GOV.UK checklist
Bottled still water multipack
The simplest way to meet the GOV.UK target of 3 litres per person per day. A household of two needs at least 18 litres for 3 days.
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76 items across 14 categories. Every item shows whether it’s on the official checklist, from wider government advice, or our own pick.
Water
GOV.UK advises storing 3 litres of drinking water per person, per day, for 3 days, with extra for cooking, washing, baby formula, medical devices and pets.
Our pick
Food-grade water container (20 litre)
One stackable container holds a full 3-day supply for nearly two people, which saves space compared with bottles.
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GOV.UK advice
Water purification tablets
GOV.UK suggests purification tablets if you lack room to store water. Tablet strengths differ, so follow the label exactly.
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Our pick
Water filter bottle or straw
Filters out bacteria and sediment from alternative sources. Pair with purification tablets or boiling for full treatment.
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Our pick
Collapsible water carrier
Folds flat for storage and lets you collect water from bottled-water stations during a supply outage.
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GOV.UK advice
Water butt for rainwater
GOV.UK suggests a water butt for flushing toilets or watering plants during an outage. Never drink rainwater.
Buy nowFood
Keep long-life food that needs no fridge and no cooking, such as tinned meat, fish and vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. Choose food your household already eats, and pack a tin opener.
GOV.UK checklist
Tinned meat and fish
Named in the official checklist. Protein that keeps for years and can be eaten cold straight from the tin.
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GOV.UK checklist
Tinned vegetables, beans and soup
Tinned vegetables are on the GOV.UK list. Beans and soups are filling and safe to eat cold.
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GOV.UK checklist
Dried fruit and nuts
Light, calorie-dense and listed by GOV.UK. Good for grab bags and car kits.
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Our pick
Cereal and energy bars
No-prep food for children and adults. Easy to pack in a grab bag or car.
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Our pick
Long-life emergency food rations
Compact ration bars with a 5-year shelf life. Useful for grab bags and car kits that get checked less often.
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Our pick
UHT long-life milk
Keeps without a fridge until opened. Handy for cereal and tea once you can boil water.
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GOV.UK advice
Manual tin opener
GOV.UK’s power cut advice says include a tin opener with your food. Electric openers won’t work.
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GOV.UK advice
Camping stove and gas
A way to boil water for drinking and baby formula, as GOV.UK suggests. Use outdoors or with good ventilation only.
Buy nowLight & power
A torch with spare batteries is safer than candles, and a charged power bank keeps phones and compatible medical devices running.
GOV.UK checklist
Spare batteries (AA and AAA)
GOV.UK names spare batteries for your torch and radio. Long-life alkaline batteries keep for up to 10 years.
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GOV.UK checklist
Power bank
A charged power bank is on the official checklist, for phones and compatible medical devices.
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Our pick
Solar power bank
Tops itself up from daylight during a longer outage. Slow, but never fully dead.
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Our pick
LED camping lantern
Lights a whole room, so the household can stay together safely without candles.
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Our pick
Portable power station
A large battery with UK sockets. Worth considering if anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment.
Buy nowRadio & communication
A battery or wind-up FM radio lets you hear official updates when mobile and broadband are down. Write your local news frequencies down and keep them with the radio.
GOV.UK checklist
Wind-up radio
The official checklist names a battery or wind-up FM radio. It works with no power, mobile signal or internet.
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GOV.UK checklist
Battery FM/DAB radio
A simple portable radio for official updates. Keep spare batteries beside it.
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Our pick
Emergency whistle
Signals for help without draining a phone. Light enough to clip to every grab bag.
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GOV.UK checklist
Waterproof notebook and pencil
GOV.UK says write down contacts, medication, radio frequencies and the 105 power cut number on paper.
Buy nowWarmth
Homes lose heat quickly when the heating goes off. GOV.UK recommends blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, and wearing several thin layers.
GOV.UK checklist
Foil emergency blankets
Light, cheap and reflects body heat. Pack several in grab bags and car kits.
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GOV.UK checklist
Fleece blankets
GOV.UK lists blankets because homes cool quickly when the heating goes off.
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GOV.UK checklist
Sleeping bag
Named in the official checklist. A 3-season bag keeps you warm in an unheated winter home.
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GOV.UK checklist
Thermal base layers
GOV.UK advises several thin layers rather than one thick one. Thermals are the foundation.
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Our pick
Hand warmers
Air-activated warmers that last for hours. Useful in car kits and for older relatives.
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Our pick
Hot water bottle
Once you can boil water, a hot water bottle keeps you warm overnight.
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GOV.UK advice
Draught excluders
GOV.UK’s cold weather guidance says block draughts and close doors to keep heat in.
Buy nowFirst aid & medical
The official checklist names waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers, plus your essential medication.
GOV.UK checklist
Home first aid kit
A complete kit covers most of the official list in one purchase. Top it up with the items below.
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GOV.UK checklist
Waterproof plasters
Specifically named by GOV.UK. Assorted sizes cover small cuts and blisters.
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GOV.UK checklist
Digital thermometer
On the official checklist. Helps spot fever and hypothermia, which GOV.UK calls a medical emergency.
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GOV.UK checklist
Eyewash pods
Named by GOV.UK. Single-use sterile pods flush dust and debris from eyes.
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GOV.UK checklist
Sterile dressings and bandages
GOV.UK lists sterile dressings and bandages for larger wounds.
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GOV.UK checklist
Disposable nitrile gloves
On the checklist. Protects you and the injured person, and useful for flood clean-up.
