What goes in a 72-hour emergency kit?

Short answer. A 72-hour emergency kit holds drinking water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, a flashlight, a battery or hand-crank radio, spare batteries, a first aid kit, personal medication, cash and copies of key documents. Canada asks households to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours with about 4 litres of water per person per day ³; the European Commission also sets a 72-hour minimum ⁴.

Why 72 hours?

Seventy-two hours is the minimum period of self-sufficiency set by Canada and the European Union. Canada's government says to "be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours" ³. In March 2025 the European Commission's Preparedness Union Strategy encouraged people to maintain "essential supplies for a minimum of 72 hours in emergencies" ⁴.

Not every agency stops at three days. The United States (Ready.gov) speaks of "several days" without a fixed number ¹², the UK of "an emergency lasting a few days" ⁵, Switzerland of food for about one week ⁸, Sweden of "at least a week" ⁷, and Germany of ideally ten days ⁶. Treat 72 hours as a minimum to build on, not a target to stop at.

What do the official lists have in common?

Comparing the official lists from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, the same items appear again and again ¹³⁵⁸:

• Water, stored in sealed bottles or containers (quantities below).
• Non-perishable food that needs little or no cooking, and a manual can opener ¹³⁵.
• Light: a flashlight or torch, battery-powered or wind-up ¹³⁵⁸.
• A radio, battery-powered or hand-crank, to receive official information when the power or network is down ¹³⁵⁸.
• Spare batteries or manually powered alternatives ¹³⁵⁸, and a power bank or chargers for phones ¹³⁵.
• A first aid kit ¹³⁵.
• Personal medication. Canada suggests, if possible, enough medication "to last a couple of weeks" ³; Switzerland lists "personal medication and regularly needed toiletries" ⁸.
• Hygiene supplies: moist towelettes or wet wipes, hand sanitiser, garbage bags ¹⁵.
• Cash. Canada suggests, if possible, enough cash to cover basic needs "for a few weeks" ³; Switzerland says "some cash" ⁸.
• Copies of important documents such as identification and insurance policies ¹³⁵.
• Supplies for specific people: infant formula and baby supplies, pet food, and equipment for anyone with limited mobility or special needs ¹³⁵.

Ready.gov adds a whistle, a dust mask, plastic sheeting with scissors and duct tape, a wrench or pliers, and local maps to its basic list ¹. Its supplementary list includes a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person, a full change of clothing and sturdy shoes, matches in a waterproof container, a fire extinguisher, and paper and pencil ¹. Switzerland also lists candles, matches or a lighter and a gas cooker ⁸. Canada mentions a corded phone for emergency use and a copy of your household emergency plan with contact details ³.

How much water should a 72-hour kit hold?

This is where agencies differ most, partly because some count only drinking water and others include cooking and hygiene.

• United States: "at least one gallon of water per person per day," for drinking and sanitation ². One US gallon is about 3.8 litres, so three days is roughly 11.4 litres per person. Ready.gov notes that children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more, and that "in very hot temperatures, water needs can double" ².
• Canada: "about four litres per person, per day" ³, or 12 litres per person for 72 hours.
• United Kingdom: "a minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day," and 10 litres per person per day to also cover basic cooking and hygiene ⁵.
• Germany: an adult needs at least 1.5 litres of fluid per day, plus 0.5 litres if you plan to cook ⁶.
• Sweden: "at least three to five litres of water per person per day" ⁷.
• Switzerland: at least 9 litres per person (a six-pack of 1.5-litre bottles), described as enough to drink and cook with for three days, not including water for hygiene or toilet flushing ⁸.

For a 72-hour kit, the official figures therefore range from about 6 litres per person (Germany, drinking and cooking only) to 30 litres (the UK comfort figure). Storing more than the minimum is a reasonable choice in hot climates, for nursing mothers or for anyone who is ill ². Our water per person guide compares these figures in more detail.

How do countries compare?

