Most of us carry a purse everywhere we go, but not many realize it can double as a small emergency kit. Whether you’re stuck in traffic during severe weather, dealing with a power outage at a store, or waiting hours for roadside assistance, the items in your purse can make a big difference. With a dozen or so carefully chosen items, your everyday purse can help you stay comfortable, solve small problems, and handle unexpected situations without worry.
In This Article
- Why Your Purse Matters in Emergency Situations
- 8 Situations When Your Purse Emergency Kit Could Save the Day
- What to Consider When Choosing Purse Contents
- What Stuff Should I Put In My Purse?
- The Ultimate Purse Emergency Kit Checklist
- The 10-Item Minimalist Purse Survival Kit
- How to Organize Your Purse Contents
- What If I Don’t Like Carrying A Purse?
- Real Life Scenarios: How I’ve Used My Purse Survival Kit
- Final Thought
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Your Purse Matters in Emergency Situations
Most of us store preparedness items at home or in the car. They’re at the ready whenever we need them. Yet, the real challenge arises when we find ourselves away from these well-equipped locations when an emergency strikes.
Those Get Home Bags or Bug Out Backpacks are necessary, but truthfully, the one “bag” most every woman has with her at all times is her purse, and most of the time, it’s enough. Look at your purse as your frontline resource when other emergency or survival supplies are nowhere near.
When you think of your purse in this role, it makes sense to have a few pieces of gear and supplies to handle the next crisis. Nothing major — no hunting knife, yards of paracord, or an MRE. Just small, handy, everyday items you use all the time, anyway.
8 Situations When Your Purse Emergency Kit Could Save the Day
I love the feeling of reaching into my purse and pulling out exactly what I, or one of my family members, needs at that moment. Eyeglass wipes for my husband. An energy bar for my son. A couple of Advil for my mom.
- Power outage in a theater — The perfect moment to have a tiny LED flashlight to hunt down something you desperately need but is in the very bottom corner of your purse.
- Being stuck in traffic for hours — An energy bar, your smartphone loaded with music or audio books and a charged power bank so you don’t run your car battery down.
- Car breaks down at night — That LED flashlight, a charged power bank to keep your smartphone energized, pepper spray — items to provide a bit of security.
- Medical issue in public — A small First Aid kit, a package of wet wipes, a few doses of any prescription meds, an assortment of OTC meds, like Benadryl, Advil, Tylenol, and a few cough drops.
- Lost wallet or payment system outage — A few bills ($5, $10,$20) tucked into an inside zippered compartment along with a $100 Visa gift card or a credit card you typically don’t use for something pricey like a tank of gas.
- Getting stranded during severe weather — Hand warmers, a snack, LED flashlight with strobe light to attract attention.
- Waiting hours in an ER or doctor’s office — A charged power bank so your phone stays charged, pad of paper and a pen to jot down notes.
- A sudden evacuation when you need to get to safety and all you have is your purse.
Emergencies don’t wait for us to be near our stockpiles; they can happen anywhere.
What to Consider When Choosing Purse Contents
It’s important to remember that the contents of your purse are unique to you and your circumstances. If you have a baby and a few kids, your purse will hold different items than mine, an empty nester. However, generally speaking, there are three questions to ask when deciding what to carry in your purse. Ask yourself:
- Is it essential?
- Is it compact and lightweight?
- Does it have multiple uses?
If you’ve never thought of things to always have in your purse, here’s my list to get you started.
What Stuff Should I Put In My Purse?
In addition to those things most of us carry all the time, such as wallet with ID, credit cards, cell phone, etc., and based on the above questions, some of these items might be good choices for you.
Light sources
- Emergency whistle — especially if you live in an urban area with high crime or a rural area where it might be difficult to attract attention in an emergency
- LED flashlight with strobe feature
- This tiny keychain flashlight charges via a USB port.
- A tiny multi-tool and super-bright LED flashlight in one
- BIC lighter
Medical supplies
- Pill box containing your choice of OTC meds: Tylenol, Advil, Tums, Benadryl, etc.
- A few Bandaids
- Two alcohol swabs
- A few doses of important prescription meds
Tools
- Six-function Swiss army knife or multi-tool — small is good but make sure the blades and tools are strong enough to be useful
- Lightweight power bank
Money
- Small bills ($1, $5, $10), and quarters for machines and Aldi!
