DITCH BAGS

When I was sailing, I learned to keep a “ditch bag” handy at all times. My ditch bag contained everything that I might need should we have to abandon ship in an emergency situation.

Some people equip their ditch bags with everything they need to survive for 72 hours, including first-aid, food and water. Since our boat was always in sight of land, I didn’t worry about survival issues. I packed only the basics that I would need once ashore – my wallet, cell phone, car keys, etc.

Now you might be wondering why I’m talking about ditch bags on a travel blog. Well, here it is: You never know when you or a loved one might have some sort of emergency that will require you to be away from home for a couple days. If that happens, you will want to take along some basic grooming supplies, electronics and clothing.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I received such a call, summoning me to my hometown, roughly 75 miles away. Chances were that I’d be staying for at least one night, possibly two. No worries - I tucked enough clothes for two days into my prepared ditch bag and was out the door in five minutes flat.

The best time to prepare your ditch bag is when you return from a trip. Instead of unpacking those grooming supplies, stash them in an overnight bag that you can grab in a hurry. If you have an extra wall charger and/or cord for your phone, add that to the bag, as well. The goal is to get out the door quickly and efficiently when the time comes. Whatever you can think of that you might need for a two-night stay should go into that bag.

Keep the bag relatively small and the clothing that you pack quite simple. On my last emergency trip, I stuck to jeans and tees. I wouldn’t need anything dressier than that for the situation I was rushing into. It would be an odd emergency indeed that would require any sort of dressy clothing.

I love this bag I found on Amazon. Not only does the classic black and white design go well with any outfit, but the bag’s design is highly functional. It has a separate compartment in the bottom for shoes, as well as several interior pockets that will help keep you organized.

I hope that you rarely, if ever, need a ditch bag. However, you will never regret being prepared.