What official agencies recommend

United States. Ready.gov lists a basic kit (water, food, radio, flashlight, first aid kit, batteries, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, wipes and garbage bags, a wrench or pliers, a manual can opener, local maps, and a phone with chargers and a backup battery), then additional supplies based on your household's needs ¹. It recommends kits at home, at work and in the car, and says to be ready to shelter at work for at least 24 hours ¹. It advises replacing expired items and rethinking your needs every year ¹.

Canada. The government asks households to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, with about four litres of water per person per day, and to keep the kit portable, accessible and known to everyone in the home ³.

European Union. The Commission's 2025 strategy sets a 72-hour minimum for essential supplies as part of population preparedness ⁴. Member states publish their own, more detailed advice; Germany and Sweden, for example, recommend longer periods ⁶⁷.

United Kingdom. The Prepare campaign lists a battery or wind-up torch, a portable power bank, a battery or wind-up radio, spare batteries, a first aid kit, hand sanitiser and wet wipes, bottled water, non-perishable food and baby supplies ⁵.

Germany. The BBK recommends being able to supply yourself for ideally ten days, and notes that a supply for at least three days already helps a great deal and can be built up from there ⁶.

Sweden. Krisinformation.se advises planning to manage on your own for at least a week, with sections on food, heating and communication ⁷. Water should be stored in thoroughly cleaned bottles or containers, kept dark and cool, and checked once or twice a year ⁷.

Switzerland. FONES recommends at least 9 litres of water per person and food for about one week, plus a battery-powered radio, torch, spare batteries, candles, matches or a lighter, a gas cooker, personal medication and some cash ⁸.

How do I keep a kit ready?

Store canned food in a cool, dry place and boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers ¹. Replace expired items as needed, and rethink your needs every year and whenever your household's needs change ¹. Check stored water once or twice a year and replace it if needed ⁷. Keep the kit somewhere everyone in the household knows about ¹³.

Frequently asked questions

Is 72 hours enough?

It is the official minimum in Canada and the European Union ³⁴, but several countries recommend more: at least a week in Sweden, food for about a week in Switzerland ⁷⁸, and ideally ten days in Germany ⁶. Starting with 72 hours and extending the kit over time follows the BBK's own advice ⁶.

How much water do I need for a family of four for 72 hours?

At Canada's figure of about 4 litres per person per day ³, that is 48 litres. At the US figure of one gallon per person per day ², it is 12 US gallons, about 45 litres. Add more in hot weather or for anyone nursing or ill ².

What food should go in a 72-hour kit?

Non-perishable food that needs little or no preparation, plus a manual can opener ¹³. The UK suggests food that does not need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned food ⁵. Switzerland's list includes rice, pasta, ready meals, dried fruit, muesli, hard cheese, UHT milk and canned food ⁸.

Do I need a separate kit for work and the car?

Ready.gov recommends one at home, one at work and one in the car, since an emergency may happen while you are away from home ¹. At work, it advises being ready to shelter for at least 24 hours ¹.

Should a 72-hour kit include medication?

Yes. Every list includes personal or prescription medication ¹³⁵⁸, and Canada suggests holding enough for a couple of weeks if possible ³.

Get a kit matched to your country

Official lists differ by country, mostly on how long to plan for and how much water to store. The Phaenyx plan counts each line for your household. Build your Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Water — https://www.ready.gov/water (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Government of Canada — Emergency kits — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. European Commission — EU Preparedness Union Strategy to prevent and react to emerging threats and crises (26 March 2025) — https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/news/eu-preparedness-union-strategy-prevent-and-react-emerging-threats-and-crises-2025-03-26_en (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. UK Government — Get prepared for emergencies — https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. BBK (Germany) — Essen und Trinken bevorraten — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/So-koennen-Sie-sich-vorbereiten/Bevorraten/bevorraten_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. Krisinformation.se (Sweden) — Home Preparedness — https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/home-preparedness/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. FONES / BWL (Switzerland) — We advise – emergency supplies — https://www.bwl.admin.ch/en/we-advise-emergency-supplies (accessed 2026-10-20)