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Good, Better & Best Emergency Preparedness & Survival Essentials

Our customers often ask us for recommendations, particularly when it comes to the basics of emergency preparation. We believe that everyone can and should be adequately equipped to handle the unexpected, and that proper preparation can start with just a few essential items.
We offer a wide range of emergency supplies at various price points. Here's what should be on your list:

Drinking Water Preparation

Good:
Datrex Drinking Water Foil Pouches

Water is essential for life. When preparing for the worst, stock water first and foremost. Datrex drinking pouches contain just over four ounces of water per serving. Each portioned package of water has a five-year shelf life and is Coast Guard approved for safety. Keep these affordable water pouches in your home, car or cabin in the event that other sources of water are not available.

Better:
Water Purification Tablets

If water is available but isn't safe to drink, these affordable tablets are a must. Packaged drinking water will eventually run out in a large-scale disaster, and if you're preparing for the worst, make sure you stock these tablets to treat water when water treatment plants aren't.
These tablets are also pragmatic in camping and hiking scenarios where clean drinking water may become scarce. 
Treat up to 25 quarts of water against giardia and most other microorganisms.


Best:
Rain Collection Barrel

In an emergency, water may be difficult to come by. A true survivalist knows that using the resources that are naturally available are a best bet for long-term sustainability. If a disaster turns into a nationwide or a global crisis, running water will likely be an uncertain commodity. Collecting runoff in a barrel during a rainfall will allow you peace of mind during a crisis.
During a heavy rainfall, you'll be able to collect up to 600 gallons of water with the proper equipment. A functioning gutter or downspout will funnel water to your storage containers, while a filter on top keeps out leaves and debris. Keeping wildlife including birds and lizards out of your water will prevent collected water from becoming contaminated.

Fire Protection

Good:
ABC Fire Extinguisher

Every home should have one ABC fire extinguisher in every major room of the house, including the bedrooms and the kitchen. An ABC extinguisher can tackle all three classes of the most common household fires, which is important since only one class of fire can be tackled using water. Fires fueled by grease, gasoline or electrical equipment cannot and should not be quenched with water, making an ABC extinguisher the only safe solution.


An ABC extinguisher uses monoammonium phosphate, which won’t conduct electricity or scatter grease fires further. These fire extinguishers meet nationally recognized standards for safety and come with a 10-year warranty.



Better:
10-Year Ionization Smoke Alarm

In addition to a fire extinguisher, every home should have a functioning alarm system to help you and your family detect and escape fires before they burn out of control. An ionization smoke alarm is the most affordable smoke detector option on the market, and should be installed in every major room of the house.
First Alert's 10-year alarm contains a lithium battery that's designed to last 10 years without maintenance. Test your alarm once every six months to ensure it's functioning properly.


Best:
10-Year Photoelectric Smoke & Co2 Combination Alarm

Since most deaths from fires occur due to smoke inhalation, installing the right kind of smoke detector is of the utmost importance. A photoelectric fire alarm such as this First Alert alarm detects smoke using a light sensor. This means that when smoke particles scatter the light inside its chamber, an alarm immediately goes off.
Most homes contain ionization detectors, which are cheaper to install and therefore more popular. These types of detectors respond to smoke when particles disrupt the flow of ions in its chamber.
Both types of smoke alarms work well in high-heat, fast-flame fires, however, when it comes to the more common smouldering fires that produce the kind of smoke that kills, an ionization detector falls behind.
Keep your family safe day and night with a combination alert that sounds as soon as a danger is present.

Emergency Communication

Good:
NOAA Emergency Crank Radio with Flashlight

When other modes of communication fail, Midland’s hand-crank radio will allow you to stay up to date on important weather and emergency information in real time. This radio receives alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and can additionally be used to receive AM and FM radio signals.
To send messages, this radio offers a built in Morse Code beacon, which can be activated to flash a continuous SOS signal.


Better:
Midland Two-Way Radios - 22 Channel

These short-range walkie talkies can connect with other FRS or GMRS two-way radios via 22 channels. Use the channel scan to check for activity during an emergency, or communicate freely with your family or response team.
Each walkie talkie includes a rechargeable power pack. Four AAA batteries can be used to back up power for longer usage when traditional power sources aren't available.
Connect easily and effectively during all types of events. These walkie talkies remove background noise, offer call alerts and use a roger beep to maximize communication.

