18 Things You Need In Your Pet Emergency Survival Kit

When we’re making plans for worst case scenarios, we plan for ourselves and our human family members to ensure our safety. But what about our pets? If you’re like millions of Americans, you probably have a pet dog or cat (or several pets if you’re lucky). The bond you have with your pet is special and unique. No two pet/owner relationships are the same, just like no two human friendships are the same. Our pets are important members of our families. We may not be able to communicate in the same language, but they want to feel safe and secure too.

Fortunately, preparing your pet for an emergency is very similar to what you prepare for yourself, with a few modifications.

We’ve put together this guide to help you and your pet stay safe, and stay together, in an emergency.

Prepare a kit with these emergency supplies:

1. Food supply for 72 hours: Pets don't eat the same food as us. Human food can be poisonous to pets, and it doesn't give them the nutrients they need. It is important to have a kit where your pet can have food to keep it healthy.
2. Water supply for 72 hours: You won't always have access to clean water, so having water set aside in any kit is vital, and the same goes for your pet.
3. Food and water dishes: Sure, a pet can eat food off the floor, but what about water? It is important to have something that your pet can drink out of so they can stay hydrated.
4. First aid kit: Accidents happen. Your pet deserves to be taken care of, and this includes making sure that its injuries can be treated. Specific things in the kit?
5. Pet emergency guidebook: a guidebook specifically geared towards helping you know how to care and plan for your pets in the event of an emergency.
6. Medications: If your pet is on any medication, they will still need it when an emergency arises. Make sure that your pet emergency kit has all the medications they will need.
7. Collar and leash: Your pet is going to need to move around. If you don't have a leash, then when frightened, your pet may run away. Pet-friendly shelters will almost always require your pet to be on a leash.
8. Pet waste bags and/or litter box: Preventing the spread of bacteria and disease is one of the most important considerations during a disaster. All animals create waste, and it is important to clean up after your pet. Having a way to do that will help you maintain a clean shelter.
9. Emergency reflective blanket
10. A picture of your pet and you: Your pet might get lost or run away during the frightening emergency situation. Having a picture of your pet is a great idea, but it is even better if you are in the picture as well. This can be further proof to others that your pet belongs to you.
11. Records: Having documentation is important. Shelters may need a vaccination record and documentation that your pet does indeed belong to you. You may also consider having your pets chipped by your veterinarian. Having information on your pet can also help if you are sheltering your pet at a pet motel or with a friend.
12. Carrying case: When a pet gets frightened, it might be difficult to get them to safety. They might not walk on their own, and if you simply pick them up they might jump out of your arms. By having a carrier, you can eliminate these problems. In addition to this, the CDC advises that you get your pet familiar with the carrier ahead of time. This will help them understand that it is safe for them to be in.
13. Rope and stake: By having a rope and stake, your dog will be able to move around freely in a restricted area. This can help keep them at your camp, or wherever you may be, and still have a bit of freedom. This will also take the worry off your mind of keeping an eye on them, or always holding a leash.
14. Blanket: Having some comfort for your pet can make a huge difference when their world collapses. If you have to evacuate, this can hold a lot of security for them.
15. Treats: Helping your pet be at ease can make a huge difference for them. Adding treats to your emergency kit can help give your pet comfort and a reward for being good.
16. Toys: Giving your pet a little security can go a long way. By having toys it can help calm your pet when they are in a stressful environment. If you have small children, it can also help distract them as they play with their pet.
17. Whistle: There is a possibility that you will get lost, or your dog will. Dogs tend to react to whistles, and it can help them find you. If you and your dog are lost, it can help rescuers find both of you. Take some time to train your dog to come to the sound of the whistle
18. Bag to store and carry all items easily

You can use this list to build a pet emergency kit on your own, or use it as a guide to purchase a pre-built kit. Purchasing a pre-built kit will allow you to have more time to focus on other aspects of your emergency preparedness plan. You can see our line of pet emergency kits HERE.

For a FREE Pet Emergency Guide, follow the link below. In it you will have access to the information that was discussed here, as well as more in depth information on first aid, sheltering, and other ways to keep your pet safe. It also has places to write down documentation you may need, and a place for that picture of your pet and you.

