Step 2: Identify the Essentials

Take your brainstorm list and start narrowing down what is a necessity and what is a nice-to-have.

Things to think about

Your rucksack is not very big (it is the size of a small backpack)
You want to pack things that will help you survive for 7 days, if there is an emergency.
You want to make sure your rucksack is easy to carry.
Use the infographic to the right to help you think about what is essential in your rucksack.

Infographic with guidelines on water, food and shelter needs for human survival. It states that a person can survive without water for about 3 days, that a human can survive without food for about 3 weeks and that the cold limit for most people is 32 degrees Fahrenheit so a person would need shelter to protect them from the elements.

Start narrowing down your list

Talk as a family about what a necessity and a nice-to-have are:
- A necessity is something that you need to have and is required for your survival
- A nice-to-have is something that you would like to have but is not required for your survival.
Using these definitions and the Things to Think about, circle the things on your list that are necessities that you'd like to have in your survival rucksack.

Emergency Preparedness Kit Planning Document

Use this table to organize your list

You can draw your own table based on this one, or print by clicking on the table to open in a different tab.

Image of a poster from the American Red Cross that says "Do you have a kit?" and explains the importance of being prepared in case of emergency.

See how your list matches up with preparedness kits

Once your table is finished, you are ready for Step 3: Study Rucksacks from Past Missions.

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