WAPA’s Low Cost 24 Hour Emergency Ration Kit
WAPA is the Western Australian Police Academy. They regularly train their members in outback survival as well as share preparedness and training information with the general public. These ration packs are produced and issued by the Command and Land Operations Unit and are available in two menus and both have been designed to ensure food and vitamin needs are sufficient to meet daily requirements when involved in practical activities in the outdoors. I’ve decided to share add the information to Extopian because these could very easily be produced from supplies found at most traditional grocery stores; a real economic boon for those who want to add a 24 ration pack to their bug-out bag, car emergency kit or home disaster readiness plan without resorting to costly pre-made solutions.
Their menu contains breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and snacks. With little adjustment (or none depending on your tastes) this menu can be made suitable for situations where cooking is not possible or allowed. The contents of each plan should fit in a large, heavy plastic ziplock bag if you dispense with superfulous packaging of the individual components (but I would avoid compromising too much packaging to prevent spoilage or contamination).
These meal plans do not include water, which should always be factored in to your ration plans separately.
- 1 Single Serve Breakfast, Instant Oatmeal, Pop Tart, Breakfast Snack Bar
- 1 Can Tuna or Meat1
- 8 servings of Crispbread or other dense, whole wheat bread/cracker
- 2 packets of Jelly/Honey
- 4 servings of Instant Tea or Coffee2
- 20 servings REAL Sugar3
- 2 Cans Fruit1
- 1 bar Muesli
- 1 large Cookie
- 1 packet of Raisins
- 1 bar of Chocolate
- 2 servings of Cheese4
- 1 Meal Supplement bar (non-diet)
- 1 Plastic utensils3
- 2 packets each; Salt & Pepper3
- 2 servings of UHT (Ultra-High Temperature) Milk or Evaporated Powdered Milk5
1 – Where weight is a concern or you may not have a can-opening implement, consider foil packs instead. The trade off is that cans are more durable and have other uses in a survival situations (cookware, tool making, etc).
2 – These can help to break the tedium of water, improved natural water taste and lift moral/energy greatly.
3 – Truly frugral Extopians can get these for free from the self-serve area of most fast food resteraunts.
4 – Opt for packaging and varieties that store without refrigeration. They’re generally found in the snack food section or at the grocer’s checkout.
5 – Do NOT opt for the low/non fat varieties. Under the circumstances you may need to use these rations, calories are your friend.