Only 15% of the Belgian population has an emergency kit. The Red Cross has launched an initiative to offer emergency kits in Belgium. With this, they make a small part of the Belgian population more resilient in case of an emergency.

The Red Cross has many members and a good promotion team. The limited supply of emergency kits quickly sold out. Now there is talk of a backlog of up to 19,500 items that cannot yet be delivered. This also means that 19,500 people want an emergency kit but cannot obtain it immediately, which ultimately constitutes a dangerous situation in itself. Therefore, the search is on for a similar alternative emergency kit. The product links on this page can also be used to assemble your own emergency kit.

Different types of emergency kits.

Emergency kits are also evolving. The Belgian government came out with a proposed composition, which was followed by European advice with an emergency kit to survive for 72 hours in an emergency situation. The fact is that every organization or store compiles emergency kits according to the available items. On this page, we comment on the Red Cross Flanders emergency kit and suggest alternatives so that everyone can get a similar emergency kit at home. 

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit 

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit with similar contents

The alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit with similar contents was primarily assembled with products from our European suppliers, using a number of more modern and safer products. 

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit for 72 hours survival with water and food

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit for 72 hours with water and food 

As a basis, we take our red alternative emergency kit and add 6 liters of potable water and 3 packs of emergency food to create an emergency kit that allows for 72 hours of survival. This makes this emergency kit more in line with European Union guidelines. 

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit with 72-hour survival filling

Alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit with survival filling

In the alternative Red Cross backpack emergency kit with survival filling, the original vision of the Flemish relief workers was supplemented with modern ideas of survival techniques according to the advice of experts in survival training. In addition to extra drinking water and emergency food, a canteen and water purification tablets were added, as well as a stainless steel cup with an emergency stove and fuel tablets. Experts point out that good morale in an emergency situation is vital, and a cup of warm coffee with sugar, tea, or soup boosts morale, even in an emergency. 

Evaluation of the composition of the Red Cross Flanders emergency kit and alternative products

 

Red Cross First Aid Kit: is a quite good and extensive first aid kit primarily compiled for students who have followed a first aid course with the Red Cross.

Alternative; there are smaller first aid kits that are more suitable for people who have not followed a first aid course, and there are more extensive first aid kits for more specific injuries. A 43-piece first aid kit already provides a good basic content for a real emergency. 

20 disinfecting wipes (75% alcohol): antibacterial and disinfectant, suitable for hands and various surfaces. Reports from survivors indeed show that hygiene is a very important factor for healthy survival in an emergency. Alcohol pads are generally quite small but sufficient to clean a wound, skin, or cutlery. Larger cleaning wipes are also available that can clean larger surfaces in a situation where no water is available. 

Alternative; there are different types of cleaning wipes available 

Water filter: "can provide you with drinking water by removing impurities and contaminants from the water". The Personal Water Filter Straw is an old model that is useful, but outdated in terms of capabilities. Modern filters have even finer filters that retain more impurities and contain fewer loose parts that can be damaged or lost. Bottle or hydration pack filters are now more popular due to their fewer loose parts, greater reliability, and comfortable use. The description to remove contaminants from water is somewhat misleading because not all contaminants can be removed from the water.

Alternative; to filter water safely, one needs a water filter, water bottle, and water purification tablets. Blue Origin water filter 

Waterproof tape:  is useful for temporarily repairing items (tent, tarp,...) or sealing leaks. Survival experts would also recommend a sturdy piece of plastic sheeting (or plastic bag) that you could use for various applications such as collecting rainwater, storing, or covering goods.

Alternative; there are different types of waterproof tape available 

Safety rope with 2 metal hooks (5 meters). One or more safety ropes are always part of a survival kit. They vary in thickness between 5, 7, and 9 mm, each with its own purpose. The thin safety ropes (5mm) can be used as a signal line, clothesline,  or to build a shelter. The 7mm safety rope is a general safety rope, while a 9mm rope is more suitable for hand-held use as a rescue rope. Most safety ropes have a length of 15 meters. The 2 metal hooks can be useful, but most safety ropes are not equipped with hooks.

Alternative; orange paracord of 15m. there are different types of ropes available 

Stanley Multi Tool 12-in-1, with storage pouch, is a useful all-in-one tool: combination pliers, wire cutter, saw, pocket knife, large knife, bottle opener, screwdriver 3mm / 6mm / 8mm / PH1, file. Multi-tools come in stainless steel and tactical black blade steel versions. Here, a stainless steel version has been chosen, which is especially useful in a wet environment (flood). Blade steel multi-tools stay sharp longer.  

Alternative; we have both a stainless steel multi-tool and a blade steel multi-tool available. 

Backpack with reflective stripes (28 x 38 x 12 cm = 13L) is interesting in terms of visibility and road safety but is just barely large enough to store all the included items. Such a small backpack is too small to store essential items such as water bottles, food, medicine, and personal belongings. Most emergency kit backpacks have a capacity of about 36L to 110L. Also, no additional bags can be attached to the outside. 

