1. Objectives and Authority References
In a major emergency situation (storm, prolonged power outage, flood, forest fire or forced evacuation), emergency services can take up to 72 hours before assisting each citizen. This document gathers fundamental principles from official guides of the Government of Canada (Emergency kits), the national program Get Prepared Canada, directives from the Government of Quebec (Emergency preparedness), recommendations from the Canadian Red Cross, as well as the temporal preparedness guide “Area Temporal Preparedness Guide North America Central”.
The basic rule of survival relies on the “rule of threes” :
- 3 minutes without air ;
- 3 hours without shelter in extreme weather conditions ; and
- 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
2. Flexible Load Management According to Morphology
An overly heavy bag becomes a handicap in an emergency situation. The general rule recommends that the total weight of the evacuation bag does not exceed 15 % to 20 % of the body weight of a healthy adult, and 10 % to 12 % for elderly, vulnerable, or smaller-framed individuals. Prefer a sturdy ordinary backpack, a flat-bottom bag, or a wheeled bag if mobility permits.
| Person's Profile | Maximum Recommended Load | Content Optimization Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (standard size) | 12 to 15 kg (max 20 % of weight) | Carries heavy collective items (main water supply, tent, tools, stove). |
| Small-framed adult / Independent senior | 6 to 9 kg (max 12 % of weight) | Focus on lightweight materials (compact tarps, dehydrated food, straw filter, charcoal). |
| Vulnerable senior / Reduced mobility | 3 to 5 kg (pouch type / wheeled bag) | Focus on medications, waterproof documents, warm clothing, and personal comfort items. |
| Child / Teenager | 10 % of child's weight (2 to 4 kg) | Their own water bottle, security blanket/game, whistle, headlamp, change of clothes, and fruit leathers. |
3. Detailed Composition by Survival Module
A. Fire, Warmth & Energy Module
White (translucent) lighters & Fire starters : Essential because the white or semi-transparent body allows for instant checking of butane levels. Add waterproof matches, a ferro rod (Firesteel), or small briquettes/fire starters to start a fire quickly.
Miniature stove & Fuel : Small gas burner, Sterno stove, or Buddy Burner with a small pot to heat water, cook quick bread, or prepare dehydrated meals.
Heating pads (chemical hand/foot warmers) : For hands and feet, activated by air oxidation, crucial for preventing hypothermia in cold climates.
Candles : Economical backup light and heat source.
B. Shelter, Protection & Clothing Module
Emergency compact tent or Bivy Bag : Ultra-lightweight and compressible model to insulate against wind and rain.
Shelter tarp & Large plastic sheet : Lightweight grommeted tarp or heavy-duty plastic sheet for quick shelter creation, water collection, or ground protection.
Foil blanket (survival blanket) : Reflects up to 90 % of body heat.
Season-appropriate clothing : Waterproof shoes/boots already broken in. Provide at least 2 to 3 pairs of warm merino wool or synthetic fiber socks, sturdy work gloves (leather/synthetic), a hat, and a change of underwear.
C. Hydration & Water Purification Module
Initial reserve and containers : Portable water bottle, single-wall stainless steel bottle (allows boiling over a fire), and backup collapsible water bottle.
Portable filters and purifiers : Portable water filter (0.1-micron filtration straw or charcoal filter bottle).
Binchotan charcoal stick : A stick of certified quality activated charcoal (yellow label) sinks to the bottom of the container and can purify the equivalent of 180 water bottles while taking up minimal space.
Chemical treatment : Water purification tablets (chlorine/silver) or plain liquid household bleach without additives (2 drops per liter or 1/2 tsp for 20 liters).
D. Food & Survival Nutrition Module
Freeze-dried and dehydrated meals : Compact, lightweight, and long-lasting (up to 20 years for freeze-dried), quick to consume with a little hot water.
Proteins and quick energy : Protein bars (commercial or homemade), small easy-open canned foods, nut butters with crackers, flatbread, and honey.
Sprouting seeds & Almonds : Impressive source of living nutrients. Sprouting (e.g., almonds, alfalfa, lentils, chia) dramatically multiplies nutritional value with very little water.
Homemade fruit leathers : Excellent natural and nutritious alternative to candy, highly appreciated by children and easy to store.