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GOV.UK checklist
Antiseptic wipes and cream
Named by GOV.UK to clean wounds when you can’t use running water.
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GOV.UK checklist
Medical tape and tweezers
Both are on the official list: tape holds dressings, tweezers remove splinters.
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GOV.UK advice
Weekly pill organiser
Helps keep essential medication organised. GOV.UK advises ordering repeat prescriptions 5 working days before you run out.
Buy nowHygiene
Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products keep your household healthy when water is off or limited.
GOV.UK checklist
Hand sanitiser
Named in the GOV.UK kit. Keeps hands clean when tap water is off.
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GOV.UK checklist
Toilet roll and bathroom products
GOV.UK lists bathroom products. Keep a few days’ extra, plus sanitary products.
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Our pick
Heavy-duty bin bags
For waste when collections stop, emergency toilet liners, and keeping things dry.
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Our pick
Portable camping toilet
Keeps the household going if water is cut off and toilets can’t flush.
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GOV.UK advice
Washing-up bowl and soap
GOV.UK’s water outage advice: wash hands in a large clean bowl with soap to save water.
Buy nowCash & documents
Keep a mix of coins and notes in case cards and ATMs stop working, plus printed copies of key documents, contacts and medication lists in waterproof storage.
GOV.UK checklist
Waterproof document wallet
For printed copies of passports, birth certificates, insurance details and medical equipment instructions, as GOV.UK advises.
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GOV.UK checklist
Lockable cash box
GOV.UK advises a mix of coins and notes in case card payments and ATMs are disrupted.
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GOV.UK advice
Resealable waterproof bags
GOV.UK’s flood advice: store important documents in resealable waterproof bags.
Buy nowBaby
GOV.UK says ready-to-feed formula is best in an emergency, because powdered formula needs freshly boiled water. Add nappies and wipes.
GOV.UK checklist
Ready-to-feed baby formula
GOV.UK says ready-to-feed formula is best, because powdered formula may need boiled water you can’t make.
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GOV.UK checklist
Baby wipes
Named by GOV.UK. Water-based wipes are gentle and double as general hygiene wipes.
Buy nowPets
The checklist includes pet food and bottled water for your animals. Plan for at least 3 days.
GOV.UK checklist
Airtight pet food container
GOV.UK lists pet food. An airtight container keeps a 3-day supply fresh and dry.
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GOV.UK checklist
Collapsible pet bowls
For bottled water and food if you need to leave home with your pet.
Buy nowGrab bag
GOV.UK advises keeping essentials in a spare bag in case you must leave home quickly: medication, first aid, documents, torch, water, warm waterproof clothing and baby items.
GOV.UK advice
Grab bag rucksack
GOV.UK advises a spare bag of essentials in case you must leave quickly. A 30–40 litre waterproof rucksack fits a household kit.
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Our pick
Ready-made emergency grab bag
A pre-packed kit is a quick start. Add your medication, documents, cash and water.
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Our pick
Waterproof dry bag
Keeps documents, phones and medication dry in floods or heavy rain.
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GOV.UK advice
Waterproof jacket or poncho
GOV.UK’s flood grab bag includes warm, waterproof clothing.
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Our pick
Multi-tool
Pliers, blade, screwdrivers and opener in one. UK law limits carrying locking blades in public.
Buy nowWinter car kit
The official winter car kit: torch, in-car charger, warm clothes, blankets, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink, a snow shovel and a first aid kit.
GOV.UK advice
Car emergency kit
A starter kit covering much of the GOV.UK winter car list. Add food, drink and blankets.
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GOV.UK advice
Jump leads or jump starter
GOV.UK lists jump leads. A portable jump starter works without a second car and doubles as a power bank.
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GOV.UK advice
High-visibility vests
Named in the official winter car kit. Stay visible if you break down.
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GOV.UK advice
Folding snow shovel
On the GOV.UK winter car kit list to dig out if you get stuck.
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GOV.UK advice
In-car phone charger
Listed in the official winter car kit, so you can call for help if stranded.
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Our pick
Ice scraper and de-icer
Clear windows fully before driving, as the Highway Code requires.
Buy nowHome safety
Check smoke alarms monthly, fit a carbon monoxide alarm to BS EN 50291, and know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water.
GOV.UK advice
Smoke alarm (10-year battery)
GOV.UK advises checking smoke alarms at least monthly. Sealed 10-year models never need a battery change.
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GOV.UK advice
Carbon monoxide alarm
GOV.UK’s cold weather advice: fit a carbon monoxide alarm meeting BS Kitemark or EN 50291.
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Our pick
Fire blanket
Smothers small pan fires. Mount it near the kitchen exit, not over the hob.
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Our pick
Home fire extinguisher
A small multi-purpose extinguisher for early-stage fires. If in doubt, get out and call 999.
Buy nowFlood protection
If you live in a flood risk area, GOV.UK advises using flood protection products such as barriers and air brick covers, and storing documents in waterproof bags.
GOV.UK advice
Door flood barrier
GOV.UK names flood barriers as protection products to use if a flood is expected.
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GOV.UK advice
Air brick covers
Named by GOV.UK alongside barriers. Stops water entering through ventilation bricks.
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Our pick
Sandless flood bags
Lightweight bags that swell with water. Easier to store than sandbags.
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Our pick
Wellies or waders
For essential movement and clean-up. GOV.UK warns never to walk through flood water unless essential.
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GOV.UK advice
Waterproof storage boxes
GOV.UK advises moving valuable and sentimental items upstairs or high up. Sealed boxes add protection.
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