Poly Zip Bags

Clear plastic zipper bags are extremely useful with preparedness kits. These come in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses. Some of the most useful are the very small bags. I found packages of these at Hobby Lobby and a variety of other craft stores or online. I purchased the 2″x3″ and 3″x4″ in packages of 100 for about $3 per package. Use these in preparedness kits, around the house, in the garage, and in your vehicle. Some of the uses include:

  • Store batteries to keep them dry and isolated. If batteries leak then they will only affect the batteries in the bag.
  • Protect your waterproof matches: The matches are normally waterproof but the box and striker strip is normally NOT waterproof.
  • Storing First aid supplies such as bandages in bags protects them and makes them easier to find.
  • Storing and organizing small parts is much easier when using small zip bags.

These bags are small, inexpensive, and very useful around your home, garage, and vehicle. I highly recommend purchasing different sizes of bags. As you build your kits you will find many uses for these bags. Use the heavier freezer bags or food storage bags for larger items. Some food storage bags are very tough and can withstand boiling water and microwave ovens.

Batteries in Poly Bag
Fire Mini Kit

Larger Poly Zip Bags

Also include some larger poly zip bags in your kits. I use the heavier freezer bags because the plastic is thicker and zippers seem more substantial. These bags have a variety of uses:

  • Storing and organizing items
  • Waterproof containers
  • Water carriers and water storage

While watching a survival show they showed an ingenious way to convert snow to water when your situation get bad. Eating snow if very bad because you need about 10 gallons of snow to get one gallon of water. Eating snow will also reduce your core body temperature. What they did was fill a poly bag with snow and then urinate into a water bottle. Seal the bottle and place it in the bag of snow to melt it. You could replace the water bottle with another zip bag. Your urine will be about 98° and, when sealed in a zip bag, could be used as a hot water bottle for warming yourself or melting snow.