72 Hour Kit in 8 weeks or less
We had a family home evening the other week and used this for the lesson. We ate MRE's for dinner as a test to see which were nasty and which were O.K. I purchased them from Emergency Essentials in Salt Lake. You can also buy off their website www.beprepared.com
Our results are:
These are O.K., not wonderful but good enough that we would use them:
- Entree-Beef Stew
- Entree-Chicken Salsa
- Drink Mix-Sugar Free Raspberry
- Fudge Brownie with Chocolate Chips
- Dessert Lemon Poppyseed Cake
- Spiced Apple Slices
- Mexican Macaroni & Cheese
We used a MRE heater to heat up one. These are very nice to use since all you need is a few ounces of water and it can heat up your entree. They cost around a dollar each so we only tested one. To heat up the others we used a camping stove to boil some water in a pot with the MRE packets. Here is some information on the MRE heaters in case you are not familiar with them.
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Zesto-Therm's Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) is a patented water-activated and environmentally friendly heater. It is especially designed for the U.S. Army to heat a soldier's individual eight ounce Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE) field ration - like the Milspec MRE.
Since 1990, Zesto-Therm has made over 100 million Flameless Ration Heaters.
An FRH heats food without the need for fire - safely and quickly. FRH food heaters are used easily in situations where fire is prohibited or not recommended. The FRH is ideal for soldiers in the fields, campers, hunters, boaters or anyone interested in emergency preparedness.
An FRH MRE heater is small (measuring 5 1/2 inches long x 4 1/2 inches wide and about 3/8 inch thick), and weighs about one and a half ounces.
Zesto-Therm FRH MRE heaters are easy to store and have a five year shelf life.
Spent pads are easily disposed, with no toxic materials. The FRHs are made from powdered food grade iron, magnesium, and sodium.
Each FRH is individually packaged in a sturdy, leak- proof polybag which serves as the heating container for the MRE. The polybag measures 5 3/4 inches wide by 14 1/4 inches long.
Simply cut open the top of the FRH polybag sleeve, Place the MRE food portion inside the bag next to the heater. Add plain water to the "Fill Line", and fold the open end of the bag.
In just 12 minutes - enjoy a hot meal anytime, anyplace.
WARNING
1. Vapors released by activated heater contain hydrogen, a flammable gas. Do not place an open flame in the vapor.
2. Vapors released by activated heater can displace oxygen.
3. Hot water leakage can burn and cause a cold- weather injury.
4. After heating, the heater bag and MRE pouch will be very hot. Use caution when removing MRE pouch from bag.
5. Discard heater and bag after use. Do not drink the water remaining in the bag or use it in food items.
HEATER AND ITS BYPRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FROZEN MRE
- Use two heaters: one to thaw, one to heat.
- To thaw frozen MRE: Follow instructions below except, add water to bag before adding MRE. When heater begins to feel warm, add MRE to bag.
- To heat thawed MRE: Follow instructions below.
- In cold weather, heater can be placed in BDU pocket to heat MRE. Make sure folded end of bag is up to prevent water from leaking out.
1. Remove MRE pouch from carton and save carton.
2. Tear off top of bag. Place MRE pouch in bag with heater.
3. While holding MRE pouch and heater above lines on bag, pour water into bag until it reaches a level between lines. Slide heater and MRE to bottom of bag, and fold top of bag to side opposite heater.
4. With heater UNDERNEATH MRE, hold bag level for a minute to let heater soak up water.
5. Stuff assembly into carton with top of bag folded over top of MRE and heater underneath.
6. To prevent water from escaping and to maximize heat output, always keep:
- HEATER located UNDERNEATH MRE;
- BAG folded OVER TOP of MRE; and
- CARTON INCLINED, with FOLDED END of bag UP.
After ten to fifteen minutes (depending on air temperature) top half of bag can be torn off and the MRE can be removed and eaten.
Knead MRE to ensure uniform temperature. CAUTION: The contents will be hot.
[Thanks to Survival Instinct for the FRH graphics/info]
This Heater information was taken from http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/frh.html
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Here is the 72 Hour Kit Article:
EMERGENCY 72 HOUR SURVIVAL KIT
The purpose of a survival kit is to enable your family to have the essential needs while staying in an emergency shelter or while you are away from your home. There are no assurances that there will be food, drinking water, first aid supplies, clothing, or other items available following a disaster. You must assume there will be no water, electricity, heating, air, sanitation, or telephone facilities (cell phones may also be down if towers are affected).
Your kit should enable your family to survive as comfortably as possible for at least 72 hours. Your entire kit should be able to be carried by hand by one or at most two family members. The important point is portability, not inclusion of all items to meet every possible need.
Remember to tailor your kit to your family needs. There is no universal list of mandatory, recommended, or discouraged items. If your family cannot live without something for 72 hours, put it in the kit. Once you have the basic essentials, you can keep adding the comfort items until you run out of room.
Keep your kit in a suitcase or other container that any member of your family can pick up and carry. Be sure to keep the kit handy to the door or even in your car trunk. You may need to pick it up and run on a moment’s notice.
The following are suggestions of how to prepare a 72-hour kit in eight weeks. The plan is broken down in a weekly format to assure affordability. Please note that food items should be easy to open without the aid of can openers (cans make kits heavier) and can be used without the aid of electricity. They now manufacture meats in plastic pouches (Tuna, Tyson chicken) and cans with pull tops (Vienna sausage). These are items even small children can open.
