Survival Kit Series week #9: Where ya gonna sleep?

Time for another week of building our 72 hr kits! And time to award another prize (my favorite part!) THANK YOU for participating! You can see the winner at the bottom of this post.

If you are just joining us, I recommend starting with week #1. You can find it here:

Survival Kit Series Week #1

Once you've completed that, just jump in on this week's focus. I will cycle through each week again once we are done. You can do the earlier weeks last instead of first! You can also read the intro to this series here: Survival Kit Ideas: a week by week approach.

I hope all of you were able to add some protection from the elements to your kit last week.

This week's focus:

Add sleeping supplies to your kit

Be sure to leave a comment ON THIS POST by Wednesday, November 30th at 9:00 am PST to be entered in this week's giveaway. Just tell us what you have in your kit (or what you will be adding) for sleeping purposes!

So, now you have some protection from the elements, but even if you have a nice tent, you need something to sleep in / under.

Suggestions:
Keep things as lightweight as you can! While you can use blankets from home if funds are limited, they will add a lot of bulk and weight to your kit. You may not have room for much else! If you have any sort of budget, I would consider purchasing a blanket / sleeping bag that is made to be lightweight and used in such a kit. If you live where it get very cold, be sure that whatever you choose is rated to provide warmth at freezing temperatures.

Small Budget:
Emergency Blanket or an Emergency Thermal Sleeping Bag

Medium Budget:
Fleece Sleeping Bag or Microfiber Emergency Blanket (maybe a bit more than a medium budget)

Larger Budget:
Backpacking type sleeping bag. They make them for kids too!

What we have done in our family:
We have an emergency blanket or sleeping bag for each person in the family in our kits. We also have 1 microfiber emergency blankets in each adult kit. It does not get below freezing where we are. However, we do occasionally travel to Utah. We keep blankets from our home in our van as well as zero degree rated sleeping bags for Cory and I next to our kits. We could grab these if needed and our kids are small enough now that they could share with us. We would like to get a nice sleeping bag for each kid when they are 5-6 years old.

This week's focus:

Add sleeping supplies to your kit

Be sure to leave a comment ON THIS POST by Wednesday, November 30th at 9:00 am PST to be entered in this week's giveaway. Just tell us what you have in your kit (or what you will be adding) for sleeping purposes!

And don't forget....
Add $1 per person to your survival kit this week. Make sure you use $1 bills and / or quarters.

November's Monthly Challenge: Fire Prevention.

This is separate from your 72 hr kit and will help you be prepared to deal with the after effects of an emergency that you do not have to evacuate for.

I hope you were all able to store at least 14 gallons of water per person in your family during the month of October. During the month of November, we will be focusing on fire prevention

• Check all smoke alarms in your home and replace batteries as needed. You should have at least one on every level of your home.
• Make sure you have a gas shut off tool and know how to use it. Read this post on facebook for great tips from reader Marcia about this.
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your home and that you know how to use it. If possible, have one on every level of your home.
• Consider adding a home fire sprinkler. This can decrease insurance rates and increase your home's value.
• Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.
• Make sure all matches, lighters etc are kept up high out of the reach of children.
• Review the information at the USFA on Home Fire Prevention

Other weeks in the Series:

Intro: Survival Kit Ideas: a week by week approach
Week #1: Rotation and Packaging
Week #2: Water Part I: Bring it with you
Week #3: Water Part II: Clean it as you go
Week #4: Food Part I: Breakfast and Lunch
Week #5: Food Part II: Snacks and Dinners
Week #6: How ya gonna cook?
Week #7: How ya gonna eat?
Week #8: Protection from the elements
Week #9: Where ya gonna sleep?

This week's winner:

I'm so thrilled to announce the winner of week #8's drawing: I had 9 entries (only 1 entry per person). According to Random.org comment #3 was the winner. I don't have access to my photoshop, so I don't have the screen shots today. I guess you will just have to trust me! (-:

Marcia said:

I am lucky to have a 16' travel trailer that I pull with my car. It "lives" at my son's house about 15 miles from my house. It is fully stocked with clothing, bedding, and some food. I do need to get a couple of rain ponchos - one for the trailer and one for my car.

Congrats Marcia!

Want to win?
I am giving away 1 prize per week for 26 weeks. All you have to do to enter the drawing each week is leave a comment on THIS POST before 9:00 am next Wednesday. Simple. This is open to anyone and everyone: my family members, friends, those I've never met, other Shelf Reliance consultants: anyone! Below are the 4 prizes each winner can choose from:

1. A 55 gallon water barrel,
2. A Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter, or
3. A Featherlite zero degree sleeping bag
4. A $70 credit to purchase any emergency supplies you want from Shelf Reliance

That's right! I will be giving away something EACH WEEK for 26 weeks!

Want to guarantee winning one of the above?
If you want to earn a prize instead (or in addition) to winning one all you have to do is share this series 50 times., fill out the form at the bottom of this post each week. Once you reach 50 entries (an average of just over 2 per week), I will contact you about which free product you want.
You can share it:

• using the buttons at the very bottom of this post. This is the quickest and most painless way:...just click on each button! Each click counts as one entry!
• on your own on facebook (each post counts as one entry, so post often),
• on your own on twitter (each tweet counts as one entry),
• on your own on pinterest (each pin counts as one entry)
• by phone (each phone call counts as one entry),
• by email (each person you email counts as one entry), or
• on your blog / website (each post / mention counts as one entry).

The following form will be available at the end of each weeks post. Simply submit your info each week. Once you reach 50 entries, I will contact you about which product you'd like. Please be honest!



I am an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance; a company with a mission to empower others to become self reliant, prosperous and charitable. You can learn more about Shelf Reliance, becoming a Shelf Reliance consultant ,buying their products, or earning free products, on my Shelf Reliance Consultant website.