- Pre-paid VISA or MasterCard
- Fast food/Starbucks gift card — fast food places are everywhere for food, a shelter, restroom break, etc. when you don’t have your wallet
Comfort/entertainment items
- Gum or a few candies
- Small pack of wet wipes
- Small crossword puzzle book, Sudoku, anything to help you pass the time
- Small writing pad
- Pen and pencil
- Package of Kleenex
Food/water
- Package of 6 Ritz cracker sandwiches, protein bar, package of trail mix
- Eight ounces of water in mylar pouch
Pick and choose the items that make the most sense to you, and pay attention to those moments when you don’t have what you need. That’s a signal you need to add just-the-right item to solve that problem the next time it comes around. Over the years, I’ve added a few of these from time to time:
- Lip balm
- Tampon/feminine hygiene stuff
- Hand sanitizer
- Pepper spray
- Instant nail glue
- Eyeglass wipes — These are the ones my husband insists I use! One year I bought a set for everyone in the family!
The Ultimate Purse Emergency Kit Checklist
You could load your purse up with a hundred different “must have’s”, but in a nutshell, you want to cover these categories.
| Category | Item | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling | Whistle, strobe flashlight | Attract attention quickly |
| Light | Mini flashlight | Blackouts, dark parking lots |
| Medical | Bandaids, OTC meds, small First Aid kit | Blisters, cuts, pain, allergies |
| Tools | Multi-tool, pocket knife, collapsible scissors | Repairs, opening packages, cut thread or price tag |
| Communication | Phone bank for smartphone | Dead phone emergencies |
| Food | Energy bar, nuts, dried fruit | Delays, low blood sugar |
| Water | Small container in mylar pouch | Hydration if stranded, wash hands/face, wash down pills |
Don’t overlook the usefulness of your smartphone for entertainment, a news source, flashlight, navigation, and so much more. I often call it my lifeline, and in an emergency that’s an accurate description.
The 10-Item Minimalist Purse Survival Kit
If you still aren’t sure what to bring and you’re saying, “Just give me a list of must-haves!”, here you go.
- 1 small LED flashlight — on a keychain keeps it easy to find
- 1 multitool — a small blade comes in handy more often you’d think
- 1 pill pouch — OTC meds and a few doses of prescriptions
- bandaids — a few in different sizes
- phone charger (power bank) — these can get heavy, so go for one as lightweight as possible
- cash — bills in different denominations
- protein bar — non-chocolate if you live where it’s hot
- wet wipes — small package for hands and face
- pen and small pad of paper
- pack of tissues
Challenges With Food And Water In A Purse
Food and water are the most difficult to accommodate in a purse. Sometimes I might carry a package of Ritz crackers because they’re inexpensive, easily rotated, packaged adequately, and easily shared. Currently, though, my preference is a KIND high-energy bar with nuts or protein bar.
I always have a couple of water bottles in my car, but for my purse, they’re too heavy. The mylar pouches of water weigh less, and the mylar is extremely heavy-duty. Another option for a small amount of water is a stainless steel flask, available in sizes from 4 oz to 18 oz. It’s easy and inexpensive to refill once a week. Keep in mind you’ll need water to wash down a couple of Advil tablets or your prescription meds.
How to Organize Your Purse Contents
Organizing the things in your purse depends on a lot of factors, such as:
- type of of purse you carry
- purse size
- how many items from the list you want to have on hand
- how much weight you can carry
- how the interior of the purse is organized (lots of pouches, zippered pockets, etc.)
Some purses have so many organization options already built in that there’s no need to add anything more. Just decide on where you want to keep your EDC supplies and remember where they are!
One strategy is to keep all your everyday carry items together in something like a small makeup bag. They already have a category, “Emergency Supplies”, so having them all in one place makes sense.
Another strategy is to separate them in handy categories — like “Health/Medical” or “Comfort Items”.
Small, color-coded zippered bags are another way to keep your everyday carry supplies categorized. Once you remember which supplies are in which colored bag, it’s easy to reach in an immediately grab what you need.
Look around your house and see what you already have that might work for organizing your supplies. Altoid tins, empty prescription bottles, eyeglass cases — there are plenty of container options you don’t need to spend money on.
It’s funny how having just the right set of small, versatile, and handy supplies and gear can make all the difference in the world when one of those pesky little emergencies happens
What If I Don’t Like Carrying A Purse?
Are purses not your thing? For a long time, I didn’t like the bulk and weight of a purse, either. I used a small organizer bag worn across my chest. When my kids were little, I liked having my hands free rather than fuss over a purse.