Best:
Midland GMRS 50 Channel Radios

Get even more out of your walkie talkie with these radios.
A clear battery indicator lets you know when you can talk freely and when it's time to conserve power. Each radio comes with one rechargeable battery pack, which can be backed up with four AA batteries. Each battery pack is designed to provide up to 12 hours of life.
With a clear communication range of up to 36 miles, these radios offer a safe and affordable solution for a wide range of applications. Each radio features 50 GMRS channels and 28 channels with pre-programmed privacy codes.
Keep up with weather alerts and important emergency news with the built in Weather Scan feature, which finds and broadcasts your nearest NOAA station.

Emergency Kits

Good:
1-Person Fanny Pack Kit

Stocking an emergency kit is a quick, easy and affordable way to take charge of your preparedness and planning. A fanny pack kit contains several convenient items that everyone should keep on hand.
This kit is designed to sustain one person for three days in the event of a sudden emergency. In addition to a 2,400-calorie food bar and 25 ounces of water, the kit also contains one emergency blanket and a range of first aid essentials such as alcohol wipes and non-aspirin pain killers.
Supplement this kit with additional water pouches to ensure you can stay adequately hydrated longer.


Better:
Individual Auto/Emergency Survival Kit

A more robust version of the fanny pack, this auto emergency kit contains everything that's already included in our basic pack, plus a few other extras. In addition, you'll get important essentials such as a flashlight and emergency radio. Everything is contained in a convenient nylon over-the-shoulder bag. Keep it in the trunk of your car in the event you'll become trapped or stranded. Supplement this kit with additional items such as jumper cables to complete your safety kit for the road.
Check out our road trip blog for a complete list of traveling tips.



Best:
1-Person Deluxe Emergency Survival Kit

This affordable pack contains everything you'll need for the first 72 hours of survival. Each Deluxe kit contains 3,600 calories and 76 ounces of clean drinking water. In addition to a variety of first aid products such as alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointments and bandages, this kit also contains waste bags, light sticks, rain gear, gloves, a utility knife and more. We've thought of everything when preparing this emergency kit for you.
The Deluxe kit includes everything you'll need to sustain one person for three days, from hydration to items for proper warmth and visibility. Stow it in your car, at home or at your desk at work.

Survivalist Gift Guide

6 Affordable Gifts for Survivalists

Paracord Bracelets

Paracord is the utility string with endless possibilities. This cord can be used to secure cargo, tie items together, fix broken straps or replace missing cordage. It’s great for assisting with rescues, securing animals, keeping shoes tied and so much more.
Each cord is made up of multiple interior strings which are surrounded by a tightly woven nylon sheath. In addition to using the entire utility cord, the strings inside can be removed and used when camping, fishing or in any situation where finer yarn-like string is required.
Paracord is extremely useful and versatile, making it a great gift for practically anyone, particularly hikers, campers and general outdoor enthusiasts.

The paracord bracelet is woven into a compact piece of safety gear that can be worn every day. When unraveled, the user is left with seven feet of 550 cord.
550 cord has a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds. This strength cord consists of seven to nine core yarns.
Try it together with the paracord dog collar for the perfect outdoor adventure stocking stuffer.


Streamlight Flashlights

Anyone can benefit from a good flashlight. Streamlight flashlights are known for offering superior

illumination and durability, which is why they're frequently used by emergency crews, police officers and firefighters. These flashlights are incredibly reliable, making them not only great for tactical purposes but also for everyday needs. A good flashlight is both a functional and thoughtful gift that will last for years.
Streamlight flashlights come in a range of sizes and offer multiple settings to help the user adjust the brightness quickly and easily. These versatile flashlights are great for campers and roadtrippers, as well as friends and family members who venture out for evening walks with the dog. Add a reflective safety vest for under $10 to complete this safety set.


Emergency Preparedness Kits

A good emergency kit is an irreplaceable piece of safety equipment. Whether you have kids in

college or you and your significant other enjoy extended road or camping trips, a well-thought-out safety kit is simply a must-have.
We carry a range of kits for various purposes. Our basic kits offer security of mind for everyday occurrences such as cuts and scrapes, while our larger kits are designed to support you in an emergency situation where you may be left without food or water for up to three days.

If you're feeling creative, we offer plenty of products to help you create your own emergency pack to give away. A simple Everest backpack provides an easy and affordable starting point to help you put a customized kit together.
Stock a camper's kit with glow sticks, an emergency blanket and a useful weather radio, or customize our road trip emergency kit with items like the ResQMe seatbelt cutter or an auto extinguisher.
Check out this blog post to get started finding the right ready-to-go pack today or for ideas to help you create your own.


Pocket Guides

These affordable pocket-sized guides are available for a wide range of scenarios, and everyone loves how easy they are to follow and digest. They’re great stocking stuffers for prospective first responders, individuals, parents and pet owners.
Each guide offers lots of valuable information in a small package that’s easy to follow and understand. Get instant access to all sorts of emergency procedures, from steps for treating minor scrapes and bruises to taking part in a safe evacuation. These guides are a wonderful idea for trained workers to keep on hand, or for anyone who loves equipping themselves with additional knowledge about preparedness.






Training Classes

There's nothing like a hands-on approach to learning. A training class provides a complete experienceeducational, and bestows upon the recipient the sort of confidence that's needed in an emergency scenario.
that's both fun and
Practice makes perfect. Just as it's important to review your home escape plan or your course for evacuation routinely, practicing CPR or First Aid skills regularly helps to cement ideas that make a behavior more automatic.

We regularly offer classes for first-timers or those wishing to refresh their First Aid and CPR knowledge, and frequently provide other hands-on courses to help build your survival and preparedness skills.


Gift Cards

Some people are harder to shop for than others. If you're not sure which products your recipient needs, wants or would enjoy the most, give a gift card. We carry a wide range of emergency products for civilians, emergency responders and more. Your recipient will thank you for your thoughtfulness.

The Earth Day Survivalist

Earth Day is here, ready to remind us of our obligation to the planet. For most of us, that goes about

as far as riding a bike or remembering to recycle; we are, after all, busy individuals with established routines.
But what if your routine was suddenly changed? We’ve all thought about the possibility, and many of us have taken at least some steps to begin planning for the event of a sudden emergency. From our go-bags to our CPR training, we’re fairly adequately equipped to brave a minor accident, a prolonged power outage or an evacuation.

At SOS Survival Products, we love that you’re as enthusiastic as we are to prepare yourselves and your families for the unknown. Today, we’d like to take preparation one step further by talking to you about survivalism. And because we can’t neglect Earth Day, today’s survivalist tips all have a positive environmental impact.

Water

You need it, and in an emergency it may be hard to come by. You might already be storing water for two or three days, but what happens if a major disaster turns into a nationwide or even global crisis? Living sustainably now is the best way to prepare you for an uncertain future, and water should naturally be your number one concern.

Collecting rainwater can be tricky business since it does have restrictions.
As early as the 1880s, states have been involved in personal water usage by placing constraints onto consumers. In 2012, 64-year old Oregon resident Gary Harrington was sentenced to 30 days in jail for collecting rain water.
Gary wasn’t collecting a few barrels of rainwater; more precisely, he collected about 20 Olympic swimming pools-worth. But just to be safe, check what your state has to say about collecting rainwater.
If you're permitted to or rebellious enough to start collecting your own water, it's simple.

Runoff can be collected anywhere, for example, from the roof of your house. How much water will
be created through runoff? That varies, but Garden Gate magazine estimates that it’s somewhere around 600 gallons of water within an hour of moderate rain fall. That’s a lot of manna from heaven.



In order to get your runoff into storage, you’ll need something like a gutter or downspout. In addition, your transport system needs a filter that'll trap debris like leaves which can clog your water highway.

Ensure your collection area, like a barrel, fits your transportation system securely so that insects, leaves or small animals like birds or lizards don't end up in your precious collection and contaminate your water.

SOS Survival products carries plenty of barrels including this rain collection barrel, designed to collect your runoff without any major setup requirements.

Storing your barrels on a bed of cinder blocks situated on some pea gravel will ensure that moisture doesn't get trapped under the barrel. Raising your barrel in this way will also create more pressure for spout openings, an excellent solution for gardening.

