Grab Bag Checklist UK: What to Pack
What to put in an emergency grab bag in the UK, based on GOV.UK advice: medication, documents, torch, water, warm clothes and more.
A grab bag is a spare bag of essentials you keep packed by the door, ready to take if you have to leave home quickly because of a flood, fire or gas leak. GOV.UK advises every household to keep one.
It is different from your 3-day home kit. The home kit helps you stay put; the grab bag helps you leave. Keep it light enough to carry, and pack one per adult if you can.
Based on official GOV.UK Be Ready guidance.
What GOV.UK says to pack
- Medication, plus a written list of what you take and the doses.
- A first aid kit.
- Important documents, or printed copies, in a waterproof bag.
- A torch with spare batteries.
- Bottled water.
- Warm, waterproof clothing.
- Baby care items if you have a baby.
Worth adding
- A charged power bank and charging cable for your phone.
- Some cash in small notes and coins.
- A written list of phone numbers, in case your phone dies.
- Spare keys for your home and car.
- Snacks that keep, such as cereal bars or ration bars.
- Foil blankets, a whistle and a small wind-up radio.
- Glasses, hearing aid batteries and anything else you rely on daily.
- Pet essentials: food, a collapsible bowl and a spare lead.
Choosing and storing the bag
A 30–40 litre rucksack is big enough for one adult’s grab bag and leaves your hands free. Choose one that is waterproof or has a rain cover, and put documents and electronics in a dry bag inside it.
Keep it somewhere you pass on the way out, such as a hallway cupboard, and make sure everyone in your home knows where it is. Check it every 6 months: replace water and food before their dates, recharge the power bank and update medication.
Frequently asked questions
What is a grab bag?
A grab bag is a ready-packed bag of essentials you can take if you have to leave home in a hurry, for example during a flood or fire. GOV.UK recommends keeping one somewhere easy to reach.
What should be in a grab bag UK?
GOV.UK suggests medication, a first aid kit, important documents, a torch, bottled water, warm waterproof clothing and baby items. Most people also add a power bank, cash, phone numbers on paper and spare keys.
How big should a grab bag be?
Around 30–40 litres per adult is enough. It needs to be light enough to carry for a long walk, so pack essentials only.
What is the difference between a grab bag and an emergency kit?
An emergency kit is for staying at home through 3 days of disruption. A grab bag is a smaller, portable bag for leaving home quickly.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.