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A Hurricane of Prizes: Giveaway for $780 in Gear!

June 1st marks the beginning of the 2016 hurricane season, and to help raise awareness we are teaming up with some great companies for a huge giveaway. This is our thank you to you, the customer. We've teamed up with LuminAid, LifeStraw, PrepareWise food storage, and PowerPractical for some really awesome products at a total retail value of over $750!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway goes from June 1st to June 15th. The winner, who will be picked randomly, will be announced June 16th. We will contact them via email.

Stealth Tactical Bug Out Bag X1
With all the tactical features and without the showy looks, you can wear this bag anywhere without people realizing you have a gun in your backpack. It has MOLLE straps around the edges, a hidden gun compartment, a stow away water proof cover, and to top it off it is hydration bladder compatible.

LuminAid PackLite 16 x2
Clip this on your backpack while you hike and by the end of the day you'll have a LED lantern with 30 hours of battery life. Not only that, this solar charged lantern is waterproof and floats, providing 65 lumens of bright light at full power. Using it's 4 settings, including emergency flashing, you'll have all the lantern you need. 

LifeStraw Go x1
The famous and trusted LifeStraw, an innovation in portable filtration, is now in bottle form. Simply fill your LifeStraw Go bottle with water and as you drink the internal filter cleans 99.9 percent of bacteria and protozoans.

MegaOne Meal Replacement Shake x6
A food storage solution in powder form, MegaOne meals taste great. It has 27 grams of plant-based proteins, 20 grams of fiber, and a host of super foods. As a plus, it's non-GMO, gluten free, and all natural.

Power Pot 5 x1
Its a pot that generates electricity while boiling water. Weighing in at only 14oz, and putting out 5 volts of charging power, the Power Pot 5 comes in handy while camping, hiking, or just during power outages. And in case you're worried, it charges your phone just as fast as at home!



Enter Contest Here

6 Things Your Bug-out Bag Didn't Come With

         If you had to bug-out of your home right now and survive for three days with nothing but your pre-assembled bug-out bag you bought online, could you do it?  Your answer may depend on WHY you are bugging-out and the location you are headed (WHERE).  It might change based on WHO's going with you and WHEN (time of day & season) too.  Whatever the circumstance, if your answer leans towards "No," chances are good that you either don't know what's in the kit or you know the kit doesn't quite cover all of your needs.  In both cases (and even for those who answered yes), it would be wise to assess the contents of your bug-out bag before you take on a real bug-out situation.  The following are just a few things that your kit probably didn't come with that you should consider adding:


1.  Shoes and a Change of Clothes

I don't know about you, but disasters and emergencies have always happened to me when it's least convenient. Who's to say that it won't happen when you're in bed or taking a shower or even going to the bathroom?  An emergency is no time to be caught under-dressed!  Always have a pair of shoes and a change of clothes in your bag, so you are ready even in the most untimely circumstances.  You never know what kind of terrain you will be walking on or how far you would be traveling when you bug-out, so be sure to choose a sturdy pair of shoes/boots that are broken in and comfortable.

How to Build your Survival Kit for Beginners- 8 Commonly Overlooked Items

Emergencies are often survival situations- you get lost in the woods, you have to bug out to the forest, etc. Small survival kits are valuable for these scenarios, especially since you can take them anywhere. There are tons of survival websites that teach you what to put in a survival kit- a knife, rope, water purification, matches, lighters, flashlights, etc. However, a lot of them only cover these few things. I came up with a list of some small yet overlooked things that you should put in your kit. The cost-return is big on these, because they hardly take any space but they can save your life.

Why I Love Survival

Growing up I went on Boy Scout campouts every month. It was always the normal camping trip with a tent, fire, lots of candy, etc. It was nothing close to “surviving.” However, what was unique was that my scoutmaster, a professional at primitive survival techniques, taught us some of what he knew, like how to start a fire with a bow drill, how to use rope and wood to make a 20 foot tower, and how to throw an atlatl. Luckily I’ve never had to use any of this knowledge, but it keeps me at peace knowing I could if I had to. Okay, the atlatl might not be practical, but hey it’s pretty awesome.

