I bought a new bag for my car-based emergency kit. Today Middle Daughter and I dumped the kit, put it in the new bag, and then dumped my wife's kit to put it into my old bag (which was still an upgrade).

During this process every module and component was examined to ensure that it was working correctly, lubricated, or not expired as appropriate. I was embarrassed to discover that I had not maintained my wife's kit the way I intend to. Almost all of the OTC meds had expired, along with the bloodstopper bandage in the blowout kit. Less critical, the batteries in the AM/FM/SW radio were dead. Everything else was in good shape.

As careful as I am to keep everything in the kits ready to use, I've been really busy in 2015 and apparently skipped the early-2015 bag dump and check. Today's lesson: don't forget to keep infrequently used gear ready.

Remember how you're supposed to change the smoke alarm batteries at the start and end of DST? It's also a good time to check and update the rest of the preps.

A good reminder! Thanks!

I tie these things to important dates; annual checkup - on my birthday, check credit, new years day, etc