72-Hour Go Bag Checklist (Printable)

This is a plain, printable 72-hour go bag checklist. It lists what to pack, in the order that matters most: stopping severe bleeding first, documents last. It names no brands and has no product links, so you can print it, hand it out, or pin it to a bulletin board.

Print this checklist

Prefer a file? Download the one-page PDF (free, no signup).

Pack it as you go

Tap an item, pack it, and watch your progress. Copy your bag link to send it to a family member. This version names no brands and has no product links.

The printable checklist

1. ☐ 1. Trauma kit. Gloves, pressure dressings, gauze and tape for serious bleeding. Learn to use it before you need it.
2. ☐ 2. Tourniquet. Choose one on the CoTCCC-recommended list, and keep it where you can reach it with either hand. A class on bleeding control makes it far more useful.
3. ☐ 3. Water container. A way to carry at least one liter, with room to carry more.
4. ☐ 4. Water purification. Purification tablets or a filter, so you can make more water. The usual planning figure is one gallon per person per day.
5. ☐ 5. Emergency blanket. A reflective blanket or bivy to keep you warm and dry.
6. ☐ 6. Headlamp. A reliable headlamp with spare batteries, so your hands stay free.
7. ☐ 7. Fire starter. Carry more than one way to start a fire: for example a lighter plus waterproofed matches, and dry tinder, all kept in a waterproof bag.
8. ☐ 8. Power bank. A charged battery pack with the right cables for your phone.
9. ☐ 9. Weather radio. A NOAA weather-band radio with a crank, solar or battery option.
10. ☐ 10. Food. Three days of shelf-stable food that needs little or no cooking.
11. ☐ 11. Backup bars. Shelf-stable bars as a no-cook fallback.
12. ☐ 12. Simple knife. A folding and/or fixed blade knife you trust. In some scenarios a hatchet can also be very useful, but it adds weight, so it is optional.
13. ☐ 13. Documents and cash. Copies of IDs, insurance and emergency contacts, plus some small bills.

Add for your household

• ☐ Prescription medications and a list of doses
• ☐ Glasses or contact lenses and supplies
• ☐ Baby, pet or mobility needs
• ☐ A change of clothes, sturdy shoes and a hat

How to use it

Work from the top. Severe bleeding is the one problem here that can become life-threatening in minutes, so the trauma kit and tourniquet come first. Water comes next, then staying warm and dry, then light, power and communication, then food, then a simple tool, then your documents. Almost any sturdy bag you already own will carry it, so you do not need to buy a new one. Pick a bag you can carry comfortably for a mile or two with everything in it.

A tourniquet and a trauma kit only help if you know how to use them. Take a bleeding-control class, such as Stop the Bleed, and check your bag twice a year for expired items and dead batteries.

Want to see example products and a rough cost as you pack? Try the interactive go bag builder, or read the full 72 hour go bag list for the reasoning behind each item.