UK Emergency Kit
Checklist

Bottled water — 2L per person per day Priority

For a family of 4, that's 24L minimum for 72 hours. Stock extra in summer heat.

Water purification tablets or filter

Backup for tap water that becomes unsafe — common during flood events.

Large refillable containers (5L+)

Fill these the moment a storm warning is issued — before the taps lose pressure.

Tinned food (beans, soup, fish, meat) Priority

No refrigeration needed. Check best-before dates and rotate stock annually.

Dry food (rice, pasta, oats, crackers)

Lightweight and long-lasting. Store in sealed containers to prevent moisture damage.

Snacks and comfort food (nuts, chocolate, cereal bars)

Morale matters in emergencies. Children especially need familiar foods.

Manual can opener

Electric openers won't work in a power cut. Keep one in the kit bag at all times.

LED head torch (one per adult) Priority

Hands-free light is essential. Headtorches outperform handheld torches in an outage.

Spare AA/AAA batteries (x8 minimum)

Match battery type to your torches and radio. Store in a sealed bag to prevent corrosion.

Candles and matches or lighter

Ambient light for rooms. Keep candles away from curtains and never leave unattended.

Solar-powered or hand-crank lantern

Provides ambient light without battery drain. Ideal for longer outages.

Thermal/emergency foil blankets (one per person) Priority

Retain up to 90% of body heat. Compact and inexpensive — no kit is complete without them.

Sleeping bags rated to 0°C or below

If central heating fails in winter, a quality sleeping bag is your best protection.

Hand and foot warmers (disposable, x6+)

Activated by air — no power required. Ideal for elderly relatives and young children.

Warm clothing layers in kit bag

Thermals, fleece, wool socks. Layer up rather than relying on heating.

DAB/FM wind-up or battery-powered radio Priority

BBC local radio carries emergency updates when the internet is down. Tune to your county's BBC station.

Power bank (20,000mAh+) fully charged

Top it up regularly — a flat power bank is useless in a blackout. Check monthly.

Emergency whistle

Carries much further than shouting. Attach to your kit bag zipper so it's always findable.

Charged spare mobile phone or car charger

If mobile networks are congested, SMS often gets through when calls don't.

Copies of ID (passport, driving licence) Priority

Keep photocopies in a waterproof wallet separate from originals. Digital copies on an encrypted USB too.

Insurance policy numbers and emergency helplines

Home, car, and health insurance. Write them down — you won't have internet access to look them up.

Written list of emergency contacts

Include: GP, nearest hospital, utility emergency lines (105 for power), family/friends. Don't rely on your phone being charged.

Cash (small notes — £20–£50 minimum)

Card machines won't work without power. Local shops and fuel stations accept cash only in outages.

Comprehensive first aid kit Priority

Plasters, gauze, bandages, antiseptic wipes, scissors, and tweezers. Check expiry dates annually.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen (adult + child doses)

Pain relief and fever management. Pharmacies may be closed or inaccessible during major emergencies.

Antihistamines and antidiarrhoeal tablets

Allergic reactions and gastrointestinal illness are more common in disrupted conditions.

Thermometer

Digital thermometer with spare batteries. Essential for monitoring fever in children.

Nitrile gloves and face masks (x5 each)

For treating wounds or handling contaminated materials during flood events.

30-day supply of prescription medication stored safely

Talk to your GP or pharmacist about an emergency supply. Vital for chronic conditions.

Baby essentials (formula, nappies, wipes for 3 days)

Supermarket shelves empty fast during emergencies. Keep a rolling 3-day backup.

Pet food and water for 72 hours

Include pet medication if applicable. Don't forget a spare lead and carrier for evacuation.

Comfort items for children (small toy, book)

Stress reduction in emergencies is a real priority, especially for under-10s.

Winter: ice scraper, de-icer spray, waterproof gloves

Needed if you have to access your vehicle during a freeze or help a neighbour.

Winter: draught excluders and pipe lagging

Burst pipes from freezing are one of the most common winter emergency causes in the UK.

Summer: insect repellent, sunscreen, cooling towels

Heatwaves during power outages (no fans or A/C) are dangerous for elderly relatives.

Year-round: flood sandbags or flood door barriers

Check your Environment Agency flood risk — if you're in a flood zone, these are non-negotiable.