FIELD & RESERVE / PREPAREDNESS GUIDES
UK 72-hour emergency kit checklist
Start with your cupboards. Add what your household actually needs.
A three-day plan is a useful household starting point. Build it gradually; you may already own much of what you need.
Check these essentials
Drinking water; food that keeps without a fridge and can be eaten without cooking; a tin opener; a torch and spare batteries; warm layers and blankets; a charged phone power bank; a battery or wind-up radio; hygiene supplies; first aid items; essential medication; paper contact numbers; important documents; and a little cash. Include baby and pet supplies where needed.
The government checklist recommends 3 litres of drinking water per person per day. For three days, multiply the number of people by 9 litres. Cooking and washing need additional water.
Make it yours
Write three short lists: what you have, what is missing and what needs checking. Keep the essentials accessible and tell your household where to find them. Review dates and changing needs every six months.
Based on the UK Government’s Be Ready household checklist. Checked 9 November 2026.