Some non-purse options are a small backpack, sling, a vest with lots of pockets, or a crossbody bag. All these give you the hands-free experience, which I still love.
Real Life Scenarios: How I’ve Used My Purse Survival Kit
The better question might be when haven’t I needed one thing or another from my kit? Whether it’s to stave off a hangry teenage boy (protein bar), deal with chapped lips (lip balm), wash my hands after using a grungy shopping cart (wet wipes) or come to the rescue of my husband and his smudged eyeglasses (cleaning mitts), again and again I’ve been grateful for the small selection of EDC I always have with me.
Over the years I’ve needed most of these items at one time or another: a thunderstorm once knocked out the lights in the theater and I was the only person with a flashlight; new shoes rubbed a blister and I had a Bandaid; a two-hour wait in the doctor’s office was less miserable because I had the crossword puzzle book and the crackers. The Swiss army knife has been the single most useful item I carry. I’ve used it to cut threads, pull out splinters, tighten glasses, and file broken fingernails.
It’s funny how having just the right set of small, versatile, and handy supplies and gear can make all the difference in the world when one of those pesky little emergencies happens. And it only takes a few minutes to equip your own purse so you’ll be ready.
Related Content
- Battle of the Mini Survival Kits: Which one is best?
- 4 Must-Have Mini Emergency Kits for Your Purse
- 3 Key Principles for Building Emergency Kits
Final Thought
Your purse can be more than just a fashion accessory. As you put together your own purse kit, remember that choosing a few important items can really help when unexpected challenges come up. Recognizing the benefit of having important things close by and using hands-free options means you’re better prepared to handle emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big enough to hold just what you need and no bigger! From the lists in this article, decide what you want and need to carry, and then set those items on a table to get a visual idea of how you’ll organize them and how big the kit will be. If it ends up being too bulky or heavy, whittle it down by either deleting some things or finding substitutes that are more lightweight and compact.
Nobody likes a purse filled with crumbs and food particles, so whatever you carry, make sure it’s packaged well. A protein bar, small bag of nuts or trail mix, a jerky meat stick, or peanut butter crackers are all good choices.
A purse is handy for everyday carry items because most women carry one of one size or another. But a backpack, sling, a crossbody bag, or even a small organizer pouch can work very well instead.
What a great list. It makes me feel prepared that I already carry around some of these items, but I do need to improve on some of the items, such as small bills (they tend to spend themselves, somehow) and water. The flask idea is brilliant and I saw flasks just this morning at the grocery store.
I have seen in the Dollar Store zip up cases for eye glasses, if you don’t want or don’t have room for a cosmetic case in a small purse.
I carry a lighter, pocket knife, nail clippers, two “light day” pads, bandaids, a couple of alchol pads for fire starters and an Altoids “tiny tin” with part of a crayon for a candle, another alcohol swab, two single edge razors, dental floss, two fishing hooks with eyes that the floss will fit through. I take the floss out of it container to fit better.
Use an emptied prescription medicine bottle with push and turn cap. Works great
I was in San Francisco on a bus several years ago when a women got on with a bad cut on her finger. As a mom of boys, I carry a tube of Neosporin and a selection of Bandaids all the time. She was quite surprised to have a passenger glob some Neosporin on her finger (yes, I asked first) and then give her not just a bandaid, but specifically a knuckle one at that! So, I agree with you that, like most prepping, these things can come in handy at the most unexpected times.
Make sure that flask doesn't slide out of your purse while you're in church! : ) I did that once with a pistol. Purse sitting on the floor near the isle tipped over, and gun plopped out on the floor for all to see. I picked it up and ignored it. So did everyone else, surprisingly!
That whistle you carry, affix it to the handle or shoulder strap by a little chain where it's quick to grab. No rummaging to find your defense items.
I quit carrying a purse because I heaped it full of useless junk, but I may make up a minibag with these items in it and carry it like one!
I love to hear what others keep in their "every day carry" kit. I've learned a lot about what is useful and some good products just from these kinds of lists.
Good list – some additions for my purse.
I recommend my big ol' 40 oz. stainless steel water bottle … but then, I get really thirsty. 🙂
I can also add:
glasses cleaning kit
sunglasses
daily meds
nail clippers (I hatehateHATE hangnails)
I carry a small backpack type bag with a collapsible baton, police issued mace, tiny first aid kit, roll of quarters, small LED flashlight, tiny pill bottle with various meds, window punch/seat belt cutter on my key chain, bottle of water and always granola or crackers. To list a few 😉
Very good suggestions! Are you trained to use that baton? Another item for self defense you might consider is a tactical pen.
