A go-bag — also called a bug-out bag or emergency grab bag — is a pre-packed bag that allows you to leave your home at a moment's notice with everything you need to survive 72 hours or more. The single most important feature of a go-bag is readiness: it must be packed, accessible, and known to all household members at all times.
The difference between a well-prepared household and an unprepared one in an evacuation is often measured in minutes. An effective go-bag means that no matter what emergency unfolds, you are ready to move in under three minutes.
Bag Selection
The bag itself matters. A poor choice adds weight, fails structurally, or signals your preparedness status to others in a public emergency.
Key criteria:
- Volume: 30–45 litres for one adult. This is enough for 72-hour supplies without being overloaded.
- Durability: Reinforced stitching at stress points. 500D to 1000D nylon or Cordura construction.
- Comfort: Padded shoulder straps and a hip/sternum strap for load transfer. An uncomfortable bag will be abandoned or slow you down.
- Colour: Muted (black, grey, olive, navy). Bright or military-patterned bags draw attention.
- Water resistance: Not waterproof, but at minimum water-resistant. Use dry bags or zip-lock bags inside for documents and electronics.
- Organisation: Multiple compartments allow logical packing and fast access.
For children: A school-style backpack in 15–20L size. Children should carry their own water bottle, comfort items, and some snacks. Do not overload them.
The Complete Packing List
Water (highest priority)
- 1 litre of bottled water minimum per person (3-day supply = 3 litres per person; share weight across family)
- Water purification tablets (iodine or chlorine dioxide — lightweight, treat hundreds of litres)
- Compact water filter (e.g., a personal straw filter or small hand pump filter)
- Collapsible water container (2 litres empty — for gathering and transporting found water)
Food
- 72-hour supply of non-perishable food: ~6,000–7,000 kcal per adult
- Recommended: energy bars, peanut butter, crackers, tinned fish (pull-tab), dried fruit, nuts
- Compact, lightweight, no cooking required where possible
- Manual tin opener if using regular tins
- Spork or basic utensil
First Aid
- Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- Sterile gauze pads (several large: 10x10cm)
- Medical tape
- Elastic bandage (compression wrap)
- Antiseptic wipes
- Antibiotic ointment
- Nitrile gloves (2 pairs minimum)
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Ibuprofen and paracetamol
- Any personal prescription medications (minimum 7-day supply; rotate regularly)
- First aid reference card
Documents (waterproofed)
- Passport and/or ID for all household members (originals or high-quality copies)
- Insurance documents (health, home, vehicle)
- Bank account details and emergency contact list (printed — no electronics dependency)
- Medical records summary (blood type, allergies, current medications, medical conditions)
- Property documents (mortgage, lease, title — photos on phone plus printed copy)
- Cash: enough for 3–7 days without card access. Mix of small and large denominations. Local currency.
Clothing
- One complete change of clothes per person (appropriate for current season)
- Extra socks (two pairs — foot health is critical)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots (do not rely on sandals in an evacuation)
- Rain poncho or compact waterproof jacket
- Warm layer (lightweight fleece or thermal base layer)
- Hat (sun protection or warmth depending on season)
- Gloves (one pair, general purpose)
- Torch/flashlight with spare batteries (or hand-crank/solar torch)
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
- Whistle (for signalling)
- Duct tape (small roll)
- Paracord (5–10 metres)
- Work gloves (heavy-duty)
- Emergency foil/mylar blanket (one per person — lightweight, reflects body heat)
- Waterproof matches or lighter (two lighters minimum)
- Small tarpaulin (3x3m for emergency shelter)
Communication
- Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio
- Fully charged power bank (minimum 10,000 mAh)
- Charging cable for your phone
- Written list of important phone numbers (do not rely solely on your phone's memory)
- Whistle (dual purpose — signalling and communication)
Hygiene and Sanitation
- Toilet paper (compact — partially used roll flattened)
- Hand sanitiser (minimum 60% alcohol, 250ml)
- Bar of soap in a case
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products)
- N95 or equivalent dust masks (minimum 4 per person)
- Rubbish bags (heavy-duty, 2–3 for waste disposal and improvised weather protection)
Special Items by Household
| Household member | Add to go-bag |
|---|
| Infant | Formula, nappies (4-day supply), wipes, rash cream, dummy, feeding bottles |
| Elderly person | Extra medications, mobility aids spare parts, hearing aid batteries, glasses spare |
| Pet | Food (3-day supply), water bowl, leash, carrier, vaccination records |
| Person with medical needs | Medical device supplies, spare batteries, written care instructions |
| Young child | Comfort toy or stuffed animal, colouring book, familiar snack |
How to Pack: Organisation and Priority
Pack in reverse priority: items you need least go in first (deepest in the bag), items you may need most urgently go in last (top or external pockets).
Suggested layering:
- Bottom layer: Heavy, rarely accessed items (tools, spare clothing, tarpaulin)
- Middle layer: Food supply (bulk), documents in waterproof pouch
- Top layer: Frequently accessed items (first aid kit, water, torch)
- External pockets: Fast-access items (phone, keys, cash, torch, snacks, water purification tablets)
- Attached externally: Items too bulky to fit inside (sleeping bag, tarpaulin in dry bag)
Weight guidance:
- Adults: maximum 25% of body weight; aim for 10–15kg
- Teenagers: maximum 15–20% of body weight
- Children: 10% of body weight maximum
Grab-and-Go in Under 3 Minutes
The point of a go-bag is to eliminate decision-making under pressure. Every item should already be in the bag. The 3-minute protocol:
- Put on shoes (keep by the bag)
- Grab go-bag
- Grab phone (keep charging near the bag)
- Grab car keys (keep by the bag)
- Notify household members to do the same
- Meet at designated exit point
- Go
Practice this physically. Walk through it with your household. Time yourselves. Identify what slows you down and solve it in advance.
Go-Bag Maintenance Schedule
A go-bag that has expired medications and stale food is a false sense of security.
| Frequency | Task |
|---|
| Every 6 months | Replace food and water; check medication expiry dates |
| Every 6 months | Charge power bank; test torch and radio batteries |
| Every season | Review and update clothing for season change |
| Annually | Check and update documents; replace any used items |
| After any use | Immediately repack and replenish consumed items |
| After major life change | Update for new household member, medical need, location, or season |
Mark your 6-month review date on a calendar now. It takes 30 minutes and could save your life.
Family and Multi-Person Bags
One go-bag per adult is the target. In a family:
- Primary adult bag: Full 72-hour supply for one adult
- Secondary adult bag: Full supply for second adult; documents and cash shared
- Children's pack: Personal items, snacks, water bottle, comfort toy — does not carry adult essentials
If only one adult, prioritise: documents, water, medications, first aid, phone, cash, emergency contacts.
Discuss the bag with your household. Everyone should know where it is, what is in it, and what the plan is if they need to use it without you.
Quick Reference
| Situation | Action |
|---|
| Emergency evacuation order received | Grab go-bag, phone, keys — leave within 3 minutes |
| Forgot medications in rush | Return only if safe; note in bag to pre-pack a 7-day supply |
| Power bank empty | Keep charging cable in bag; charge bank weekly if in high-risk period |
| Go-bag too heavy to carry | Remove heavy non-essentials; water and medications are non-negotiable |
| Child refusing to leave without a toy | Pre-pack a comfort toy in their pack — this is not a luxury, it aids compliance |
| Multiple destinations being considered | Keep physical address list in go-bag; discuss plan with household in advance |
| Documents lost or out of date | Update documents section immediately — add photocopies as minimum |
| New family member (baby, elderly relative) | Add their specific needs to bag immediately; review weight distribution |