72-hour go-bag checklist: what to pack and how much

A go-bag is the bag you grab within minutes when you must leave home because of a fire, flood, chemical accident or other threat. Pack it to keep one person going for at least 72 hours: water, ready-to-eat food, a 7-day supply of medication, copies of documents, cash, light, a radio, a phone power bank, warm clothing and basic tools. Keep one bag per person by the door, and check it every six months.

This list combines guidance from Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, the Government of Canada, the UK government and the Polish government’s Safety Guide. Quantities are per adult unless stated otherwise.

The core list

Category	What to pack	Per person
Water	Bottled water + filter or purification tablets	1.5–3 l in the bag, a way to treat the rest
Food	High-calorie, ready to eat: bars, nuts, dried fruit	3 days
Meds & hygiene	Regular medication, first-aid kit, sanitiser, basic hygiene, moist wipes	7 days of meds (Red Cross)
Documents & cash	Copies of ID and key documents, a USB stick with scans, cash in small notes	waterproof pouch
Light & comms	Flashlight, battery or hand-crank radio, charged phone, power bank, cables, spare batteries	1 light each
Clothing & sleep	Seasonal layers, rain jacket, sturdy shoes, sleeping bag or warm blanket, emergency blanket	one change
Tools	Multi-tool, whistle, dust mask, lighter, bin bags, duct tape, printed local map	–
Personal	Family photo, small keepsake, a toy for a child	–

How much water and food: the numbers

Agencies differ on water, so it helps to know who says what:

Source	Water per person per day	Covers
Ready.gov / FEMA, American Red Cross, CDC	1 gallon (about 3.8 l)	drinking and sanitation
UK government	3 l	drinking, plus extra for cooking and washing
Government of Canada	at least 2 l	the minimum for a 72-hour kit

Three days at one gallon a day is over 11 litres, which weighs over 11 kg. Nobody carries that on foot. That is why the bag holds 1.5–3 litres and a way to make more water safe. The CDC notes that portable filters do not remove viruses, so after filtering you should also disinfect the water with tablets made for drinking water. Iodine and standard chlorine tablets do not kill Cryptosporidium; chlorine dioxide tablets do, if used as directed.

For food, Ready.gov and the Red Cross ask for non-perishable food that needs no cooking or special preparation. In a bag, pick light and calorie-dense items: bars, nuts, peanut butter in a squeeze pack, dried fruit, crackers. Avoid glass jars and big cans. If you do pack a can, pack a manual can opener with it.

Kit for children, older adults and pets

The basic list fits a healthy adult. Everyone else needs something added. The Red Cross and the Government of Canada suggest:

Babies and young children

formula, bottles, baby food, nappies and wipes,
a change of clothes in the current size (children outgrow the spare set fast),
games, a book or a small toy,
a card with a parent’s name and phone number in their pocket or bag.

Older children can carry a small bag of their own with water, a snack, a torch, a whistle and their contact card.

Older adults and anyone with medical needs

glasses and contact lenses, hearing aids with extra batteries,
a 7-day supply of medication and a written list of medicines, doses and allergies,
syringes or other supplies, plus any mobility aid,
copies of medical information and insurance details.

Pets The Government of Canada recommends food and water for at least 72 hours: about 4 litres a day for an average dog and 1 litre a day for an average cat. Add:

a carrier or crate, leash or harness,
bowls and any pet medication with the dose written down,
litter, a litter tray, bags and paper towels,
a recent photo, vaccination records and your vet’s number.

Most evacuation shelters accept only service animals, so plan where your pet could stay. See our family emergency plan for how to build this into your plan.

Packing order

Bottom: the heaviest, least-used items (sleeping bag, spare food, change of clothes).
Middle, close to your back: water. Weight near the spine is the least tiring.
Top: first-aid kit, rain jacket, flashlight.
Outer pockets: documents, cash, phone, power bank, today’s medication.

Keep the bag light enough to walk with for an hour or more. Water is the heaviest item, at about 1 kg per litre. Walk a few kilometres with the packed bag once to be sure, and move weight to someone else’s bag if it is too much.

Ready.gov suggests packing items in airtight plastic bags inside the bag. It keeps documents, clothing and food dry if you are caught in rain or have to wade.