This is a great list for several reasons. Mainly, it’s nice to see someone who agrees with me <g>. But since a kit containing this really gets down to the basic level it should carry the basic supplies for every single person to have access to 24/7.
As terror attacks ramped up (WTC 1993, 9/11, London subway etc.) around the world over several years I was struck by pictures of the survivors, many of whom were coughing, choking, and dirt smeared. As a result I put together my own ‘Urban Survival Pack,’ containing several things which would be useful. It contains most of the things in your list, (although I shorted the Comfort/Entertainment items). I added two items I really considered significant – a plastic poncho and an N-95 face mask and a triangular bandage to serve as bandage, bandana, sling, etc. I also chose to carry about 8 ounces of water, but I chose the mylar bags used by the Coast Guard.
The addition of the face mask and poncho were based on the desirability of being able to walk away from a ‘dirty bomb’ explosion and other disasters without coughing and hacking.
In 2003 The RAND Corporation (a think tank) issued a comprehensive report (RAND MR 1731, 2003) called “Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear and Biological Terror Attacks.”
This report noted that the main goal of the individual response to a dirty bomb attack was to avoid contamination of the lungs by radioactive particles (dust, dirt) which result from the explosion. The easiest way to accomplish this would be to put on a face mask (and poncho to keep radioactive dust off the clothes and skin), walk at right angles to the wind, find one’s car, and leave, take off the poncho and wash thoroughly. This is logical, and the report confirmed that this is a great response.
Instead, the report urged sheltering in place, with windows and vents closed until emergency responders could lead you to safety, even to the point of going indoors if you were outside at the time of the blast.
I had to read the entire report and the appendices three times before I understood the unstated… people would never actually prepare for such an event, even to the point of actually buying and carrying a simple face mask, therefore the general population would not be able to take these simply steps for survival. Under those circumstances the only other possible group solution was to huddle together and wait for someone to come along. I prefer not to be part of a "second choice" solution.
By the way, this kit fits nicely into a zipper plastic freezer bag, and the bag fits nicely into my wife’s purse, my jacket pocket, a backpack (think of it as a school kit) as well as being the core of Bug Out Bag supplies.
And don't forget to add tampons to your list! Men too! Besides the regular obvious use, they can be a first aid life saver! Recently, on a camping trip, a woman tripped and fell on the hiking trail, cutting a large gash in her leg which started bleeding profusely! Our 6 ft. plus Camp Director whipped out some tampons from his backpack and had the woman hold them against her leg she could get proper medical attention. Those tampons did their job!!
And with a small tube of vaseline, they can be used as fire starters! They are small and light to carry in a purse, pocket , or backpack!
As far as the medicine goes, I would add one more twofer of pills there: Two anti-diahrreal (Immodium). Not only is it a peace of mind to have at work/vacation, etc, but if you end up ever accidently drinking some bad water/eating bad food, it might give you an extra couple of hours to get some clean water/electrolytes in you/ preps ready/get home if close, before you are incapacitated. I always carry a dozen or so, because one of my worst case scenarios was played out in a book, where people got stranded in a barn for days from drinking bad water, and unable to get more to make potable, and all nearly died. It was an eye opener for sure, and has come as a real convenience to many a coworker…
@DaveyBoy: You could do the same with activated charcoal pills. Either bought or homemade. I have staved off horrible gut and ‘other’ Issues with some homemade pills many times..
All great suggestions, and good to know that I am somewhat prepared. I would also add aspirin to the list of meds, in the the event of heart attack, or it could be used for other ills.
Wow, I'm totally a bad mom! I'm going to take this list and go shopping. My mom-bag includes diapers, an iPhone, one bottle (no matter how long we'll be out) and a book. A book for me.
*sheesh*
Okay, I'm not the guilty type, so I'll get over it… Okay, I'm over it. But still, I need to beef up the mom-bag.
I live in Nevada, and work 7 miles from home, 10 minutes by road 45 or so cross country. My jeep and my car are both kept stocked with extra water (gallon and personal), pulaski or small shovel, light weight shawl/scarves, a variety of hats, gloves and extra socks and an extra pair of shoes. My purse has most everything on the list but I will be updating that asap. By the way, would you say that a mini leatherman work as a good substitute for the Swiss army knife? I have that and a mini (4") pocket knife that never leave my purse and a large leatherman in my jeep kit.
