Pack one bag now for a sudden hospital stay or a night away from home

When something sudden happens, the first hour goes on finding things: the glasses, the charger, the pills, a clean shirt. Many people suggest keeping a bag packed ahead with clothes, toiletries and the other essentials, so that it can be picked up and carried out with no time to prepare. One person says it is especially helpful for an unexpected hospital stay, because it brings the comforts a patient needs without making family fetch them.

Pack one bag now with what you would need for a few days away from home, keep it where you can reach it fast, and open it every six months to check it.

This page is for an ordinary sudden stay away from home: a hospital admission, a fire or flood, a long travel delay. It is not for someone who might have to leave a person who hurts or controls them; the numbers at the top are for that reader. It also does not tell you what medicines to carry or what to put on a serious wound. If your home is on fire, get out first, and take the bag only if it is already in your hand. Ready.gov says every second counts in a fire, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in England says: “Do not reenter the building for any reason.”

What goes in it

Two official lists agree on the basics, and people add the small things that matter on a bad night.

• Clothes. Ready.gov lists “Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes.” Royal Papworth Hospital, an NHS heart and lung hospital, asks patients coming in for a planned stay to bring clothes and underwear, night clothes that open at the front, a dressing gown and slippers with a back on the heel. One person says extra underwear is a wise precaution.
• Toiletries. Some people say a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and wipes keep you comfortable and with some dignity on a long stay. Ready.gov lists moist towelettes and personal hygiene items; the UK government’s Be Ready page lists hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products.
• Glasses, and a spare if you can. Some people say losing or breaking your glasses leaves you struggling with ordinary tasks, and that a replacement is hard to find. Ready.gov lists prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution, and the hospital trust asks for glasses or contact lenses. One person says cheap online glasses make an affordable backup.
• Medicines and a list of them. Ready.gov lists prescription medicines and non-prescription ones such as pain relievers and anti-diarrhea medication “based on your individual needs.” The Be Ready page lists essential medication and asks you to write down your regular medicines and doses. Ask a doctor or pharmacist what is right for you; the first question below has more. If children live with you, keep a bag with medicines in it out of their reach.
• Charger and power bank. Ready.gov and the Be Ready page both list a phone charger and a backup battery or charged power bank. Some people say a phone charger is a welcome thing to have in hospital; there is a page here called Bring the long charger.
• Papers and numbers. Be Ready asks for printed copies of IDs and documents, and a written list of important phone numbers. Ready.gov lists copies of insurance policies, identification and bank records, saved electronically or in a waterproof container. There is a page here called Write down the numbers your phone remembers for you.
• A little cash. Ready.gov lists cash, and Be Ready lists a mix of coins and notes and your cards. Royal Papworth asks you not to bring a lot of money or valuables into hospital, so a small amount may be enough.

Where to keep it

Ready.gov says to keep the kit “in a designated place” and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly, and to make sure all family members know where it is. It suggests a grab-and-go case at work for sheltering there at least 24 hours, and a kit in the car in case you are stranded. The UK government’s Be Ready page says you could keep essential items in a spare bag, which some people call a grab bag, in case you are asked to leave home quickly.

The trust page above is written for a planned stay. If you need an ambulance, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK first; the bag can follow with someone else. For a sudden admission, ask the hospital what it wants you to do with what you have brought.

How much to pack

People disagree about size. One person says a simple bag of clothes and toiletries is enough for many situations, and another says you need a fuller kit, with water and tools, if you drive far or in remote places. What decides it is how far you drive, the climate, and how likely you are to be stranded without a signal. In another discussion, some people argue for a kit that is comprehensive and others for one that is minimal or fitted to the situation, such as a hike, a commute or a wedding, because carrying too much is impractical. One person says too much gear slows you down, so the gains shrink after a point.

The official lists answer a different question, which is staying at home with no power or water. Ready.gov says an emergency kit should have one gallon of water per person per day and a several-day supply of non-perishable food, and the UK government’s Be Ready page says 3 litres per person per day, and food, for 3 days. Ready.gov also lists a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a first aid kit, extra batteries and a whistle. The Be Ready page lists a torch, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, and says torches are safer than candles. Those are a bigger kit than one bag; the first-aid side is on a page here called The first-aid kit is three kits.

Keeping it ready

Be Ready says to set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates, swap out items and update the kit if your household’s needs have changed, and that you do not have to do it all at once: pick up an item or two when you can. Ready.gov says to replace expired items and rethink your needs every year. One person says protein bars may taste worse well before their date, so check what you pack.

Who needs more than this

Babies, pets, people who rely on medical equipment and people who need help to leave their home need things this page does not list. Ready.gov and the Be Ready page each list baby and pet items, and each has a section for disabled people and carers. In England, Scotland and Wales, the Be Ready page says the Priority Services Register at thepsr.co.uk lets your electricity, gas and water providers know you need extra support when supply is interrupted; in Northern Ireland the equivalent is the Customer Care Register. Each scheme has its own rules about who can join.

If a fire, flood or storm has already hit your home, this site has a guide called “A flood, fire or storm hit my home”. If you are in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK.