad when you have prepared an emergency pack and have the medical supplies, food, and water that you need.
Having an earthquake car kit with food, clothing, and medical supplies is needed when you get stranded in your car. A big earthquake (or other natural disasters) can strand you somewhere for several days. Being prepared is essential for comfort and safety.
Here’s what is recommended for a 24 or 72-hour car kit.
| 24-HOUR CAR KIT | 72-HOUR CAR KIT |
|---|---|
| 24-HOUR CAR KIT Essentials Water – 2 Water pouches up to 1 gal. Food – 2400 Calorie Food bar (3 days) Emergency Mylar blanket Emergency radio Prescription medicine USB battery pack (to charge a phone, etc.) Phone light or headlamp First aid kit Duct tape Rain Poncho Work Gloves Helpful To Have Fire Extinguisher Flashlight Batteries Masks Glasses (reading / prescription) Matches Cards | 72-HOUR CAR KIT Essentials Water – 6 Water pouches up to 3 gals. Food – 2400 – 3600 Calorie Food bar (3 days) Emergency Mylar blanket Toiletries – Toilet paper, plastic bags, twist ties, feminine hygiene, Emergency radio Prescription medicine USB battery pack (to charge a phone, etc.) Phone light or headlamp First aid kit Duct tape Rain Poncho Work Gloves Helpful To Have Change of clothing and blanket Emergency Whistle Cash Plastic sheet or tube tent Paper and pencil Fire Extinguisher Flashlight Batteries Masks Glasses (reading / prescription) Matches Cards Knife Rope Whistle Tools to fix a car |
You should build a custom kit to fit your needs, but here is a list of some of the kits that can help you get started. If you’re hurt or stranded, these kits will be essential. Each kit can meet different needs depending on the size of your family or personal needs.
Go to Ready.Gov for additional ideas on how to stay safe while you are in your car or at work.
Here are some kits that you can get on Amazon.com that may be helpful.
| Product |
Image |
|---|---|
| 174 Pcs First Aid Kit Survival Kit (AD) |   |
| Complete Earthquake Bag (AD) | |
| Everlit 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit (AD) | |
| Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit (AD) | |
| 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe (AD) | See Available in Article Below |
What is an Earthquake Kit?
When you need anything from a bandage to an emergency blanket, an earthquake kit can help. It can give you the medical necessities, food, and water so you can survive up to 72 hours by yourself, depending on the kit you buy.
If you decide to get a medical kit by itself, then you can provide food and water yourself. This can help you get the kind of food and possibly sweets to help get you through the time you are stuck or stranded. Make sure you have plenty of water because sugary drinks can actually cause more dehydration.
Some kits will include food and water, so decide what works best for you so you can get through an emergency situation.
Why do I need it?
A lot of people either have small, medium, or large emergencies while in their car or at work. People get stuck on the road for hours or longer. Having supplies is helpful in these situations.
During an earthquake, you may not have help from anyone for a while. You can help yourself and others with the supplies from your car.
Top Picks for the Best Earthquake Kit
If you don’t know what to pick for an earthquake kit, I have selected 5 kits that can be tailored to meet your needs. These kits are rated well and can provide basic supplies to a wider array of supplies for the different situations you may find yourself in.
Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but getting a kit will bring a measure of peace of mind and relief when you really need it.
1. 174 Pcs First Aid Survival Kit
If your looking for a basic First Aid Kit this kit could be the one for you. Everything comes in a compact case and there are plenty of tools and bandages to help you get your need met.
The first aid book included can helpful information you with medical instructions, and the included tools will help you when find yourself camping or stuck somewhere overnight.
When I’ve used my first aid kit, I’ve been grateful for all the bandages because those are what I tend to use the most. Once in a while, I’ll need the alcohol prep pads that come in handy for cleaning dirty hands and small cuts. I like that this kit has a knife, compass, whistle, multi-tool card, fire starter, and whistle because these all can come in handy in different situations.
Pros:
- Plenty of simple first aid supplies
- Some good tools for emergency situations
- An emergency blanket for cold or shock
- Nice case
Cons:
- Some items are less useful and may not function well
- Small kit and may not include all the things you need
2. Complete Earthquake Bag
This kit is meant to help one person out for about 72 in case of an emergency. The 3600-calorie food ration can last 72 hours and the 12 water packets can give you hydration during this period. Everything fits nicely in this higher-quality backpack than others I’ve seen.
This pack is good for a real emergency situation. I have some items that will help when you need to be out of the home or stuck somewhere for a while. The flashlight, food, and weather protection are the things I would definitely want in an emergency.
After an earthquake, it is helpful to have gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. This kit can help someone after an earthquake stays more comfortable and get through it with some basic needs met.
Pros:
- 72 hr kit (3 days) with food and water
- Weather protection
- Nice backpack
- After earthquake supplies
Cons:
- A first aid kit could be better
- Gloves could be nicer
3. Everlit 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit
This kit is meant to help in case of medical needs or emergencies. It also contains tools if you need to use them when camping, hiking, or after an earthquake. Everything fits in the higher quality 600D water-resistant nylon bag.
