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the college students 72 hour kit

so I’m in a public management class with the title disaster management. We talk a lot about hazards and disasters and what we can do to prepare. Well today, we went over the ever popular 72 hour kits, and I got the bug. I thought about it, after seeing it right in front of me, and thought I could do this on a college students budget. So a quick assessment of my assets showed I had a few things around the apartment, but most would have to be acquired from the local foodland and so it was. I headed out with a budget of $30 bones to see how I did, and I think we did pretty darn good.

Here’s what I picked up for the 72 hour kit, specifically for Laie Hawaii college students. -
(see the list and details after the jump)

Powerade [grape and lemon]

.60 x2 = $1.20

Hawaiian Island Purified Water – x1

1.25 x1 = $1.25

Clif Bar [almond fudge and chocolate brownie

1.50 x2 = $3.00

Quaker Instant Oatmeal 6 Pack[fruit and cream]

4.59 x1 = $4.59

Quaker Chewy Granola Bar 6 Pack [chocolate chip]

3.99 x1 = $3.99

Scott Bathroom Tissue Single Pack[tp, not soft, I'm in college, so it's normal]

1.29 x1 = $1.29

Mariani Mediterranean Dried Apricots [6 oz]

3.19 x1 = $3.19

Energizer Compact LED Flashlight [with batteries]

10.29 x1 = $10.29

Generic Bandages [bandaid variety, 60 pack]

2.39 x1 = $2.39

Generic Hydrogen Peroxide [1 liter]

.99 x1 = $0.99

J&J Medical Tape [5 yards, waterproof]

1.99 x1 = $1.99

Brut Active Sport Deodorant[it was supposed to be on sale]

3.59 x1 = $3.59

Mead Notebook [college rule]

1.49 x1 = $1.49

Total: $39.47

Then around the apartment I found

Generic Ibuprofen [half a bottle]

Hand Sanitizer [travel size bottle]

Generic Dental Floss [used, but still minty]

Pen

So I started with a handy backpack I got as swag from VMWorld 2006 in LA last year when I attended (Thanks VMWare!) which is great cause it’s decent size, ugly blue which means I’ll never use it otherwise, and it has a laptop compartment so if I’m on the go, it’ll be a quick slip and the laptop goes with me, which…. w00t.

And we start packing. Everything went in with no problem, the 3 bottles of beverage and the hydrogen peroxide fit perfectly along the bottom of the bag, then in the next pocket went all the medical and food stuffs, including TP, then in the last pocket goes the flashlight, drugs, documents, and pen. Then I snagged an old pair of swim trunks, a seasider shirt which also never gets worn, a pair of socks and some old skivs, rolled them up, and they fit perfect on top of the Powerade’s with room to spare in a little bundel.

So the theory then is first aid, for a college kid, I’m keeping it to a minimum. Peroxide will clean me up, and a bandaid with tape should be sufficient for about anything I could do to myself. The ointments and other handy dandy stuff can wait, if I had kids or a wife to worry about, I’d be a bit more thorough but for me, it’s definitely sufficient.

The food stuffs will last me a good 3 days, the key is the oatmeal. Growing up in scouting, many a hike were taken with nothing but the powdered oatmeal. I snack on it dry, drink a little water, and I don’t get hungry again for quite a while. Clif bars for the energy boosts as needed and granola and fruit for snacking. A good addition would be fruit snack and jerky as money and opportunity present themselves. I have room set aside for those.

Clothes, I ought to be fine with a change to get me through, one being washed while the other is worn type of relationship. And the hygiene products I have are lacking a bit. I have deodorant because when I stink I don’t even want to be around myself. Out here, mouthwash was 7 bucks for a little bottle, and toothbrushes are pricey too, so that’s something I’ll look at adding when I go to buy a new one, I’ll transition the old one to the kit (it only needs to have 4-5 uses left in her) and that should bring me up to par. I would like to throw in some baby wipes and maybe some soap, but I think what I’ve got is definitely sufficient for the college kid, ie deodorant.

So, in short, everything went well. I went a bit over budget, 9 bucks, but honestly, even 40 bones, and with shopping around I’m sure it could be done cheaper, it’s a good deal and this eagle scout is finally prepared again. Now I get to shop steepandcheap.com for a pocket knife and my work here will be done.

Ahh yeah.

UPDATE:

The pocket knife was purchased today from SAC (steepandcheap.com) and is a trusty CRKT M16-13 Zytel Knife “Steel, Combo Razor Sharp/Serrated” Ought to do for peeling oranges, and came in at a fierce 17 dollars. ahh yeah, part deux