Are You Traveling for a Camping Vacation? Here is How to Prep Your Camping Disaster Kit
Getting a camping disaster kit together is not hard work. Really! I used to think it was until I had to customize my own after learning that the store-bought ones are not as good as they claim. Really, it just means having to add more stuff! Some time back, we posted information about the importance of a camping emergency kit when traveling, which you can find on our website.
We agreed on then and still believe that no matter how much water you carry when you are going on a hiking or camping vacation, you can never carry enough. These are very thirsty activities, and you need all the water that you can get. But more about portable water filters later…
But I guess some praise is in order—after all, at least you have an emergency kit. Way to go! But wait a minute now … what is in your disaster kit? Does it have every essential item that you may require in the face of a disaster? Well, maybe, maybe not.
The most important thing to consider
Before you embark on that camping vacation, you must always get your disaster kit ready. Another essential thing to bear in mind while doing so is that you could get stranded in the middle of nowhere. Include things like matchboxes and lighters, a blanket, a couple of good string knives, and basically, anything else that you can think of that would be helpful.
YOU MUST NOT forget to include a water filter bottle. Germs, bacteria, and viruses have no respect for anyone!
Can you carry additional items in your emergency kit? Yes, of course, you can! But only the most essential items so that you do not make the kit too heavy. Remember, in case of a disaster, and you may have to evacuate fast. Include things like:
- Fire extinguisher
- Feminine sanitary supplies
- Pencils and paper
- A change of clothes – long cargo pants and long-sleeved jackets and shirts are much better for protection against insects
- Chlorine bleach can be dissolved and used for disinfecting
- Are some of the items required
I repeat, the store-bought disaster kit is just so basic. You need to add more stuff to it. You may need more bandages, more rations of dry food, and so on. However, the most important thing is water. You can survive days without food, but a severe lack of water can kill you in a matter of hours. Therefore, we advocate that you ensure your emergency kit has enough water.
But how much water is enough?
Everyone would have the same concerns about emergency water supplies.
Water is bulky, and you can only carry so much – read that to mean a few bottles. Most people recommend having a gallon of water per person every day with a three-day supply in case of emergencies. However, you know very well that in extreme disasters like the Nepal earthquake or Hurricane Katrina, help could take more than three days. Therefore, you need more water!
Customize your disaster kit when traveling. Do some research to learn more about the area you are traveling to.
- If you are going to a dry area, then you may need to carry more water or a means to purify more water.
- If you are going to a cold place, you will need to carry more blankets and heavier clothes to keep warm.
- If you are going to a third-world or developing country, you will need to carry a portable water filter to filter even the store-bought mineral water.
- Find out some disease history of the place you want to visit. Is E.coli prevalent? Montezuma’s revenge? What about Bali Belly?
Why you may not need to pack water in the camping disaster kit
That’s right – you may not need to pack water in your disaster kit if you order the SureAqua bottle, which is more than just a water bottle; it is a water filter too.
The water filter is a means to filter as much water as you like, meaning that space, where you would have packed three gallons of water for three days, can be used for more dry rations or an extra blanket for warmth.’
Why carry water when you can carry the means to purify your own water?
It makes more sense to leave as much room as possible for most of the other stuff like food, clothing, and first aid supplies rather than take a lot of water in the disaster kit when you can carry a water filter and purify water wherever you go. That way, you are not only assured of having fresh and clean water all the time, but also you know that you will not run out of water any time soon.
Who needs a disaster kit?
It does not matter whether you live in the most serene place on Earth because the unthinkable could happen at any time. Thus, irrespective of where you live, you will need to have a survival kit ready all the time and with all the essential items to cope with a disaster.
One emergency kit for the entire family is not enough! You need to ensure that every family member has his or her own survival kit and his or her own water bottle filter. Who says that during an emergency, you will all manage to stay together? You have heard of people who were separated during manmade or natural calamities, only to reconnect much later.
In addition to having a survival kit for every family member, you also need to perform drills with the kids to show them what they should do in case of an emergency. The most important thing, however, is to teach them how to purify their water before drinking. That way, you will have given them skills that they can employ for the rest of their lives!
Always have the kits ready all the time if you have to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Do not pack too much into it; keep it light enough if you have to carry it while running. Remember, the kids’ survival kits have to be smaller, so look for what is recommended for their given ages in the store. There is a survival kit for everyone.
If you are traveling out of your country to go for a hiking or camping vacation, you should carry your disaster kit. If you are traveling in your own country, you should also be sure to carry your kit. Inside this kit, ensure that there is enough water or a means to get more water if you need it.
Bacteria like E. coli, viruses, and protozoa thrive in large numbers when the conditions are right, mostly during disasters. Thus, the chances of contracting such are very high when you are caught up in a disaster either in your country or in a foreign country. That is the reason why you need to include a pure water filter in your kit. In fact, this portable water filter should travel with you, even when you are traveling or business. So it should not be reserved for emergencies only.
“A seasoned outdoors lover, I know the importance of a disaster kit and plenty of clean and healthy water.”
A few essential tips for your disaster kit
- Get ideas from several places. You never know what you might be missing in your kit.
- Try to build up your own kit rather than buying a readymade one in the stores as they may not have enough items.
- Don’t be tempted to pack a little of everything. Pack what is recommended by experts. This includes three days food supply, three days water supply, a portable water filter, flashlights, a first-aid kit, a blanket for warmth, and so on.
- The recommended three-day water supply is not enough! It would help if you carried a means to purify your own water. Pack a filtered water bottle. You will never regret it.
- Always keep your emergency kit in a place where you can reach it fast.
- Do not keep the water, food rations, and medical supplies too long in the disaster kit. Replace the supplies with fresh ones every so often. That way, you know that nothing is about to expire.
Finally wrapping this Camping Disaster Kit article
Now you know the importance of having a disaster kit when traveling for a hiking or camping vacation. But that is not the only time that you should have your emergency kit. You need one on standby all the time, even at home. Order your best water filter bottle here.