A few days ago on your “lists” section there was a list of many items to have in case of an emergency. It had been printed by another person several years ago. One item listed was a generator + many others.
It is no longer on your website!! Where is it? Would you put it up again as our printer was out of ink and we were unable to print it and we would like to do so now.
Sincerely,
Tom Hosier
You can put your crackers in a hard-sided and hinged sunglasses holder. You might fit two in there, maybe some nuts too. Now they won't get crushed. Great list!! I need to pull together this mini-kit.
Diabetics carry a mini/small meter and extra lancets and test strips. If you have an ostomy appliance 1 or 2 changes of supplies including disposal bags,in a tote bag of urinals[hospital/medical supply store,male & female] male for emptyingpouch,female for the obvious,small bottle of water to rinse pouch,tissues/paper towels to clean tail of pouch,towels to cover door windows[privacy],small trash bag to cover seat in case of a spill, anti-bac wipes for cleaning hands. If you get stuck in a traffic jam for hours,well this is a lifesaver for me in the floor board. everybody knows what you can go through at airport security checkpoints,now add hospital ER's. They took my mini Leather man tool,my mini swiss knife and anything else they consider a "weapon". I've carried these forever on a key ring. Actually came close to panic attack. Just be warned people.
Well, you should have known they would confiscate the Swiss knife and leatherman…..I guess on 9/11 one of the highjackers used a nail clipper…..
I have read a lot about guns, etc. on prepper and survivalist sites. But I have yet to read about pepper spray. I actually used it once, to great effect. I lived in Miami and commuted every day on the public transportation system. One afternoon, I came down the elevator from the Metrorail (raised rail system) and when the door opened, there was a man who said "Give me your purse." Well, I always travelled with a pepper spray right in my skirt pocket with my hand on it. I pulled it out and shot him in the face with it. I missed his eyes (probably useless with a gun, anyway) but did hit his cheek and he ran. I went back up to the platform and hollered after him, jeering want some more? I would really recommend this for any one living in a city or town environment and I think the whistle is a good idea too. But now that I live in Texas, in a more rural area, I am thinking of getting one again. It could be useful answering the door. Even with armed marauders, you have the element of surprise and the stuff is really potent! Unless they have heavy artillery (in which case a handgun isn't going to help much), it could really make them run!
Let's see… I have a swiss army compact, a swiss army memory stick, a paracord bracelet(i use it as a key chain), two small flashlights(one cheap dollar store led, and a mag-light solitare) my grandmothers zippo(its from the 50's, )enough over the counter meds for a small army, a really nifty bandana, a whistle, bandaids, paper and pen, you name it… I have it, and it's all in a purse that is no bigger than a small lunch box. Oh and my water bottle is reusable and has a built in charcoal filter.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlmcmahanphotography…
Several weeks ago I made up my every day carry following the "18 things to have". Yesterday I travelled in a train as a young muslim woman approached me and asked: "Do you have any Aspirin by chance. My sister has got terrible belly ache". So I pulled out my little food container I use and gave her an Aspirin. She was so grateful and said: "I should make up such a thing myself"! What else have I used: On a ride with the car we saw that the gas prices had dropped significantly. Since neither of us had any card in the pocket, I payed out of the cash reserve. Ibuprofen for back ache. Knife for opening one of these incredible blister-packages. Alcohol wipes for toilets a lot. Lamp on the key chain when I am on call during nights in the hospital and have to cross the area between different houses. You can find your way but not the key holes in the dark.
With greeting from Germany, Chris
Awesome! Preparedness isn't just for the end of the world and zombies!
i carry a tamagotchi.it's a great for boredom ^_____^
Not for your purse but good self defense is wasp spray. Think about it! It will shoot 20 – 30 feet. You don't even have to get close to shake up an intruder enough for you to escape. Keep a can close to your bed and also where you watch TV. With so many home intrusions these days, it may help send the jerks running for their lives instead of taking yours.
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing it.
@Mizpah5: Although wasp spray and even pepper spray are great for self protection, beware: there have been cases of criminals suing their targeted victims and winning when the use of these items are used to protect yourself. Wasp spray especially as it can blind.
And germ-x Lol im thrteen and i carry a bunch of junk to lol i am cleaning out my purse and makeing a mini shopping list . I usually carry a knife and my wallet and book with me .
In additon to the OTC meds you mention I would suggest a couple enteric-coated aspirins. A life saver in the event of a heart attack.
I need to correct that. Not enteric-coated because you need to be able to chew it so it will act quickly.
Sorry if I confused anyone.
I would add a small sewing kit to that list. You don’t need much I made a kit in home-economics out of a few different threads, 2 needles, a safety pin, button all wrapped or taped onto a small piece of thin cardboard. I’ve also used sewing kits from hotels. A small sewing kit has come in very handy, just the other day while in school (college student here) my tank top strap broke because some little plastic piece broke. I didn’t have to worry I just got my EDC bag out of my purse got the sewing kit out & took the safety pin out and fixed my strap. My EDC bag is a makeup bag I got for xmas it has all my essentials in it from perfume, pill box, nail file, my asthma pump, and most of what’s on the list above. So when I switch my purse I simply take that bag out and move it to the new purse.
Good list! I make sure I carry some tools in my bag as I am always in situations in my job where I never know from one minute to the next where I may be. I might be driving 400 miles that day and going to need a few things to help me along the way! =) and besides that ya never know where else you might have these items come in handy! I always stop for goodies in the morning and 2 large bottles of water. Peanut butter crackers and a bag of pretzels help me get though a little hunger issue and my mini leatherman’s tool is great for all kinds of things! I could go on and on with the stuff in my bag that have come in handy. HEY —>SAFETY PINS!!! add them to your keychain!! =)
It couldn’t hurt to have an extra phone charger in there.
The flask or stainless water bottle could hold a lot of the small items on the list, saving space. Individual peanut butter, like you see on a hotel buffet, would offer more protein, calories, and nutrition than peanut butter crackers.
Your defiantly on the right track, I have everything on your list in my purse, But I do have a few more you could add to your list, 1- feminine hygiene products 2- burn cream 3- antibiotic ointment 4- bio freeze gel, for back & muscle pain 5- sewing kit 6- safety pins 7- Chapstick 8- toothpick 9- folding scissors 10- tweezers 11- nail file 12- Bobbie pins 13- nail nippers 14- sharpie 15- travel toothbrush kit 16- phone charger 17- handkerchief, for many more uses than a sneeze 18- comb 19- ponytails 20- lotion 21- makeup 22- hand sanitizer 23- toner 24- nail polish 25- zip lock bag, I have re-used these items many times over the years, as a Mom, a girls out lady, a sub teacher, work, Church, ECT ( I add one more very important item in my purse my I pad & accessories )
I am new to this site. I love this list, and the comments are excellent too. I live in the city but have always carried certain things in my purse or bag. Having small, lightweight items is essential, because We often travel without a car, on foot or bicycle. In urban areas, it is easy to think that everything is always available in nearby stores, but you just never know and should have certain things, especially with kids. I love the idea of a simple flask for water! I have always struggled with the bigger water bottles on short trips.
This past summer, I know many people who were stranded underground on the subway for two or three hours at a time in the heat, no AC. Happened on two different occasions. That is an example of a time when you want some water and food and maybe some entertainment! I would add energy bars to the list. Crackers and peanut butter are great, but if you are in a rush, energy bars are available in many places and will tied you over. Thank you!
Throw in a couple of mylar space blankets..they don’t take up much space, but they can save your life.
Cold outside – wrap up. Use as heat reflector.
Hot outside – use for shade/solar reflector
You have a much greater chance of dying from hypothermia/hyperthermia than anything else in a bad situation. Mylar space blankets are dirt cheap, and are quite small when folded (just don’t try to fold it back up…it’s worse than those old road maps that gas stations used to have!)
I would suggest using small empty Altoids’ tins and making a sewing kit and another with several fishing hooks and fishing line.
Old medicine bottles can also work for this.
@Darla: I use my empty blood sugar test strip bottles for this.
Use what you have!
I stock up on medicines& band aids,anti diarrheal medicine, isopropyl alcohol at Walmart every fall they have a display set up where everything is only 88 cents. Now it’s not top grade stuff but it’s better than nothing & it has come in handy more than once
Wait…so Minions, Thomas the Trains and Hot Wheels aren’t on the list? *dumps out purse*
how about an emergency survival blanket. Love your list and will be adding to my bag tomorrow.
Use a dollar store hard sided glasses case to keep crackers from crumbling.
I don’t have half of this stuff. It’s ok. Doesn’t make one a bad mom.
Why not take the weight out of that purse?