Remember, the purchases of these items weekly are only suggestions. If Week Two purchases work better for you during Week Four, then modify the plan accordingly. The only item required in Week One is something to put your kit in. You may start out with your kit in a garbage bag and in Week Three purchase a backpack/suitcase. The important thing is to START your 72 Hour Kits NOW. Also, check around your home for alternative containers. Old school backpacks work great for the children.
WEEK ONE
• Container – This can be a small suitcase, backpack, or large garbage bag.
• Add 2-3 Food items (breakfast-bars, peanut butter, melba toast).
• Small Ziploc bag with 4 quarters - for use in vending machines.
• $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
WEEK TWO
• Change of Clothing – suggested surgical scrubs, or elastic waist jogging suit, change of underwear, diapers, and feminine needs. (Just a little side note- surgical scrubs have a drawstring at waist and are great for adults whose weight could change or sisters that are in their childbearing years.
• Sewing kit can be purchased or make your own by placing thread, needles, small scissors, and buttons in a zip lock bag – Mom/Dad’s pack.
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
WEEK THREE
• Add 2-3 Food items (granola bars, tuna, small cup of fruit).
• Bar of soap, wash cloth, hand towel, in a gallon plastic bag.
• 1 gallon of water (note: Emergency Essentials sells 8oz packets of water that is easier and lighter to carry. They sell them in a case of 64 and the cost is less than $20.)
• Flashlight w/batteries in Ziploc bag. (Might consider solar, wind up or pump up flashlights)
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
WEEK FOUR
• Blanket or sleeping bag.
• Add 2-3 Food items (power bars, raisins, chocolate bars, Vienna sausage).
• Toilet paper, wet ones, and hand sanitizer.
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
WEEK FIVE
• Radio - solar, wind up, or battery operated. If battery operated, be sure batteries are stored in Ziploc bag. This is in Mom and Dad’s packs only.
• Pocketknife, swiss army knife, or leatherman. This is another item to be packed in Mom and Dad’s pack only for safety reasons.
• Matches in small zip-lock bag, Mom and Dad only.
• Toothpaste and toothbrush.
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag
WEEK SIX
• Emergency tool kit (pliers, screwdrivers) in Mom/Dad’s pack.
• Kleenex in pocket packs.
• Paper and pen.
• One garbage bag.
• Roster for each kit with names, addresses, and phone numbers of remote family members and all personal cell phone numbers. This is especially needed in children’s packs in case of separation. Note: you may want to include this in school backpacks in case emergency happens while children are at school and relocated.
• A meeting place should be included on this roster in case of separation.
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
WEEK SEVEN
• A gallon ziplock bag with paper plates, napkins, utensils, and straws.
• First aid kit, this can be purchased or made –Mom/Dad’s pack only.
• Insect repellant (suggested wipes or pump sprays, not aerosol).
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
*First aid kits should have the following items:
• Essential medications. (i.e. Prescription Medication, or any special over the counter medication for children or adults.)
• Pain killers - i.e. Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and if you have children remember to include Children’s Pain Killers.
• Alcohol pads and anti-bacterial hand cleaner
• Band aids (Assorted Sizes)
• Tweezers
• Non-latex gloves
• Antibiotic ointment
• Anti-diarrhea Medications
WEEK EIGHT
• Poncho or large plastic garbage bag.
• Scriptures for Mom and Dad’s pack.
• Games or books one for each child, you may want to pack travel games and card games such as UNO, Skip Bo, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, etc…
• Consecrated oil in both Mom and Dad’s pack only.
• Add 4 quarters to your Ziploc bag.
• Add $10.00 to mom and dad’s small Ziploc bag.
*Infant and Toddler Needs:
If you have a baby you will need to add extra things such as diapers, formula, baby food, extra changes of clothing, etc. **You may need to set your date to change/update all baby items every 2-3 months instead of every 6 months since babies sizes/needs will change rapidly the first two-three years of their life (i.e. Diaper sizes, formula to milk/baby food, juices, etc.) Remember if the formula is not premixed you will need more water than usual for the baby formula to be made and if it is premixed you will need to have some kind of can opener included in your pack.
Suggestions and Tips:
1. Don’t forget to bring your cell phone and a charger for your car would be useful since the electricity may be out where you are staying.
2. Check your stores bargain areas for such items as soaps, toothpaste and toothbrushes, Kleenex, wet ones, hand sanitizers, pain killers, band aids, etc… can be purchased for less than $1.00.
3. It is a good idea to check expiration dates and replace stored food and water as required every six months. To make it easier to remember, we would suggest you do this during General Conference (April/October).
4. We would also suggest that you use a permanent marker and put the expiration date somewhere visible on the food/water and if no expiration date is listed on the item to mark the date you purchased it. Some items last for several years and don’t need to be changed every six months (tuna & chicken in pouches bought 2004 have an expiration date of 2007, but peanut butter crackers have a shorter shelf life).
5. Review your 72-hour kit every year - checking clothing sizes for children and yourself; changing any games or books for children; etc…
6. Review your kit and make sure that you have everything your family will need. If there is something a family member cannot do without – Add it.
Brothers and Sisters, if you follow this plan you will have an emergency kit in eight weeks. We ask that you implement this plan on a ward level. The
Bishop should spearhead this effort and report back to the Stake Presidency.
Remember, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” D&C 38:30
posted by Brian Ekstrom at
6:13 PM
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