How to make a go bag: UK checklist you can print

The short answer

A go bag (Be Ready calls it a grab bag) holds what you'd need if you had to leave home in minutes: your medicines, a first aid kit, copies of important documents in a waterproof bag, a torch, bottled water, warm waterproof clothes, a phone charger and power bank, some cash, and baby or pet items if you need them. Keep it somewhere easy to reach, and check it every six months.

Prints the checklist without the menus.

Who needs one

Anyone who might have to leave home quickly: a flood warning, a fire, a gas leak, or the emergency services asking your street to move out. Be Ready suggests keeping essentials in a spare bag, which some people call a grab bag, and the Environment Agency's personal flood plan includes a flood kit. Sweden's crisis brochure has a similar list for evacuation.

The checklist

Tick each item as you pack it. Use the button at the top to print this page.

Health

Medicines you take every day, plus a written list of names and doses (Be Ready)
Medical aids, such as hearing aids (Sweden), and spare glasses
First aid kit (Be Ready)
Hygiene items and toiletries (Be Ready, Sweden)

Documents and money

Copies of passports or photo ID, birth certificates and insurance details, in a resealable waterproof bag (Be Ready)
Important phone numbers written on paper, including anyone you'd check on (Be Ready, Sweden)
Cash in coins and notes, plus a bank card (Be Ready, Sweden)
Instructions for any medical equipment you rely on (Be Ready)

Light, power and information

Torch and spare batteries (Be Ready)
Phone charger and a charged power bank (Be Ready, Sweden)
Battery, solar or wind-up radio (Sweden)
Whistle, to signal for help (Ready.gov)

Water, food and warmth

Bottled water (Be Ready)
Food for a few days that needs no cooking (Sweden)
Warm, waterproof clothing and a spare set of clothes (Be Ready, Sweden)
Sturdy shoes

Family, babies and pets

Baby formula (ready-to-feed is best, says Be Ready), nappies and wipes
Pet food, water, lead and carrier
Something comforting for children: a small toy or book

How to pack it

Use a bag you can carry for a long walk, such as a rucksack, with your hands free.
Keep the heavy things low and the things you'll need first, like the torch and documents, at the top.
One bag per adult is easier than one huge bag. Children can carry a small one.
Label it with your name and a phone number.

Where to keep it

Be Ready says to store it somewhere you can easily get to. By the front door or in a hall cupboard works for most homes. If flooding is your main risk, keep it upstairs.

Before you leave home

If you have time, and it's safe:

Turn off gas, electricity and water, as Be Ready advises before a flood. Never touch an electrical switch if you're standing in water.
Take your medicines from the fridge or cupboard.
Lock up and tell a friend or relative where you're going.
Follow the route the emergency services give you.

Check it every six months

Be Ready suggests a reminder every six months to check dates and swap out items. A simple way to remember is to check your bag when the clocks change in March and October.

Medicines and first aid items in date
Water and food in date
Power bank charged, batteries working
Clothes still fit (especially children's)
Phone numbers and documents up to date

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a go bag and an emergency kit?

An emergency kit is what you keep at home to manage for about 3 days, as Be Ready suggests. A go bag (grab bag) is a smaller set of essentials you can carry if you have to leave quickly, for example in a flood.

How much water should go in a go bag?

Be Ready doesn't give a go bag figure. It says 3 litres per person per day for a home kit. For a bag you carry, pack what you can manage, such as a bottle each, and keep the bulk of your water at home.

Where should I keep my go bag?

Somewhere you can easily get to, as Be Ready says, such as by the front door or in a hall cupboard. If you live in a flood risk area, keep it upstairs or high up.

How often should I check it?

Be Ready suggests a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items, or sooner if your household's needs change.

Sources

We opened each page on the date shown. Official advice changes: if a source says something different now, follow the source.

GOV.UK Be Ready: be ready for emergencies (checklist and grab bag) (read 1 November 2026)
GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding (grab bag contents) (read 1 November 2026)
Environment Agency (GOV.UK): Personal flood plan (flood kit) (read 1 November 2026)
Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): In case of crisis or war, English edition (PDF), 'Evacuation: things to bring' (read 1 November 2026)
Ready.gov (FEMA): Explosions (signalling with a whistle or torch) (read 1 November 2026)

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How to make a go bag: a UK checklist you can print