The water question

All disaster kits contain water packets or water boxes with straws. Here is an example

http://www.paramountinc.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/offers.kit.htm

I was wondering about that water. Off course in a survival situation, every drop of water is welcome, but given the psychological and nutritional/health situation after a disaster, wont it be better if some of those packets had milk, chocolate milk , orange juice or whatever ?

I think that including long liufe ( non-refrigeretd ) bevereges like those will be morale boosters especially for kids and even for adults. I know that after an hour or two or jhard work or fast walk, a packet or box of milk or chocolate milk is going to be more welcome than pure water.

What do you think ?

Water is universal, those other drinks are specific. Disaster preps need to be as broad spectrum as possible. If you want an energy or morale boost, add some Gatorade packets to your kit.

You can always ADD to plain water: cocoa mix, GatorAde mix, tea bag, coffee bag, KoolAde, etc.

But you can't REMOVE any of those ingredients from the water. If you're diabetic, allergic to ingredients, etc, you could be in a quandary.

These kits are made up for the twits that aren't capable of thinking for themselves. Custom-making your own kits solves your problems.

And the $50 they're asking for THAT kit would buy a lot of decent kit, wouldn't it? <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Assuming that the water boxes in that kit are the same size as those little drink boxes that kids love, six boxes for two adults for three days is cutting it pretty thin. Those two people better not be in a hot environment, or working hard.

Personal preferance of course, but a box of milk, or choc. mild, 'specially if room temp. is the last thing I want when I am hot and dry.

If you have a good water supply, and a large enougth container, the Crystal Light powdered drinks (OJ, lemonaide, and iced tea are my favorites) make a nice addition to a grub box...

chisel that kit on your link pretty much stinks. for 50 bucks you could buy way better stuff.

but gatorade always ties me over, ive been thinking about adding a few tiny bottles of gatorade in my bob,since the others are far to large.

I agree the kit stinks <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I only wanted to show the water packets that are offered all the time

In addition to all what has been mentioned above, I think water is included in commercial kits because its the cheapest and universally acceptable . Also , if someone is ver very thirsty (dehydrated? ) it is better to give him plain water because it is absorbed faster.

However, this is a reminder to think of your favorite drink and add it to the kit beside water.

Oh, I remembered another thing. Although you would not use that water in the kit for anything else beside drinking, you may face a medical situation where you may HAVE TO use it for something like washing your eye. In that case, nothing but clean water would work. I hate to think of having some sand or something getting in my eyes, and I have no liquid but chocolate milk. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

yes cleaning a wound with chocolate milk is not the best aniseptic.haha
but in soccer in H.S. we had to use what we had which wasnt much....we rambo-ed our injurys.haha

Sitting in the same room with lactose intolerant people after they drank the only liquid item available in the emergency kit, is not my idea of fun <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, and when I played football in HS, during a time-out the water boy brought out towels soaked in water, and we passed them from person to person, sucking a mouthfull out, then passing it along. Some of the old ways are best forgotten...

I work away from home & if the SHTF, I have a 4-7 day 's march to get home. My plans include water & a thermos of cranberry juice (I consider the cranberry juice as a health necessessity & a comfort food). I carry dark chocolate bars as a comfort energy food

I looked at that link and then considered what Doug had to say about "X" piece kits and why advertising guru's tee me off.
That kit is strictly off the shelf components. They need to encourage people to add to the kit. Extra batteries, Purification tablets, something to boil/cook in etc. I could go on for a lonnnnnng time.
Treat it as the core of a much more versatile kit. The water's not a bad idea. There just ain't enough of it <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.

I hope your chocolate bars are in ziplocs, since they tend to melt