How to Build a Home Emergency Kit: Essentials, Medicines and a Packing Checklist

A home emergency kit is a stored set of supplies that lets your household manage on its own for at least 72 hours (3 days) during a power cut, storm, flood or other disruption. The core contents are drinking water, non-perishable food, a torch with spare batteries, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, first-aid supplies, a supply of everyone's regular medicines, copies of key documents, and a written list of emergency contacts. You can build it gradually from things you already own. Keep it in one easy-to-reach place and check it once or twice a year.

The sections below explain each item, how much to pack, how to handle medicines safely (including antibiotics), and how to adapt the kit to your budget, climate and household.

What is a home emergency kit?

A home emergency kit is a container, or a small group of containers, holding the supplies a household needs if normal services stop. That can mean no electricity, no running water, no shops open or no safe way to travel. It is different from a car kit or a small grab bag. The home kit supports staying put, so it can be larger and heavier.

Most national guidance asks households to plan for at least 3 days. Some agencies encourage longer, especially in places where earthquakes, cyclones or remote locations can delay help. If you are unsure, 3 days is the practical starting point. You can extend it later.

Home emergency kit essentials: what goes in first?

The home emergency kit essentials fall into six groups: water, food, light and information, first aid, documents and contacts, and hygiene. If you can only do part of the job this week, start with water, a torch and your medicines. Those three matter most in the first hours of an outage.

Drinking water

Drinking water is the most important item in any home emergency kit. Official guides commonly suggest planning for roughly 3 to 4 litres per person per day, covering drinking plus a little for food preparation and basic hygiene. For 3 days, that works out to about 9 to 12 litres per person. Hot weather, physical work, illness, pregnancy and breastfeeding all increase need, so round up rather than down.

• Bottled water is the simplest option. Replace or use it by the date on the label.
• Tap water in clean, food-grade containers costs almost nothing. Many guides suggest refilling these roughly every 6 to 12 months.
• Pets need their own water allowance, so add it separately.

Non-perishable food

Non-perishable food for an emergency kit should be ready to eat or need very little cooking, water or clean-up. Choose food your household already likes. Unfamiliar meals tend to go uneaten, and a stressful day is not the time to test new tastes.

• Tinned fish, beans, soup, vegetables and fruit, ideally ring-pull, plus a manual tin opener as backup
• Crackers, oatcakes, rice cakes and breakfast cereal
• Nut butters, dried fruit, nuts and seeds (check for allergies in the household)
• Long-life milk or plant milk, and powdered milk
• Cereal bars and a few comfort snacks, which are useful for morale, especially with children
• Baby food or formula and special-diet foods where needed

If you plan to cook during a power cut, use a camping stove or barbecue outdoors only. Using them indoors, or in a garage, creates a carbon monoxide risk.

Torch, batteries and a battery-powered radio

Light and information keep a household safe and calm when the power is out. Pack:

• At least one torch, plus a head torch, which leaves your hands free
• Spare batteries in the sizes your devices use, stored in their packaging
• A battery-powered or wind-up radio, so you can hear local emergency guidance if mobile networks are down
• A charged power bank and the charging cables for your phones

Torches are safer than candles. If you do keep candles, never leave them unattended.

First-aid supplies

A household first-aid kit should cover minor injuries until you can get proper care. A ready-made kit from a pharmacy is a convenient base. Check that it includes:

• Plasters in assorted sizes
• Sterile dressings and bandages
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Disposable gloves
• Scissors and tweezers
• A thermometer
• A basic first-aid guide

Add anything specific to your household, such as blister plasters or an extra adrenaline auto-injector if one has been prescribed.

Documents, cash and emergency contacts

Phones run flat and card machines fail without power, so a paper backup matters. Seal these in a waterproof bag:

• A written list of emergency contacts: family, neighbours, GP, pharmacy, insurer, utility companies, and a contact outside your area
• Copies of ID, insurance policies and prescriptions
• A small amount of cash in low denominations
• Spare house and car keys

Hygiene and household needs

Hygiene items prevent small problems, such as illness or sore skin, from becoming bigger ones. Pack:

• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
• Toilet paper and bin bags
• Period products and nappies where relevant
• A toothbrush and toothpaste for each person

For wider household needs, add:

• A multi-tool
• Duct tape
• A whistle to signal for help
• Warm layers or blankets
• Spare glasses
• Something to pass the time, such as cards or a book

What medicines should go in a home emergency kit?