Collecting, storing and using rainwater for your personal use is a wonderful way to save water and prepare for the event of an emergency. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the average person uses 80-100 gallons of water a day! That number might sound astonishing, but consider all the ways in which we depend on water, from brushing our teeth to washing our laundry. Rainwater collection provides a sustainable avenue for water consumption and will ensure you aren't stranded without this vital resource in the event of a major catastrophe.

But what about using rain water for drinking, food preparation or bathing?

Rainwater looks clean and feels refreshing, but unless you live in remote areas, rainwater contains a variety of pollutants that include car exhaust, chemicals from runoff and various other things we don’t want you to think about while looking at this adorable image of a boy catching rain on his tongue.





One way to eliminate harmful contaminants from water is to boil it. Boiling water for one to three minutes kills viruses, bacteria and parasites.
Keep in mind that water that’s previously been boiled will not remain sterile in a non-sterile environment like a bucket or barrel. You can reuse boiled water, but if you intend to consume it, boil it again.

Another very easy way to stop contaminants is with a filter. Filters come in a variety of materials from ceramic and clay to carbon.
These types of filters work because they trap small particles that include harmful bacteria, protozoa, and microbes. Because of their small size, filters cannot trap viruses.

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Ceramic filters have been successfully in use since the early 1800s and continue to be used in many countries where water filtration isn't available. These filters are inexpensive and can even be manufactured at home with the use of some clay pots, cornhusks, tealeaves or coffee grounds.


RECYCLING

Depending on what your trips to the grocery store look like, your home might already be filled with materials that can be reused. From cans and bottles to old clothing, survivalists know how to repurpose.

Reusing what you have is a valuable skill, and one that gives our planet a chance to breathe. Although we encourage recycling because it greatly reduces waste in landfills and helps to conserve natural resources, it does not eliminate waste or pollution. Reusing is the only way to temporarily remove your carbon footprint, whether you're planting herbs in old coffee tins or washing the car with a favorite old shirt that simply couldn't be saved.


Aside from the practical applications, reusing can also be insanely fun. Check out these cool DIY projects created entirely from old materials you might otherwise toss in the bin!


GARDENING

You don't need a giant plot of land, expensive tools or a ton of know-how to begin gardening.

Start by growing herbs and vegetables for beginners such as dill, chives, rosemary, parsley, tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers, carrots, chard, lettuce, cabbage or peppers. Gardening books and websites are widely available to help you start on the journey toward home growing. In addition, consider that many of the plants we consider weeds are in fact edible.
These plants oftentimes provide valuable nutrients that may be hard to find otherwise.

No experience necessary, they’ll grow like, well, a weed.


Not really sure why you should grow your own?

Like livestock farming, food farming forces us to use a ton of valuable resources like fuel, land and water while contributing negatively to the environment and our health through the use of pesticides. Although our knowledge of farming has greatly increased since the days of the Dust Bowl, conventional farming methods haven't stopped top soil erosion and have lead to nutrient deficiencies and pesticide resistance. That means we're not only creating unusable land and super insects, we're also depriving ourselves of valuable nutrition that naturally occurs in fruits and veggies grown in rich soil.
If you can't grow enough food to sustain yourself and your family, we can't blame you. The average person needs about 2,000 calories per day to survive. That's a lot of parsley.

Supplement what you can grow on your own by taking a trip to your local farmer's market once a week or until you can find your own little plot of land to get started on. The foods you'll find there are grown sustainably without pesticides, and because they don't have to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to get to you, their carbon footprint remains minimal.






BIKES, BURPEES & BOX JUMPS

We don't all have the opportunity to ride our bike to work or school every day, but utilizing alternative modes of transportation whenever we can offers an enormous amount of benefits. Each time you ride your bike or walk, whether it's across town or to the corner store, you're saving natural resources and helping your body by conditioning your cardiovascular system. And that's important because, let's face it, a sedentary lifestyle isn't exactly conducive to survival.

Want to kick your survivalist skills into high gear? You've got plenty of company. Functional
intensity training continues to be a major workout trend all across the world, and with good reason. By using natural movements such as jumping and pulling, you're doing more than conditioning your glamour muscles. In addition, by exercising regularly, whether you use a high intensity interval program or a regular weight and cardiovascular combination, you're creating core strength, increased mobility, better cardiovascular health and the endurance necessary to survive disasters.



Did we miss something? We’d love to hear from you. Use the comment box below to share how you’re reducing your carbon footprint while becoming an expert survivalist.