Make a “Car Purse”
Think of your life. Make categories ie. Sara, Felix, mom ,dad, dog besides some of those categories she listed above..You should see my trunk. Gloves, work, non-latex, etc. Tissues , toilet paper, towels. Rope, chain, bungee cords. Travel needs: toilet paper (when a roll is getting altitle low, I change it and pack them for emergency stops, smaller ones can be carried easier too.) paper plates, napkins, decent ones, plastic, reusable , spoon, fork, knifes, plastic bags for garbage, 1 bag with warm soapy wash cloth, or wet ones, 1 bag with soft drying cloth or two. Boots, extra shoes, underwear for all, anti diarrhea pills, medicine. H2O. Gum, candy, protein bars or drinks. Life is busy, appointments run ov r r or long. Books , puzzles, doodling pad to help patiently wait. Patience is a gift…use it to develop it.
I changed it according to the season. Be safe, good luck, God bless!
That is what I have. Much easier to keep what you may need. I do still keep a few things in my purse.
Depends on where you live. Some medications can’t take extremes of heat or cold (where I live it has been as cold as -58F and as high as 100F). Frozen water bottles not helpful, neither are bars with chocolate chips or coatings that melt. Depending on the emergency, you may not have time to go to the car or it may not be safe to do so. Most of that isn’t really that big or heavy and easily fits in a tote bag or diaper bag. As a retired nurse I tend to have more first aid items, but the list is easily adjusted to ones personal needs. Kids’ backpacks can have their own stash of water, snacks, book and/or small quiet toy, and wet wipes, and those little giveaway keychain flashlights make good zipper pulls (not great, but can comfort a small child when the lights go out); you can decide based on their age what else may be appropriate. Other than gum I consider most of this my EDC. HTH and take care 🙂
PS: I’d add a small bottle of activated charcoal for any food poisoning, stomach upsets/diarrhea.
@BarbiegirlWi: You should see my Jeep! I have a wrangler, and I removed the passenger and rear seats (I use the RHD vehicle for delivering mail) and it is PACKED for emergencies! Mostly for cold /severe/stranded in snow scenarios, but would work for any other situation. I actually used it when about 300 miles from home when my transmission went out and I had to stay in a motel (I NEVER sleep in the beds anymore… I use a sleeping bag liner, my own sheets to cover top of bed, and my own blankets.) I had food and water, and other supplies. When I traveled over mountain passes to California, I-5 was shut down overnight due to blizzard conditions. I left the next morning VERY early and had everything I needed should I be stranded in vehicle or in a motel. Best stress relief, ever!
I would add a few things … Instead of ritz crackers I would use some type of oackaged electrolyte and protein source/energy which would take your body or that of your child’s much farther then um… The nutritional value in ritz crackers lol also cayenne pepper can be carried in sandwich bags or a travel shampoo bottle etc… It will stop massive bleeding instantly – btdt a bunch of times with kids , hubby and myself in remote locations …. And no it doesn’t sting, a small bottle of dr Christopher’s cayenne tincture will also take you far and just might abort a heart attack or stroke as can the powder …read up on it 🙂 arnica 200c or 1m works amazing for shock ! Phone card doesn’t hurt either in case cell networks are down or you are in a different city , assuming land lines are operational. Small bottle of lugols iodine can purify water and disinfect cuts and gashes…..
Maybe you should include:
your drivers license or ID.
Your insurance cards in case of an accident.
A calendar for writing appointments, etc.
ATM or check card or check book
A book for long waits
I’m just back from a doctor visit and needed every one of these items.
I have been carrying these items, plus a few extras for yrs. My purse is VERY small and I got a large pill bottle to put almost all of them in. I like things organized lol. My whistle is clipped to the ring holding the strap. It’s also where I keep my keys, it keeps me from digging in the purse for them. Good info. Keep it up
When I was working I had a small plastic case, like they have in the dollar store. I had many of those things and more. More than once people where surpised that I had screw driver for my glasses or nail clippers. We had a lot of other things because, we worked in a group home, but my emergency kit helped me with small emergencies. I love your list and reminds me to update my purse.
Thank you.
umm I think Im going to need a bigger purse lol..oh wait that would mean i have to actually carry the stupid thing..dang. Ive gotton out of the habit of carrying my purse..I grab my wallet, my phone and my smokes and im out the door. ooo time to go shopping for a new purse yay
I love the idea of a survival kit. I carry most of these things anyway.
The emergency blanket is a great idea – and they weigh next to nothing! I also carry one of those tiny pots of vaseline for my lips and a couple of individual sized packets of powdered drink mix – I absolutely hate water!