A home emergency kit should contain enough of each person's regular medicines to last the planned period, plus basic over-the-counter remedies. Prescription medicines are often the hardest items to replace quickly, so they deserve the most planning.

Prescription medicines

Aim to keep a small buffer rather than running each prescription down to the last dose. Ask your pharmacist or GP how you can safely hold a few days' to a week's extra supply, since rules on early repeats vary. Keep the following with the kit or with your medicines:

• A written list of each person's medicines, doses and allergies
• Copies of prescriptions
• A cool pack or a plan for medicines that need refrigeration (ask your pharmacist how long yours can stay out of the fridge)
• Spares for equipment such as inhaler spacers, glucose test strips or hearing-aid batteries

Can you build a home emergency kit with antibiotics?

In most cases, no. Antibiotics should not be stockpiled or added to a home emergency kit for self-treatment. In the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, antibiotics are prescription-only medicines. Antibiotic safety depends on the right drug, the right dose and the right length of course for a specific infection.

• Antibiotics do not work against colds, flu or other viral illnesses.
• Taking leftover tablets, or someone else's prescription, can be ineffective or harmful, and it contributes to antibiotic resistance.
• Antibiotics sold for animals or fish are not appropriate substitutes for human medicine.
• Take unused antibiotics back to a pharmacy for disposal rather than saving them.

The exception is when a doctor prescribes a standby course for a specific medical reason, for example some people with certain long-term conditions. If you think this applies to you, ask your GP. If they prescribe one, keep it in the kit with its instructions and check its expiry date.

Over-the-counter remedies

Useful additions include:

• Pain and fever relief suitable for each age group in the household
• Antihistamines
• Oral rehydration sachets
• Anti-diarrhoea medicine for adults
• Antiseptic cream
• Sunscreen

Check children's doses on the packet or with a pharmacist.

Home emergency kit list: packing checklist

This home emergency kit list covers 3 days for a typical household. Multiply quantities by the number of people, and add pets separately.

Item	Suggested amount	Notes
Drinking water	About 3–4 litres per person per day	Round up for heat, illness or pregnancy. Add water for pets.
Non-perishable food	3 days of meals and snacks per person	Ready-to-eat options. Include a manual tin opener.
Torch and head torch	At least 1 per adult	Avoid relying on candles.
Spare batteries	At least 1 full set per device	Check the dates on the pack.
Radio	1	Battery-powered or wind-up.
Power bank and cables	1 or more	Recharge every few months.
First-aid kit	1 household kit	Top up after use.
Prescription medicines	At least 3 days plus a buffer	With a written medicine list.
Over-the-counter medicines	Small packs	Include age-appropriate doses.
Documents and contacts	1 waterproof pouch	Copies, not originals if possible.
Cash	A small amount	Low denominations.
Hygiene items	3 days per person	Sanitiser, wipes, toilet paper, bin bags.
Warmth	1 blanket or warm layer per person	Foil blankets are compact.
Tools	Multi-tool, tape, whistle	Also gloves for clean-up.
Special needs items	As required	Baby, pet, mobility or medical supplies.

How does a home emergency kit differ in the UK, Australia, Canada and NZ?

The core contents stay the same everywhere. What changes is the emergency number, the hazards you are most likely to face, and the national guidance you should follow. Always check your national or local emergency management agency, because advice is updated over time.

