Make a Sanitation Kit for Your Grab-N-Go Bag

Get the Kids Involved!

Welcome to Day 4 of 30 Easy Preparedness Ideas for National Preparedness Month!

Today we're doing something EASY, useful, and even a little fun for the kids:

We're making personal sanitation kits for our Grab-N-Go Bags! ?

And here's the best part—you probably already have most of what you need around the house.

Grab a bag or pouch for each person in your family and let's go on a little preparedness scavenger hunt!

Mimi's Idea: Grab a PackFreshUSA Stand-Up Pouch

A PackFreshUSA Stand-Up Pouch makes a handy little organizer for your sanitation supplies.

All those little things—toothpaste, wipes, soap, tissues and lip balm—can easily disappear into the bottom of a big emergency bag.

Instead, keep them together in one pouch.

The zipper makes it easy to open, grab what you need, zip it closed and put it right back into your Grab-N-Go Bag.

If you have different colors or styles of Stand-Up Pouches, let everyone choose their own.

Now let's fill them!

What Goes in a Grab-N-Go Sanitation Kit?

We're keeping this EASY.

Look around your house for travel-size or lightweight items such as:

• Toothbrush
• Travel-size toothpaste
• Small bar of soap or body wash
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Tissues
• A small amount of toilet paper
• Small comb or brush
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Face masks, if desired
• Personal hygiene supplies
• A few small plastic bags

You don't need everything on this list.

Think about what YOU would want if you had to leave home unexpectedly and couldn't come back for a day or two.

?? Get the Kids Involved!

This is one preparedness activity the kids can really help with.

Give each child their own Stand-Up Pouch and turn it into a scavenger hunt.

Ask them:

“What would you need to brush your teeth, wash up and stay clean if we had to leave home for a couple of days?”

Then let them look for:

☐ Toothbrush
☐ Toothpaste
☐ Wipes
☐ Tissues
☐ Hand sanitizer
☐ Small comb or brush
☐ Lip balm
☐ Small plastic bags

Let them put their name on their pouch or decorate a label for it.

If you have different colored PackFreshUSA Stand-Up Pouches, let them pick their favorite.

Now it's not just another emergency supply.

It's THEIR kit.

And while they're having fun putting it together, they're also learning an important preparedness skill:

Thinking about what they would need during an emergency.

Mimi's Tip: Add a Little Comfort

Emergencies can be stressful for adults, so imagine how confusing they can be for children.

Consider adding one small comfort or entertainment item to your child's Grab-N-Go Bag.

Maybe it's:

• A tiny stuffed animal
• Crayons and a small notepad
• A little card game
• A small favorite book
• A family photo

It doesn't have to take up much room.

Sometimes a little piece of “normal” can mean a lot when everything around you feels anything but normal.

Every Kit Should Be Different

A sanitation kit should fit the person using it.

Babies and toddlers may need:

• Diapers
• Baby wipes
• Diaper cream
• Disposal bags

Older children, teens and adults may need different personal hygiene products.

Someone who wears contacts may need contact supplies.

Someone with dentures may have another set of needs.

Don't just make identical kits. Think about the person carrying each bag.

Don't Forget the Plastic Bags!

This is one of those little things that can have a LOT of uses.

Put several small plastic bags into each sanitation kit.

They can be used for:

• Wet clothing
• Dirty clothing
• Used hygiene products
• Dirty diapers
• Trash
• Keeping messy or contaminated items separate from everything else

They take up almost no space, so Mimi says:

Tuck in a few extras!

What If the Bathroom Doesn't Work?

It's not the most glamorous preparedness subject—but sanitation matters.

During some emergencies, water and sewer services may not be available.

Your Grab-N-Go sanitation kit handles your personal hygiene, but your family's larger emergency supplies should also include a plan for handling toilet waste and sanitation if normal plumbing isn't working.

Heavy-duty trash bags, gloves, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and other sanitation items are worth adding to your household emergency supplies.

That's a bigger preparedness subject for another day! But here is  link for one just in case Crafting Your DIY Emergency Toilet - PackFreshUSA

Mimi's Bonus Tip: Check That Hotel-Toiletry Drawer!

Okay...who else has one?

That drawer, basket or bathroom cabinet filled with tiny shampoos, conditioners and soaps you've collected from hotels over the years. ?

Today might finally be their day!

Travel-size toiletries are perfect for Grab-N-Go Bags because they're small and lightweight.

Just make sure everything is still sealed and usable.

Organize More Than Sanitation

Once you start using Stand-Up Pouches to organize your Grab-N-Go Bag, you might find yourself reaching for another one.

You could have:

• Sanitation Pouch
• Snack Pouch
• Small Emergency Supplies Pouch
• Kids' Activity Pouch
• Pet Supplies Pouch

Instead of digging through one giant emergency bag looking for a toothbrush or flashlight, you can grab the pouch you need.

? Mimi's Tip: Organization is part of preparedness too!

Keep It SMALL, LIGHT & USEFUL

Remember—you may actually have to carry your Grab-N-Go Bag.

You don't need the giant family-size bottle of shampoo.

Choose travel-size items whenever possible.

Think:

SMALL.

LIGHT.

USEFUL.

Your back will thank you later!

TODAY'S EASY PREPAREDNESS CHALLENGE

Give everyone in your household a pouch and start filling it.

☐ Toothbrush & toothpaste
☐ Soap
☐ Hand sanitizer
☐ Wipes
☐ Tissues/toilet paper
☐ Personal hygiene items
☐ Small plastic bags
☐ Individual necessities
☐ Small comfort item for children

Then zip it closed and put it inside each person's Grab-N-Go Bag.

Don't have your Grab-N-Go Bags built yet?

That's okay!

Write each person's name on their sanitation pouch and keep all the completed kits together with your emergency supplies.

We'll work on the rest a little at a time.

✅ DAY 4 — DONE!

Today we didn't need to buy an expensive emergency kit.

We took ordinary things from around the house and turned them into something useful.

Even better, we got our kids involved and helped teach them that preparedness doesn't have to be scary.

It can simply be a family taking a few minutes today to make tomorrow a little easier.

That's what these 30 days are all about.

One little thing at a time.

See you tomorrow for Day 5!

— Mimi 

Preparedness doesn't have to be complicated.

PackFreshUSA | 30 Easy Preparedness Ideas