Quick country bread : Prepare a sealed mix of flour, yeast, and salt to cook in a skillet on your portable burner.
E. Tools, Rope & Navigation Module
Rope (550 Paracord) : 15 to 30 meters of nylon cord (250 kg tensile strength) to secure shelter, hang gear, or repair equipment. It is recommended to replace shoelaces with Paracord.
Survival knots : Keep a laminated booklet or sheet summarizing essential knot tying (bowline, taut-line hitch, figure-eight knot).
Multitool & Saw : Pliers, blade, wire/folding saw, screwdriver, and can opener.
Navigation & Signals : Dial compass, loud pealess emergency whistle (100+ dB), and regional/local paper road map.
F. Documents, Security, Finances & Logistics Module
Waterproof pouch & Waist pack (Fanny pack) : Guaranteed waterproofing (IPX8 standard) to store ID cards, official documents, insurance policies, diplomas, and family meeting point list.
Digital storage & Keys : Encrypted USB flash drive containing certified scans of official documents and family photos, along with duplicate home and car keys.
Cash : Small bills ($10, $20) and coins to compensate for electronic terminal outages.
Rendezvous plan : Identify in advance at least 3 to 5 meeting points known to the entire family, coordinated with municipal guidelines.
G. Medical Care, Hygiene & Communication Module
Complete first aid kit : Adhesive bandages, elastic bandages, sterile gauze pads, disinfectant/antiseptic, scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves.
Personal medications : Minimum reserve of 7 to 14 days of prescribed treatments.
Emergency radio : Hand-crank, battery-operated, or solar portable radio to receive civil defense alerts without cellular networks.
Phone & Power : Mobile phone along with a power bank and charging cables.
Hygiene & Maintenance : Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, compressed toilet paper, small soap bar, toothbrush, and small airtight plastic bags for organizing items and waste management.
4. Summary Checklist (72H Checklist)
| Status | Item / Equipment | Specification / Special Note |
|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Translucent lighter & Fire starter | Visual check of gas level + briquettes/fire starter |
| [ ] | Portable stove & Pot | Compact gas stove, Sterno or Buddy Burner |
| [ ] | Waterproof pouch & USB drive | ID documents, insurance policies, scanned keys, cash |
| [ ] | Waterproof boots / Shoes | Comfortable footwear, already broken in to your feet |
| [ ] | Heating pads & Foil blanket | Cold management, hypothermia prevention, and bivy bag |
| [ ] | Compact tent & Shelter tarp | Weather protection and ground insulation |
| [ ] | 550 Paracord & Knot guide sheet | Shelter tie-down, emergency shoelaces, and setup |
| [ ] | Multitool & Saw | Pliers, blade, saw, and can opener |
| [ ] | Compass & Local road map | Regional paper map |
| [ ] | Work gloves & Merino socks | Hand protection and 2 to 3 spare pairs of socks |
| [ ] | 72H survival food | Freeze-dried meals, protein bars, fruit leathers, and seeds |
| [ ] | Stainless steel bottle & Portable filter | Hot water bottle + straw filter / Binchotan charcoal |
| [ ] | Bleach drops / Tablets * | For emergency purification of water found in the field |
| [ ] | Crank/battery radio & Headlamp | Civil defense alerts reception and hands-free lighting |
| [ ] | Medical kit & Medications | 7 to 14 day reserve of your prescribed treatments |
| [ ] | Spare keys (Home & Auto) | Prevents being locked out if usual keys are forgotten |
* For long-term purification and storage :
- For 1 liter of water : 2 drops of liquid bleach.
- For 20 liters of water : 1/2 teaspoon (approx. 2.5 ml) of liquid bleach.
5. Bag Maintenance and Inspection
A survival bag is not static. It must be inspected twice a year (for example during seasonal daylight saving time changes in spring and autumn) :
- Expirations : Check expiration dates of food, medications, gums, and water purification tablets.
- Water rotation : Replace bottled water and check the condition of water containers.
- Seasonality : Adjust clothing according to the upcoming season (winter mode with warm clothing, winter hat, and gloves / summer mode).
- Batteries and testing : Test flashlight batteries, the emergency hand-crank radio, and fully charge portable power banks.
- Family drills : Review rendezvous instructions and the emergency communication plan with all household members.