I sincerely hope that you never have to put the tips in this post into practice. If you do, then you’re in a situation that no one should ever experience: an emergency that forces you to leave your home quickly, especially in the middle of the night. However, if it ever comes to that, it’s reassuring to be prepared. A emergency bag can help ensure you have the most important items at hand during such hectic moments.
Why This Post?
I’ve personally experienced how crucial it is to stay calm in extreme situations. A few years ago, we actually had a fire in our house. Fortunately, no one was harmed, but in the rush, I was glad to have my emergency bag ready. It allowed me to quickly grab the essentials without panicking in the chaos.
Before diving deeper into the contents of your emergency bag, one thing upfront: Your own safety and the rescue of your family members and pets should always be your top priority. The bag is just meant to provide a bit of relief and help prevent the loss of important items during an emergency—whether caused by fire, water, or other natural disasters. It’s always better to be prepared than not, especially since these tips are easy to implement.
What Should Be in Your Emergency Bag?
The bag you choose should be sturdy and spacious, ideally a versatile bag you already use regularly. It should be quickly accessible, such as near the entrance or in your bedroom. And what exactly should go in it?
- ID/Passport: It’s important to have identification in an emergency, especially if you suddenly find yourself without a home.
- Laptop or Tablet with Charging Cables: I always pack my work laptop and tablet, even if I’m planning to work from home.
- Wallet: Cash and cards are essential.
- Phone and Charging Cable: Fortunately, a USB-C cable can often be used to charge laptops, tablets, and phones.
- Small Snack: Nuts or a protein bar can provide you with energy in a stressful moment if you need to be on the move for a long time.
- Light Rain Jacket: Especially at night, it can get chilly—even in summer. A rain jacket will protect you from wind and weather.
- Small Water Bottle: If stores are closed and you can’t find a place to stay quickly, you’ll be happy to have a water bottle for the first few hours.
- Important Medications: Make sure you have essential medications for you and your family readily available.
And that’s it! All other documents should be digitized anyway. In an emergency, you can reapply for them at the relevant authority. For very specific documents, where you’re unsure if the issuing office still exists, like my birth certificate from Soviet times, it’s advisable to take extra precautions. That’s why I’ve had some certified copies made, left them with trusted contacts, and stored the original in a safety deposit box at the bank.
Final Note: Safety Comes First!
Once again: Your emergency bag is meant to reduce stress during an emergency, not to jeopardize your safety. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation and the bag is not easily accessible—leave it behind! Your safety and that of your loved ones always comes first. If the house is already filled with smoke, don’t go back for the bag. Instead, get out of the building, or if that’s not possible, go to a balcony and wait for help.
As I said, I really hope you never have to use these tips. But should it ever come to that, you’ll be glad to be prepared. The reassuring feeling of knowing all important items are in one place is invaluable when it’s time to get yourself and your loved ones quickly out of harm’s way.
Checklist:
- Contents of the “emergency Bag”:
- ID/Passport
- Wallet (cash & cards)
- Phone and charger (ideally USB-C for multiple devices)
- Laptop or Tablet with charging cables
- Small snack (e.g., nuts or protein bar)
- Light rain jacket (for unpredictable weather)
- Small water bottle
- Important medications (for you and your family)
- Securing Important Documents upfront:
- Digitize documents and store them in a secure cloud storage.
- Make certified copies (e.g., birth certificate, if the original is hard to replace).
- Leave copies with trusted individuals (parents, siblings, close friends).
- Store the originals in a safety deposit box.