Home kit, work kit and car kit

A go-bag is only one layer. Ready.gov suggests kits in three places:

Home: the go-bag by the door, and a larger stock of water and food for sheltering in place. The Red Cross suggests 3 days of supplies for evacuation and 2 weeks for staying at home. Our water and food supply guide covers the home stock.
Work: be ready to shelter there for at least 24 hours. Keep food, water, medicine and comfortable walking shoes in a small bag in your desk or locker.
Car: supplies in case you are stranded.

The Government of Canada lists these for a car kit:

Car kit item	Note
Water in plastic bottles	plastic will not break if frozen; replace every 6 months
Non-perishable food such as energy bars
Blanket, extra clothing and shoes
First aid kit with a seatbelt cutter
Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
Wind-up flashlight and a whistle
Road maps and a copy of your emergency plan
In the boot: sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter, washer fluid, tow rope, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, warning light or flares

A car kit is useful, but do not make it your only go-bag. You may not be able to reach the car, or you may have to leave on foot.

Seasonal swaps

Swap a few items twice a year. The Government of Canada suggests:

Season	Add or check
Spring and summer	rain jacket, umbrella, waterproof footwear, sunscreen, hat, insect repellent
Autumn and winter	warm clothing, gloves, socks, hat, heat packs, extra batteries, ice grippers

In hot weather, water matters even more. In cold weather, a sleeping bag or warm blanket per person is not optional.

What people usually forget

Prescription medication. Rotate packs: new ones to the cabinet, older ones to the bag.
Glasses or contact lenses. An old pair in a case is enough.
Charging without mains power. A power bank at 100%, checked every quarter.
Water on the move. Bottles are heavy, so a squeeze filter or tablets matter more than another litre.
Spare keys for home and car, as the Government of Canada and Red Cross list.
Cash in small notes and coins. Card terminals and ATMs need power.
Paper copies of phone numbers. The UK government suggests a written list of important numbers, because a flat phone is a locked address book.
Kids, older relatives and pets. Everyone at home gets their own bag.

Documents to copy

The Red Cross and the Government of Canada list the papers worth copying. Keep paper copies in a waterproof pouch and scans on a USB stick or in secure cloud storage:

ID for every person (passport, ID card, driving licence),
proof of address, lease or deed,
insurance policies (home, contents, car, health),
a list of medications, doses and what they are for,
bank details and emergency contacts, including next of kin,
your household emergency plan.

Where to keep it

By the front door or in the hall cupboard, somewhere everyone at home knows. Ready.gov asks for a designated place that all family members know about. Not in the basement or behind boxes: you may not be able to reach it in an emergency.

Keep it ready

Set two dates a year, for example when the clocks change, and go through the bag:

Check expiry dates on food, water and medication. Eat the food and replace it.
Charge the power bank and test the torch and radio.
Swap seasonal clothing and check children’s sizes.
Update documents and phone numbers.
Replace anything you used.

Ready.gov also suggests reviewing the kit once a year as your household changes: a new baby, a new pet, a new medication.

Before you buy anything

Start with what you already own. Most of the list is everyday stuff: a torch, old clothes, a first-aid kit, document copies. Buy only the gaps. Our interactive checklist shows what is missing and saves your progress. For the medical part of the bag, see our first aid kit checklist.

FAQ

How much water should a go-bag hold?

Ready.gov and the Red Cross recommend one gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day for drinking and sanitation; the UK government says 3 litres per person per day for drinking alone. A bag realistically carries 1.5–3 litres, so add a way to treat more water on the way.

Should I buy a ready-made kit?

A pre-packed kit is a quick start, but it often has low-quality gear and none of your personal items: medication, documents, glasses. Use it as a base and fill the gaps from this list.

How often should I check the bag?

Every six months: food and medication expiry dates, battery charge, children's clothing sizes. The Government of Canada suggests updating your kit when the clocks change in spring and autumn.

How much medication should I pack in a go-bag?

The American Red Cross recommends a 7-day supply of medication plus any medical items you rely on, such as glasses, hearing aid batteries or syringes. Add a written list of medicines and doses.

Does each family member need their own go-bag?

The Government of Canada recommends one grab-and-go bag per household member. Each person then carries their own water, food, clothing and sleeping gear, and children can carry a small bag of their own.

What is the difference between a go-bag and a home emergency kit?

A go-bag is what you carry when you leave, so it covers about 3 days and must be light. A home kit supports sheltering in place for longer: the Red Cross suggests 2 weeks of water and food at home.

Sources

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This guide is educational. In an emergency, follow official alerts and first responders.