In my June checklist post, I mentioned the idea of creating a summer outings survival kit. If this is on your to-do list, here are some ideas to jump start this project.

First, think about the places you will be going this summer. Do you spend a lot of time at the pool or the beach? At the park for picnics? Will you be going to festivals or on family outings like Fourth of July Fireworks?

Next, think about the stuff that would make these outings a notch more enjoyable if you brought them along with you, or things that would help you be a notch more prepared if there were a minor emergency. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Band-Aids®
  • Breath mints
  • Bug wipes or bug spray
  • Cleansing wipes
  • Hand sanitizer / wet wipes
  • Chewing gum
  • Itch relief stick
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Pepto-Bismol® tablets
  • Rolaids®
  • Safety pin
  • Saline solution
  • Sunscreen
  • Tide to Go Stick(TM)
  • Tissues
  • Tylenol®
  • Visine®

Next, corral your items together into a small, portable container like a cosmetics bag. I like to use gift card tins for small items like hand wipes, bandages, and pain relievers. (These tins are great to stash in your purse for an everyday kit, too.)

Purse organizer

Finally, set up a place to store all your extra kit items and anything else you want to keep at the ready for outings. I keep my extra supplies in buckets on my laundry room shelf.

Summer essentials mini zone

A nearby bin contains small bags and a backpack for transporting my stuff, as well as can coolers, a camera case, a small roll of toilet paper, and a little First Aid kit.

Summer gear bin

If you have kiddos, make sure to include a little emergency prevention in your summer survival kit, too. Think along the lines of small, portable entertainment items like bottles of bubbles or this fabulous set of magnetic wooden blocks from Tegu. (If you click on the link, be sure to read the Tegu story, too. Very cool.)

Tegu natural
Photo courtesy Tegu

Once you assemble your kit, all that’s left to do is get out there and enjoy summer!

Your Turn: I’d love to hear from you. What’s on your must-bring list when you head out for summer outings? Thanks for sharing your ideas!