Alternative; We have a red backpack with Molle webbing and a capacity of 36 liters that can be fitted with extra pouches or reflective strips. We also have other colors of emergency backpacks.  

Emergency poncho is a very useful survival item that can keep you dry, protected from rain and cold. It is more useful than an aluminum blanket because it can also be used while walking, fleeing, or working.

Alternative; emergency poncho or Survival Poncho with aluminum coating

Emergency radio with solar power bank and rechargeable flashlight. An emergency radio is an important item for survival in an emergency situation when the internet and phone lines are down. There are different types of emergency radios on the market, in various sizes and battery strengths. The emergency radio included in the Red Cross emergency kit is a medium-sized emergency radio with all the essential functions. The only drawback is that the protruding control knobs can break off or get damaged in a backpack.

Alternative; for an emergency radio with protruding knobs, we recommend this standard model of emergency radio that is widely used, where the knobs are somewhat recessed in the frame and are less likely to break off. 

Document holder is a fire and water-resistant bag with a zipper and Velcro closure. It is vital to store important documents, passports, or money in a specialized bag so that it is clearly identifiable and not confused with a regular plastic bag or envelope, to avoid accidental loss. The fire and water-resistant bag offers protection against rain, but the zipper is not waterproof against submersion. This can be a problem in floods.

Alternative; fire and water-resistant bags are available

Reflective vest is a useful item to increase visibility both in terms of road safety and being visible to be found by emergency services. 

Alternative; various types of reflective vests and covers are available.

Emergency whistle is an important item to attract the attention of people and aid workers. There are different types of emergency whistles with extra features such as a compass, dry storage tube, etc.

Alternative; there are different types of emergency whistles, from flat simple emergency whistles to emergency whistles with a compass and emergency whistles that also have a waterproof tube. 

Candle burn time: 25 hours, non-drip (5 x 10 cm). A candle can only burn in one place, while multiple small tea lights can be used in several places to provide light or warmth.  Not everyone supports the use of a candle in an emergency kit.  Experts point to the greater fire safety risk, and in enclosed spaces, candles burn the oxygen out of the room and emit toxic gases that can lead to suffocation or allergic reactions.  

Alternative; Tea lights or tealights are available. Small rechargeable camping lanterns are available that can burn for 110 hours and do not emit toxic gases. 

Waterproof matches stay lit even after getting wet or in extreme weather conditions such as rain and strong winds. Several accidents have already occurred with such powerful matches. Once the ignition button of such a match is pressed, they cannot be extinguished and continue to burn intensely for a relatively long time. If such a match falls on a flammable surface or skin, it can cause fire or burns.   

Alternative; use a lighter or observe the safety instructions for storm matches. Do not use these storm matches indoors on a carpet or in a tent. Only use them standing upright and not in a squatting position so that a burning, broken-off storm match cannot fall into your lap or on your buttocks and cause burns! 

Price content quality for 154.95 Euros is the right price for what you get, with a small profit for the operating costs of the Red Cross. There are people who want the cheapest possible emergency kit to have something morally at home, and there are people who realize that their lives can depend on their emergency kit and therefore invest in good quality and content. The Belgian Red Cross emergency kit is a mid-range emergency kit that meets the expectations of the average citizen. If you choose a more modern quality and more extensive composition, the price will also be higher! 

Not compliant with Europe's advice to survive for 72 hours. The Belgian Red Cross emergency kit does not contain long-life water or emergency food, and the backpack is too small to add many extra items. The Belgian Red Cross emergency backpack is mainly suitable for maintaining peace of mind and for quickly intervening in an emergency with a few useful items for protection.

The Red Cross emergency kit differs in composition from the advice of the Belgian government's crisis center. The Belgian National Crisis Centre distinguishes between a home emergency kit and an on-location emergency kit or one to take with you.

This is very important for making an objective composition of a portable emergency kit, such as the necessary amount of water and food that one must keep in reserve in case of an emergency.

For a home emergency kit, 3 liters of water per person per day are calculated. This can easily be done for a home emergency kit using water bottles or a water jug. 

For a mobile emergency kit, one must realize that 3 liters of water also weighs 3 kilograms, and for three days (72 hours) this is 9 liters of water, which already weighs 9 kilograms, making the mobile emergency kit quite heavy and no longer able to be carried by everyone.

The Red Cross advises adding extra drinking water and food, and this can also fit in the 36L capacity of our red backpacks. 

For mobile emergency kits such as an emergency backpack, we calculate a realistic 2 liters of water per day per person. In a backpack, this means a weight of 6 kilograms of water and a total weight of the filled emergency backpack of around 14 kilograms. . 

Water bottles in a backpack are hard and rather painful to carry on the back. Soft water pouches with long-life drinking water are much more comfortable if you have to carry the emergency backpack on your back for a long time. 

Long-life emergency food. Also, keep in mind that a 1-liter can of food weighs even more than 1 kilogram! Long-life emergency food is light and compact to carry in a backpack. With three packs of emergency food of 0.5 kilograms/piece, you can survive for 72 hours.