There were only a few mentions of a cell phone. My phone case is also my wallet and is loaded with many, many useful prep items. Besides the phone; it’s my address book, clock/timer, game player, map, compass, note pad/pencil, MP3 player, photo album, camera, video/voice recorders, calculator and books including First Aid and SAS survival. I am adding new apps all the time.
Two items that I consider necessities LOTION and CHAPSTICK. Dry and cracking hands and lips are major openings for infection and very annoying especially if you’re stuck without something to soothe them. And I don’t know about anyone else but about the time I realize how dry my hands are it’s because I’m stuck somewhere with nothing to do and my hands start to itch.. and then it’s a constant irritant. You can even get small lotion bars these days which makes it much easier to carry lotion in your purse.. keep it in a ziplock baggies because hot days can melt it somewhat. But way less risk of mess than a liquid lotion coming open on accident.
Great ideas!! I’d add an old tyme hand fan (I hate to be warm) and ear plugs. If you’ve ever had a hotel room next to noisy folks, you’d know why I’ve included ear plugs. For entertainment, possibly a mini-deck of cards and/ or a Xeroxed copy of a chapter from a funny book such as “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress.”
Can only think of 3 more things to add to the list:
– emergency phone #’s and contact information
– a glasses cleaning cloth
– recent photos of your family members and pets in case someone gets lost
Prepping in Utah
I have a couple of the tab closures from storebought bread–one has washi tape around it while the other has paper bandage tape and take up no space in my wallet. I have a lighter w/duct tape around it for heavier tape needs but the washi tape has cone in handy several times as a mom.
I would add a small Krazy glue. We were at a wedding and a young girl came limping in to the reception. We asked her if she was alright and she said she had broken her heal. I pulled out my Krazy glue and Hubby fixed her heal for her. 5 minutes later she was off having a good time. At the end of the night she came up to me to thank me again. The shoe was still OK with her dancing on it all night long.
I have a severe food allergy. Because of it, I have to carry four epi-pens, benedryl, and Zantac.
Cayenne pepper does NOT stop bleeding and could, in some cases, make bleeding worse. (Please check out Snopes – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cayenne-pepper-bleeding/ ) Instead, direct pressure. Better still – Stop the Bleed kit and training. https://www.stopthebleed.org/
We used to go to Mexico and not all restrooms had soap, TP. I carry the little bottles of liquid soap and hand sanitizer and a travel pack of kleenex. There’s now something called a key knife. Looks like a key but there’s a tiny knife folded into the key.
@Bonnie: amazon has a great item for keeping in your purse. It is called instant TP. Basically, it is a reusable or disposable “washcloth” (can be used as one) that you simply wet and it grows. The ‘dehydrated’ size is about the size of a quarter but thicker. I keep a test strip bottle of them, it holds about 4 or 5 in my purse.
One item no one mentioned was an AM/FM s/w radio. Check out the Kaito windup radios. May be a bit large for your purse, but does need to be in you BoB for sure.
I have a checkbook sized solar charger. It opens up to be larger. I can place it in a window and then I can use this to power/charge our cell phones and my Kindle (with 300 plus books). I think it is just the bees knees.
That’s a good idea. They can be pretty heavy, though, which is why I don’t typically suggest it. Is yours lightweight?
I carry a paper clip in case I find myself on the TV Game Show “Let’s Make a Deal”… might be worth $200!!!!!!!! 🙂 Thanks for the GREAT info!
What kind of purse do you typically carry?
I work with a high risk demographic and with current opioid crisis, I have added a naloxone kit to my EDC. I hope to never have to use it, but am prepared just in case.
I love that all the items mentioned are still relevant ten plus years later!! So glad I ran into your site on Pinterest! I have two BOB backpacks. One is my everyday carry the other my emergency grab from home. I am not in any city but I still feel like I need to be prepared as if living in one. We saw a great influx of city people in our area during The pandemic which made me realize they can bring their issues with them so I need to be better prepared. I have been told I am like Dora ya never know what will come out of my backpack. Lol I also feel like it’s making me stronger and more prepared for all possibilities.
yaay! Another Survival Mom enters the room! LOL There are millions of us. 🙂
Another odd item you might want to carry as it is small: a universal faucet “key”. Many businesses have outdoor faucets, but they remove the knob…this item will replace it so it can be used to open faucets to obtain water…
Then make sure you have a way to filter/sanitize that water, just in case…