Country	Emergency number	Common hazards to plan for	Kit additions to consider
UK	999 or 112	Flooding, storms, power cuts	Waterproof bags for documents, warm layers, and flood-line or power-cut numbers on your contact list
Australia	000	Bushfires, heatwaves, floods, cyclones in northern regions	Extra water for heat, a P2 or similar mask for smoke, sturdy shoes, and a bushfire or cyclone plan
Canada	911	Winter storms, extended power outages, wildfires, floods	Extra blankets and warm clothing, a plan for heating safely without power, and smoke masks in wildfire areas
New Zealand	111	Earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, storms	Sturdy shoes and gloves stored near beds, a plan for securing heavy items, and knowledge of tsunami evacuation zones if you live near the coast

A home emergency kit list for the UK tends to focus on staying warm and dry during power cuts and floods. A home emergency kit in Australia often needs more water and heat or smoke protection. A home emergency kit in Canada is commonly described as a 72-hour kit, with cold-weather extras. A home emergency kit in NZ places strong emphasis on earthquake readiness and on being self-reliant for several days.

How to build a home emergency kit on any budget

You do not need to buy everything at once. Most home emergency kit items can be gathered in stages, starting with what is already in your cupboards.

Approach	What it involves	Trade-offs
Low cost: gather and store	Fill clean bottles with tap water, set aside existing tins and a torch, and use a spare bag as the container	Very cheap, but needs more regular checking and items may be scattered around the house
Mid budget: add one item a week	Buy a few extra tins, batteries or a radio with each food shop until the list is complete	Spreads the cost over a month or two, though the kit is incomplete in the meantime
Higher budget: ready-made kit plus extras	Buy a pre-packed kit, then add water, food, medicines and personal items	Fast and tidy, but ready-made kits rarely cover medicines, diets or pets, so you still need to personalise them

How to adapt your kit to your household, schedule and weather

A good kit reflects the people who will use it. Go through the household one person at a time and ask what that person would need that is not already on the list.

• Babies and young children: formula, bottles, nappies, wipes, a change of clothes and a familiar toy
• Older adults and people with disabilities: spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, mobility aids and charging plans for powered equipment
• Pets: food, water, medication, a lead or carrier, and vet details
• Hot climates or seasons: extra water, sun protection, and a plan to keep cool without air conditioning
• Cold climates or seasons: blankets, hats, gloves and warm socks for everyone
• Busy or shift-working households: make sure every adult and older child knows where the kit is and what is in it, not just the person who packed it

Where should you store a home emergency kit, and how often should you check it?

Store the kit somewhere cool, dry and easy to reach, such as a hall cupboard, under the stairs or in a wardrobe near an exit. Avoid lofts, damp garages and spaces behind heavy furniture. In flood-prone homes, keep it off the floor or upstairs. Plastic storage boxes with lids keep out dust and damp. Large water containers can sit separately as long as everyone knows where they are.

Expiry checks take about 20 minutes if you follow a simple routine:

1. Pick two fixed dates a year, for example when the clocks change or at the start of summer and winter.
2. Check use-by dates on food, water, medicines and batteries.
3. Move anything close to its date into normal use and replace it with fresh stock.
4. Recharge the power bank and test the torch and radio.
5. Update the medicine list, prescriptions and emergency contacts.
6. Adjust clothing and supplies for growing children or new household members.

Rotating supplies into daily life keeps the kit fresh without waste. Near-date cereal bars, crackers and long-life juice cartons are easy to use in packed lunches or a weekend picnic. The torch and power bank can come along on a park day and go back in the box afterwards. Many households find that pairing the check with an everyday routine they already have is what keeps it from being forgotten.

How to build a home emergency kit this weekend: step by step

1. Choose the container and location. A lidded box or sturdy bag in a cupboard everyone can reach.
2. Gather what you already own. Torch, batteries, first-aid kit, blankets, tins and a tin opener.
3. Sort the water. Buy bottled water or fill clean containers to cover about 3 days per person.
4. Plan medicines. Write the medicine list and talk to your pharmacist about a small buffer supply.
5. Write the contacts and copy the documents. Seal them in a waterproof pouch.
6. Make a shopping list of the gaps. Use the checklist above, and buy a radio or power bank if you have neither.
7. Tell the household. Show everyone where the kit is, how the radio works and which emergency number to call.
8. Set your check dates. Add two reminders a year to a shared calendar.

Once these steps are done, your home emergency kit is ready for the most common disruptions. Keeping it current takes only a short check twice a year.