Canada’s 72-hour emergency kit: the Get Prepared checklist, explained
The Government of Canada’s Get Prepared programme asks every household to be ready to look after itself for at least 72 hours, without power or tap water. The basic kit is water, food that won’t spoil and a first aid kit, plus copies of documents, medicines, a light, a radio and some cash. Keep it portable and easy to find, and update it when the clocks change in spring and fall.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Brands never pay for placement. Read our disclosure.
What the Government of Canada asks
Canada’s official preparedness site, Get Prepared, is direct about it: in an emergency you may need to get by without power or tap water, so be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Its checklist is tailored to Canada’s risks, from winter storms and floods to wildfires and earthquakes, and it asks you to check with your provincial, territorial or local government for anything extra your area needs. People in remote areas may need more.
The same 72-hour idea runs through official advice in the European Union, the United Kingdom and the US, so the kit below works wherever you live.
The basic kit: water, food, first aid
| Item | What Get Prepared says | Our practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Stored or bottled water: 2 litres (0.5 US gal) per person per day for drinking, cooking and hygiene | The official video uses about 4 litres (1 US gal). For a family of four, 4 L × 4 people × 3 days is 48 litres (12.7 US gal). See how much water to store. |
| Food | Non-perishable food such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods, replaced once a year | Add a manual can opener; use our 72-hour food list. |
| First aid | Adhesive bandages, tape, gauze, antiseptic wound cleanser and disposable gloves | A ready-made {A("first-aid-kits","first aid kit")} covers the basics; add your own medicines. |
Documents and medical items
Get Prepared asks for physical and digital copies of important documents, kept in the kit:
- Identification for each person: birth and marriage certificates, passports, citizenship papers.
- Your emergency plan, with contact information.
- A list of all medications, their dosage and purpose, and contacts for doctors and other care providers.
- Medical insurance information and your provincial or territorial health number, plus home, tenant and vehicle insurance details.
A waterproof document pouch keeps the paper copies dry. Then add what your household needs: toiletries and menstrual supplies, pet food, water and medication, and infant formula, baby food and wipes. The official video also suggests enough prescription medication for a couple of weeks where possible, and enough cash for basic needs, since banks and card machines may not work. More in emergency cash and documents.
Light, radio and phones
The official video recommends a flashlight and a radio, with extra batteries or models you can power by hand, and chargers for your phones. A crank radio with a weather band is a good fit in Canada, because the weather band picks up Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Weatheradio broadcasts where there is coverage (those bands do nothing in Europe). Add a head torch per person and a 20,000 mAh power bank. See our emergency radio guide.
Extras for a longer emergency
Once the basics are in place, Get Prepared suggests:
- N95 or surgical masks, hand sanitizer and garbage bags.
- Water purifying tablets or more stored water for cooking and cleaning.
- Basic tools: hammer, screwdrivers, gloves and a pocket knife; duct tape, scissors and plastic sheeting.
- A small fuel-operated stove and fuel, never used inside buildings, tents or other closed spaces.
- Candles with waterproof matches or a lighter, stored safely. We prefer battery LED lanterns indoors, because they can’t start a fire.
Grab-and-go bags
If you may have to evacuate, Get Prepared suggests a separate, easier-to-carry bag for each person with essentials from the main kit plus a change of clothes and footwear, a sleeping bag or warm blanket, utensils, plates and cups, a small multi-tool, and books or toys for children. A sturdy emergency backpack per person works well; see our evacuation bag checklist and bag vs home kit.
Spring and fall: the official reminder
Get Prepared suggests using the time changes in spring and fall to check expiry dates on food, water, medicines, insurance, cards and ID, and to swap seasonal items. For fall and winter it lists warm clothing, heat packs, a candle and lighter, extra batteries, gloves and socks, ice grippers and a portable shovel. For spring and summer: a rain jacket, bug spray, waterproof footwear, sunscreen, hats and a fan. Keep items in clear bags or boxes so you can find them fast. Our kit check calendar has the full routine.
Winter outages are the big one in much of Canada. See how to keep warm without heating and never heat a home with a gas oven, barbecue or camping stove.
Don’t forget the car
Canada also publishes an emergency car kit list, from a small shovel, scraper and snowbrush to jumper cables, a tow rope and sand or cat litter for grip. We go through it item by item in our winter car emergency kit guide.
Shopping list
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crank radio with weather band | Weatheradio, light and USB charging | Hand crank and solar | Check price on Amazon |
| Food-grade water containers | Storing tap water | 10 litres (2.6 US gal) each | Check price on Amazon |
| First aid kit | The basics in one box | Bandages, gauze, gloves | Check price on Amazon |
| Waterproof document pouch | Copies of ID and insurance | Water-resistant | Check price on Amazon |
| Ice grippers | Icy steps and sidewalks | Slip over boots | Check price on Amazon |
| Heat packs | Hands and feet in a winter outage | Single use | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
Want the whole list to tick off? Use our basic 72-hour kit or the printable 72-hour checklist.
Questions people ask
What does the Government of Canada say to put in a 72-hour kit?
The Get Prepared checklist starts with stored or bottled water, non-perishable food (replaced once a year) and a first aid kit. It then adds copies of identification and insurance papers, your emergency plan, a list of medications, toiletries, pet supplies and baby supplies, and suggests extras such as N95 masks, water purifying tablets, basic tools, duct tape and plastic sheeting.
How much water does Canada recommend for an emergency kit?
The current Get Prepared checklist says two litres (0.5 US gal) per person per day for drinking, cooking and hygiene. The official video on the same page uses about four litres (1 US gal), and Ready.gov in the US asks for one gallon (3.8 litres). Storing about 4 litres per person per day gives you a margin.
Can I buy a ready-made emergency kit in Canada?
Yes. The Government of Canada says you can buy a kit or supplies online and in stores, as long as you customise it with the personal items your household needs, such as medicines, documents and baby or pet supplies.
What should a car emergency kit in Canada include?
Get Prepared lists food that won’t spoil, water in plastic bottles, a blanket, extra clothes and shoes, a first aid kit with a seatbelt cutter, a small shovel, scraper and snowbrush, a wind-up flashlight, a whistle, road maps and a copy of your plan, plus sand or cat litter, washer fluid, a tow rope, jumper cables, a fire extinguisher and warning lights in the trunk.
How often should I check my kit?
Get Prepared suggests using the spring and fall time changes to update supplies and check the expiry dates of food, water, medicines, insurance papers, cards and ID, and to swap seasonal items.
Keep reading
- /kits/basic-72-hour-kit/
- /checklist/
- Winter car emergency kit: what to keep in your car
- How much water to store for 72 hours
- /kits/winter-storm/