Get your emergency kit ready

In this guide, we explain how to get your emergency kit ready.

An emergency: 

• is a dangerous situation 
• is something we don’t expect to happen
• can put our health and safety at risk.

An emergency kit can help you:

• stay safe
• leave quickly
• protect yourself and your home.

Your emergency kit should include things that will help you get through a: 

• bushfire 
• storm.

This includes things you will need if you decide to: 

• leave your home 
• stay and protect your home.

We explain what to put in your emergency kit below.

Your emergency kit should include things that will keep you safe.

For example:
 

• a waterproof torch

• spare batteries

• a first aid kit with information about how to use it

• face masks that stop you from breathing in smoke, like a P2 mask or N95 mask

• hand sanitiser.

Your emergency kit should also include things that will help you find out what is happening during an emergency.

For example, a radio that uses batteries

You should think about what you will need if you:

• decide to leave your home 
• can’t go back for a while.

For example, you might need:
 

• plates and cutlery

• a can opener

• candles and matches

• wool blankets

• a waterproof bag to store important things you own.

You should also have a list of people you can contact for help.

Your home might not be safe when you come back after an emergency.

For example, there might be: 

• broken glass 
• dirty water.

You should put some things in your emergency kit to help you stay safe.

This could include:
 

• overalls that cover your arms and legs

• good shoes or boots to protect your feet

• gloves to protect your hands

• sunscreen and hats

• face masks that stop you from breathing in smoke, like a P2 mask or N95 mask.

You might want to protect things in your home that are important to you. 

For example, photos or pictures.

You could make copies to put in your emergency kit.

You could also plan what important things you will take. 

And how you would get to these things quickly in an emergency.

You might have important documents that you want to protect. For example, documents that: 

• say who you are 
• show that you own your home 
• explain what medicine you need.

We have a checklist that can help you get important documents ready. You can find the checklist on our website.

You should decide where you will keep your emergency kit.

You should keep it in a strong and waterproof container.

You should also make sure it’s easy to get to in an emergency.

And you should make sure it is easy to find in the dark. 

You can do this by: 

• clearly marking what it is 
• putting tape on it that reflects in the light.

Other pages for you: 

• How to prepare pets and livestock for an emergency