 The Nitty Gritty

I’m about to give you a list of items that are easy to pack in any emergency survival kit but that don’t usually get included. Let me explain one thing before I start, though. If you don’t know how to use a tool then it’s useless. No matter how good your survival kit is, knowledge is priority number one. Get some knowledge so you can feel confident and actually survive in any situation. Learn to tie knots, to use a fire bow, to build a shelter, purify water, etc.

Okay, we’ve arrived at the list! Take notes and include these in your survival bags, you’ll be happy you did. 

8 Commonly Overlooked Items to Include in your Survival Kit

GI Joe Can Opener- This is a small but handy tool for opening cans. Chuck it in the bottom of your bag and it may come to good use some day. If not, it’s not like it's going to weigh you down or take up space.

• Strobe Light- Let’s say you’re lost in the wilderness and you go to bed. What if a helicopter were to fly over? A flashlight only points in one direction, and if you’re asleep you can’t aim it at them. Strobe lights shine in all directions, so if you have one just turn it on before you go to bed and you’re set.
• Extra Batteries- This is self-explanatory. Don’t get caught in the dark!
• 55 Gallon Trash Bag- You can use this as a poncho, tarp, or stuff it with leaves and make some bedding. It weighs next to nothing, and takes up little space.

Courtesy of www.outdoorsafe.com/read/

• Duct Tape- Rather than carrying a whole roll wrap some duct tape around your lighter, flashlight, or other round object. Use it with gauze as a bandage, make a spear out of it with your knife, or reseal packages of food or bags of water. We all know duct tape fixes everything!
• Brightly Colored Vinyl Poncho- If you are putting a trash bag in your kit, make it an orange one and you can skip this. If you don’t have an orange one or you want extra protection, it’s not a bad idea to also include a brightly colored poncho. Vinyl is best since it's more durable. Like the strobe light this is another tool for signaling a search party, but this one will actually work in daylight.
• Redundant Fire Starting Tools- You will need more than just matches in a survival situation. You can buy ferro rods, they produce extremely hot sparks and are small. You can also use a 9 volt battery and steel wool to get some hot embers. If you bring para-cord (which I hope you haven’t overlooked) you can use it for a bow drill. The options are endless, so just make sure to include multiple ways to start a fire, just in case.

Courtesy of www.preparedforthat.com

• Whistle- With the poncho and strobe light you have visual emergency signals for day and night. However, It’s also useful to have an audible emergency signal like a whistle, especially since they take up no room at all in your pack. If you want a whistle, compass, and waterproof match carrier all in one, those are great options.

So there you have it. I hope there’s something there that you didn’t already have. If you have already thought of these 8 things then way to be! You’re well prepared.

Now, please share your ideas in the comments! What other things can you think of that are commonly overlooked?

Urban Survival Bug Out Bag – A pack that’s got your back

     Disasters tend to bring out the best in people.  Kindness, generosity, and goodwill are all easily found when people selflessly give of what they have to help those in need.  Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.  Stress, fatigue, and fear of the unknown play a large role in prompting people to do things that they normally would not do.  And this human element is as much an issue as the disaster itself and it is more so in crowded areas.  The Census Bureau reports that urban areas account for more than 80 percent of the U.S. population and growing.  As more people choose to live in crowded areas, the need to consider other people becomes a larger aspect that needs close attention as they prepare. 

     

     Urban Survival Bug out Bag was designed with this challenge in mind.  The contents fit inside a black and charcoal backpack with no logo to indicate that it is an emergency kit.  It is intended to look like a normal backpack to help you blend in and not draw unwanted attention to you and your supply.  Inside the kit is a well thought-out assortment of survival items.  They are meant for two people to survive for 72 hours or one person for 144 hours.  The food and water included in the kit are U.S. Coast Guard approved with a 5 year shelf life, which are followed by important items for shelter, first aid, water purification, hygiene, as well as light and communication.  With all of the items included, the pack weighs only 15 pounds.  Simply stated, Urban Survival Bug out Bag really is a pack that’s got your back!