What to Do When Your Kit Arrives

Your kit has arrived. Welcome to being ready.

There's very little you have to do, and that's the point. These steps turn a box in the closet into a kit your household can actually use. You don't have to do them all today. Most families finish in under an hour, coffee breaks included.

1. Unbox and take a look

Lay everything out on a table or a clean floor. Check it against the What's Included list on your kit's product page.

If something is missing or arrived damaged, email us at support@gearupsurvivalkits.com and we'll make it right. Our Shipping & Returns FAQ has the details.

Snap a photo of the contents while everything is out. Future you will thank present you the next time you want to know what's in there without unpacking the whole thing.

2. Leave single-use items sealed

Some items work only once. Light sticks, hand warmers, emergency blankets, and sealed water pouches are all designed to stay closed until you need them. Testing them means using them up. Give them a friendly look and leave them be.

3. Find the earliest expiration date and write it down

If your kit includes food, water, batteries, or first aid supplies, some will have dates printed on the packaging. Find the earliest one. Write it on a strip of tape and stick it to the outside of your kit.

Ten seconds now saves you from opening everything later just to check.

4. Add what no kit can include

Every household is different, and some things only you can pack. Consider adding:

  • Copies of important documents (here's what to keep with your kit)
  • Prescription medications and any medical supplies your family uses
  • Spare eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, or other personal equipment
  • Comfort items for kids, like a small toy or a deck of cards
  • Cash in small bills
  • Phone chargers and cables

Does your kit include food and water? Not every kit does. If yours doesn't, plan to add some. These guides can help:

Have pets? See what your pet needs in an emergency.

For more ideas tailored to your household, see what to add for your family's specific needs.

Our free 72-Hour Family Emergency Plan walks through documents, medications, and the rest of your household plan in more detail.

5. Get familiar with it

It's worth knowing how your gear works before you need it. This week, take a few minutes to:

  • Test anything that runs on batteries or a hand crank, like a flashlight or radio
  • Read the instructions for anything you haven't used before
  • Look through any first aid guide that came in the kit

6. Store it somewhere easy to reach

Your kit should live where every household member can find it quickly. A hall closet, mudroom, or entryway works well.

Pick a cool, dry spot. Attics and garages get hot, and heat shortens the life of food, water, and batteries. They can also be hard to reach in exactly the moments you'd want the kit.

More on this: where is the best place to store a home emergency kit?

7. Tell everyone where it is

A kit only one person can find is half a kit. Walk your household to it once and say out loud where it lives.

If you have children, let them open it and look inside, so it's familiar rather than mysterious. More ideas: how do I make sure my kids know where the kit is?

This is also a good time to talk through who calls whom if you're apart. Here's how to make a family emergency communication plan.

8. Set a reminder to check in

Twice a year is plenty. An easy rule: check your kit when the clocks change in spring and fall. Use that check-in to:

  • Replace anything past its date
  • Test or replace batteries
  • Update documents, medications, and contact information
  • Adjust for changes at home, like a new baby, a new pet, or a child who now needs different supplies

More on this: how often should I check or refresh my kit?

Received your kit as a gift?

Someone in your life cares about you. Everything above still applies. Step 4 is where you make it truly yours.

That's it

Put it away, tell your household, and let it sit there quietly until the day it's useful. If it gathers a little dust, that's a sign things are going well.

Questions about your kit or what's included? Reach us anytime at support@gearupsurvivalkits.com. We're happy to help.

Peace of Mind, Packed and Ready.