The Zip Kit

Last updated 03jul09

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A zip kit is a little kit that ensures you can see, breathe, and walk long enough to get where you need to go in an emergency. It ensures you can communicate once you get there.

The kit must be as small, light, and cheap as possible. It should not have anything that can leak or go bad. Do not put in anything made from soft rubber (like a rubber band); It may eat a hole in the goggles or zip-lock.

The key to zip kits is always having one with you. Each car gets a family zip kit with enough stuff for everyone. Whoever goes places without a car should have a personal zip kit in their backpack, locker, bike-bag, or whatever.

Sometimes space or cost is an issue, so stow a mini zip kit. Leave out the dimes, walking shoes & goggles. It will not have everything you need, but something is better than nothing.

Zip kits fit in goggle cases, lunch boxes, and food storage containers. Use anything durable that wont pop open. Mini zip kits fit into a sandwich zip-lock.

Contamination warning: Use both the mask and goggles to protect from dust, smoke, germs, chemicals, and radiation. Shower ASAP.

Goggles: Get the kind that seal against you face to keep out dust, smoke, and windborne particles. An anti-fog coating is worth the money, and so is the coating that darkens in bright sunlight. This is a physically large item that costs $5 to $10.
Walking shoes for women who wear heels: Stow a pair that is old or cheap. This is a physically large item, and costs $10 to $20 to buy if you do not have old ones.
Roll of dimes: Pay phones get priority in emergencies. A roll of coins will not jingle. This item costs $5 and doubles the weight of the kit.
Zip-lock bag: The rest of the stuff fits in a resealable bag. It protects and keeps the little stuff together.
Desiccant: Take the tiny desiccant pouch from a shipping container and put it in the zip-lock. Use a fresh one.
2 Respirators: A dust mask with two strings is called a respirator. Two per person is best and get the type that fold flat.
Leather bootlaces: Shoelaces always pick the worst time to break, and leather bootlaces serve as string or rope.
6 first-aid wipes: First-aid wipes in tiny individual pouches treat cuts & scrapes. They clean & sterilize your hands & face so you can eat & drink. They clean goggles. Have six per person.
Band-aids for blisters and scrapes.
Cash: Money to fill a gas tank is probably the right amount, even if you don't drive. Put the money in an opaque envelope and don't let anyone know its there. This is not appropriate for a child's zip kit.
Notepaper: The ability to write things down and leave notes is critical. Post-its are good because they are the right size and have glue on the back.
Pencil stub: If the pencil is too long it will be broken when you need it. Three or four inches long is about right.
Pocketknife: A small folding pocketknife can open the roll of dimes, sharpen the pencil, cut the leather bootlaces, and open things. Make sure it won't rub against and scratch the goggles.
Photographs: Have a recent family photograph. It helps when you can show a picture of who you are looking for.
Phone numbers: Have every family and close friend's number written down, including those out of the area.
Insurance: Have the phone numbers and policy numbers written down.
Prescriptions: Have a copy of all prescriptions. Photo-reducing makes them smaller. Make sure eyeglass perscriptions have the pupilary distance.

Mini zip kit for children	72-hour kit
Home emergency kit	NBCS kit
Stuff for the car	Stuff to keep at work