Short answer. Costa Rica's official kit is the CNE emergency case (maletín para emergencia), listed in Annex 2 of the CNE family plan guide 1. It must be light, waterproof and easy for any family member to carry 1. It holds a blanket, flashlight, radio, canned food, a half-litre water bottle, documents, hygiene items and first aid. No overall duration is set; medicines for medical conditions must cover 72 hours minimum 1.
The checklist, item by item
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small blanket | 1 | 1 |
| Medicines used by family members | not specified | 1 |
| Flashlight ("foco") | 1 | 1 |
| Small radio with batteries | 1 | 12 |
| Personal documents | not specified | 1 |
| Canned food (easy-open tuna, condensed milk, granola, dried fruit); the FAQ also allows dehydrated food such as seeds | not specified | 12 |
| Bottle of drinking water | half a litre | 1 |
| Hygiene items: sanitary towels, tissues, folded rubbish bag, neutral antibacterial soap, toilet paper | not specified | 1 |
| Toothbrushes and toothpaste | 2 brushes + toothpaste | 1 |
| Personal clothing | not specified | 12 |
| Rope (in an outside pocket) | 1 | 1 |
| Rain cape ("capa") | 1 | 1 |
| Pencil or pens | not specified | 1 |
| List of family phone numbers and first-response institutions | 1 | 1 |
| Manual can opener | 1 | 2 |
| Hand sanitiser gel | not specified | 2 |
| Whistle | not specified | 1 |
The first-aid set
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton wool, 50 g | 1 | 1 |
| Rubbing alcohol, 500 ml | 1 | 1 |
| Plastic applicators | 1 pack of 100 | 1 |
| Adhesive tape, 2.5 x 1 cm | 1 | 1 |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 60 ml | 1 | 1 |
| Thimerosal tincture, 60 ml | 1 | 1 |
| Sterile gloves | 1 pair | 1 |
| Sterile gauze squares | 5 | 1 |
| Gauze bandage, 3 x 10 cm | not specified | 1 |
| Vomit bags | 2 | 1 |
| Small bags | 2 | 1 |
| Adult tongue depressors | 6 | 1 |
| Adhesive plasters, box of 20 | 1 box | 1 |
| Neutral soap | 1 | 1 |
| Acetaminophen (paracetamol) | 10 units | 1 |
| "Andrews triple acción" (antacid) | 3 units | 1 |
| Oral rehydration salts sachets | 5 | 1 |
| Small scissors | 1 | 1 |
| Tweezers | 1 | 1 |
For general first-aid kit contents, see /guides/first-aid-kit.
Extra items for specific family members
| Who | Items | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A member with a particular condition | Medicines, copies of prescriptions, treatment information | medicines for at least 72 hours | 1 |
| Anyone concerned | Laminated hanging ID card: allergies, illnesses, disability, blood group, medicines, assistive products needed | 1 per person concerned | 1 |
| Pregnancy or infants | Updated prenatal care card, nappies, formula milk as the child needs | not specified | 1 |
How much water does that make?
The case holds one half-litre bottle of drinking water 1. The CNE FAQ asks for "considerable" bottled water without giving a figure 2. The CNE sets no litres-per-person-per-day figure; see /guides/water-per-person for what other agencies recommend, with their sources.
How do I keep it up to date?
The CNE says kit items must be checked and replaced when they expire 2, and the family plan asks for a checklist reviewed periodically 1. See also /guides/72-hour-kit and /guides/important-documents.
Turn this list into your plan
The official list above is the reference, and you can assemble everything on it yourself. The Phaenyx plan counts each line for your household, adds the risks around your home and comes with the Phaenyx Safe app. Build your Phaenyx plan.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a Costa Rican emergency kit?
The CNE emergency case: blanket, flashlight, radio with batteries, documents, canned food, a half-litre water bottle, hygiene items, clothing, rope, rain cape, whistle, a contact list and a first-aid set 12.
Is the CNE case a 72-hour kit?
No duration is set for the case as a whole. Only medicines for members with a medical condition are set at 72 hours minimum 1.
Where does this list come from?
From Annex 2 of the CNE's family risk management plan guide, completed by the CNE's frequently asked questions 12.
Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) — https://moravia.go.cr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/plan-familiar-17-19-CM.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20; CNE 2019 edition hosted by the Municipality of Moravia, emergency case in Annex 2)
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Preguntas frecuentes — https://www.cne.go.cr/contactenos/preguntas_frecuentes.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20; read via Web Archive capture of 19 June 2024)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Costa Rica, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) checked 2026-10-20
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Preguntas frecuentes checked 2026-10-20