This pack is good to keep in the car for small and some bigger types of injury. emergency situation. It has some items that will help when you need to be out of the home or stuck somewhere for a while. The flashlight, knife, fire starter, paracord bracelet, and whistle can come in very handy when you are in a tight spot.
After an earthquake, it is helpful to have some basic supplies to add to take care of some basic needs. You might find it useful during hiking and camping activities as well.
Pros:
- Great compact bag to hold everything
- Lots of first aid supplies
- Some very useful tools to help in various situations
- Mylar blanket and rain poncho to protect against weather
Cons:
- The scissors and tweezers may not function too well
- No first aid booklet
4. Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit
This kit is meant to help in case of medical needs or emergencies. This is a very basic kit intended for small or minor injuries. This would be a good addition to an earthquake kit that you are building for your car.
This pack is helpful when trying to treat smaller scrapes and cuts. You can use the alcohol wipes, put on antibiotic ointment, and then either a bandage or gauze to protect the wound.
It has a first aid guide to help with basic first aid information and can give a bit of reassurance for treating smaller injuries. After an earthquake, this kit can help by giving a bit more comfort to those who need treatment and protection for wounds.
Pros:
- 100 items in the kit
- Well organized container
- Covers cleaning and protecting wounds
Cons:
- May not be able to treat larger wounds
- Could use fewer bandages and other supplies like tweezers
5. Four Person Survival Kit Deluxe
AD
This kit is meant to help 4 people for about 72 in the case of an emergency. The 2400-calorie food ration can last 72 hours and the 24 water packets can give you hydration during this period. Everything fits in the duffel bag that may fit in the trunk of some car.
This pack is good for a real emergency situation. It covers the basic needs of food, shelter (tube tent, poncho, emergency blanket), and medical supplies.
If you’re stuck somewhere for a while this kit can be very useful to meet some of your basic needs and comforts. After an earthquake, it is helpful to have these basics including gloves, flashlights, and dust masks included. I like that this kit has many extras to help in some typical earthquake situations you might find yourself in.
Pros:
- Large enough to help 4 people for 72 hours
- Comes in a backpack with many emergency preparedness items
- Covers all the basics: food, shelter, and medical
Cons:
- 2400 calorie food ration could be upgraded to the 3600 calorie ration
- First Aid kit could be better
Types of Earthquake Kits
There are some earthquake kits you can put together yourself or you can buy a complete kit that includes most of what you need. You can buy just the medical supplies or a complete kit with everything included. Sometimes you can put together a kit that is higher quality with everything you need for just about the same price as
Things to Consider When Buying an Earthquake kit
- Medical: An earthquake kit should have medical supplies for small and large injuries. It should include all the medicine that you normally take or might need during an extended period away from home.
- Food: An earthquake kit should have a food supply that will last for 72 hours or 3 days. Normally they include food ration bars that contain all the calories you need, in a compact size. You should have plenty of water. Most kits include water packets, and you can try picking up a water filtration system to help purify water when needed.
- Shelter: It’s important to have a place to sleep outside of the house if needed. A tube tent or large emergency Mylar blanket can server to provide shelter for sleeping and rain. A poncho is also important to have.
- Warmth: Along with shelter keeping warm is important. A Mylar emergency blanket or sleeping bag will help you warm up during a cold night. A fire starter can help you start a fire for warmth when in camping or when you have firewood available. Some people pack extra clothing in their earthquake kit.
- Tools: You should have some tools to help during an earthquake. A crowbar can help you pry open doors, a knife to cut ropes for tents, a whistle to alert if you are trapped, a rope for hanging things and tying things up, a flashlight to help see in the dark, gloves to move things around that may have fallen, and anything else that can be helpful such as dust masks.
Earthquake Kit – More Ideas
When choosing an earthquake kit for your car, here are more ideas to consider:
- Radio: To get the latest news and weather, radio is important, especially in an emergency.
- Sanitation needs: To use the restroom it is helpful to have bags you can use when using to keep things sanitary. When going number 1 no bag is needed, but for female sanitary products and human waste, a bag will keep things sanitary and smell-free. Trash bags will be helpful for trash and keeping things sanitary.
- Tools: Having tools for your car to fix simple problems. Duct tape is helpful, along with a wrench and screwdrivers.
- Cell Phone: A cell phone can really be a helpful tool. You might opt to keep a power bank or solar charger for your phone in your car.
- Extra glasses, medicines, cash: Having supplies that you would normally use on a daily basis can be very helpful.
- Books and games: We Keep ourselves thinking positive and engaged in activities that keep things in a good mood.
- Fire Extinguisher: A fire extinguisher might be useful during emergencies.
Conclusion
An earthquake can have a real effect on your life. Being prepared with a kit will help you get through it with less stress and better deal with the aftermath.
Be prepared to help yourself and others by organizing an earthquake kit. You’ll be glad during an emergency or earthquake for the preparation you’ve made.
Don’t forget to update the items in your kit, especially food items, when they go bad or no longer function well.
