Topic: CostCo Basic Emergency Kit?

[9Shooter]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11333214&cm_mmc=BCEmail_MarchMailer-_-Feature-_-18-_-EmergencyKit

For someone who doesn't really have any kind of kit yet, is this a good deal at $30?  My sister-in-law is thinking about getting one but wasn't sure about the value vs. alternatives.



Basic preparation will impact the probability of your family’s survival in an emergency. This kit contains the food and supplies you need in the event of an emergency to keep your family prepared. Keep one in a convenient location at home and one in the trunk of your car. Food is 100% vegetarian with a 20 year shelf life.

The water filtration and purification system included is the most field and laboratory tested portable water filtration product in the world. This emergency filtration system is designed with Seychelle’s exclusive Ionic Adsorption Micro Filtration technology, producing a filtering capacity of up to 99.99% of harmful contaminants for 100 gallons or more. It safely removes chlorine, PCE, microscopic pathogens (E-Coli, Cryptosporidium & Giardia), trihalomethanes, PCB, pesticides, heavy metals (lead, mercury, copper and aluminum), TCE’s and arsenic. In extreme cases, you can use flood water, swimming pools, stagnant pools of water, toilet tanks, levees, lakes, streams, ponds and reservoirs as a water source.

    *Water Filtration System (100 Gallon Capacity)
    *10 servings of Dehydrated Food (Vegetarian Western Stew - Requires water and a heat source)
    *1 multi-tool
    *2 qt. pot w/lid & serving spoon
    *Two 12 oz. cups w/lids
    *2 spoons
    *Basic First Aid Kit (variety of gauze, bandages, antiseptic wipes and a pair of mini scissors)
    *2 emergency foil blankets
    *1 plastic signaling mirror
    *Net weight: 5 lbs.

For best taste and nutritional value, use food product before:
20 years of manufacturing date when stored at 60° F (16.6° C)
10 years of manufacturing date when stored at 70° F (21.1° C)

[NGO]

$30

Cheap quality stuff...

one time use.

Placing in your car trunk right.

If she means for home survival it is lacking.

Help her beef it up with some fire starter stuff.

I bet you could put on together with cheap camping items from Wal mart and thrift stores and come out at about the same price.

It is met for two days for two people at most. And that would be in non frezeing weather also.

[9Shooter]

Right now I don't think they have anything beyond home first aid, and she was thinking it would be good to get something that was semi-comprehensive in one kit, perhaps adding some here and there.  Much easier than piecing everything together one at a time.  At $30 she wouldn't lose much money if the quality was poor, but if there are better options out there that don't cost a ton more, I'd just as soon point her in that direction instead.  Thanks for the reply NGO.

[NGO]

I guess getting something instead of nothing is better...


Make sure you take them car camping this summer... They will learn something and will have a better idea of what equipment is really needed to survive.

[9Shooter]

Good idea.  Thanks, I'll pass it along.

[Leanwolf]

9Shooter, does your sister-in-law have the skills necessary to use this stuff competently??  If not, most of it wouldn't be of much use, in an emergency, in my opinion.

If she doesn't know how to use this stuff, perhaps you can schedule several sessions with her to instruct her in the proper use of it.

I would add a couple of old wool blankets, or an old sleeping bag, if it were my -- or my wife's -- kit.  (We think in terms of "winter kits.")  Also a "better" knife than that tiny blade that is found on an el-cheapo multi-tool.

I'd add some bottled water, too, as that "puifier" system might not be useful, if there is no water to "purify." 

Just my suggestions.  Our kits are "hand made" and a good bit more elaborate than that COSTCO kit, but in a pinch, it'd come in handy, so long as the person knew how to use it.

L.W.

[jard]

I just like the fact that they actually sell something like that. If seeing something like that while they are shopping for huge bags of cereal or something else, and can make another person think about what could happen, then I'm happy.

[DarkHelmet]

I personally am not a big fan of "ready made" preparedness kits. As pointed out, they are usually cheap Chinese crap. They usually have a few things you actually need, a bunch of generalized stuff you don't, and then usually a few things (like a 2qt. pot) that you already have in your house.

I say take the contents list of this kit, determine what is on that list that you need and buy better quality versions separately. Add other items that suit your needs better and leave the Chinese crap Leatherman knock-off to someone else... you probably have a decent tool box with some basic tools in it already.

- DH

[Nomad]

 1+........Why not do the job right and know what you have.........
 Too many broken items in the land fill saying China on it ........a no brainier.........or choice.