Emergency plan for medication and medical equipment
24 things to have ready for a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults.
For 2 adults, store 18 L of drinking water and about 13,500 calories of food for 3 days1, plus backup plan for powered equipment, essential medication, plan for medication that needs a fridge.
If someone relies on medication, medicine that needs a fridge or equipment that needs power, a little planning ahead makes a disruption much less stressful.
Who this plan is for
Two adults. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:
| Who | Energy a day | Drinking water a day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult × 2 | 4,500 calories | 6 L |
Water and food for 2 adults
| 3 days | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 18 L | 42 L |
| Food energy | 13,500 calories | 31,500 calories |
What a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment should add
- Backup plan for powered equipment Essential
A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity. - Essential medication Essential
A supply of any medication your household relies on. - Plan for medication that needs a fridge Essential
Know how you'd keep it cool during a power cut.
What official guidance in the UK says
- Keep fridge and freezer doors shut during a power cut so they stay cold for several hours.2
- The Priority Services Register is a free service for people with extra needs (Customer Care Registers in Northern Ireland).2
Also on the UK's official kit list
- UK kit includes a battery or wind-up FM radio and a charged power bank.3
- UK kit includes a torch with spare batteries, and blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes.3
- UK kit includes cash in a mix of coins and notes, plus cards.3
- UK kit includes copies of ID and documents, key phone numbers, a first aid kit and essential medication.3
Everything else every home needs
- Food: food for everyone, manual tin opener
- Water: drinking water
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet roll and bathroom products, personal hygiene supplies
- Power & warmth: torch, spare batteries, charged power bank, battery or wind-up radio, blankets or sleeping bags, camping stove, warm clothing
- Health & safety: first aid kit
- Plans & essentials: emergency contacts, meeting point, utility shut-offs, some cash, important documents, insurance details
See the full household checklist for what each one involves.
A sample shopping list for 3 days
One way to reach 13,500 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.
| Item | How many |
|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | 7 |
| Tinned soup | 8 |
| Baked beans | 7 |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | 4 |
| Tinned tuna | 6 |
| Crackers | 1 |
| Peanut butter | 1 |
| Dried fruit and nuts | 2 |
| Cereal bars | 1 |
| Tinned fruit | 4 |
Allergies, dietary needs and children
Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.
| Food | Typical allergens | Typically suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | varies by recipe | check the label |
| Tinned soup | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Baked beans | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Tinned tuna | fish | check the label |
| Crackers | cereals containing gluten | vegan |
| Peanut butter | peanuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Dried fruit and nuts | tree nuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Cereal bars | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Tinned fruit | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan, gluten free |
Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.
- UK food law names 14 major allergens, including cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soya, sesame, celery, mustard and sulphites.4
- On pre-packed food in the UK, these allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list, for example in bold.4
- 'May contain' warnings aren't a legal requirement, so a missing warning doesn't guarantee a food is free of an allergen.4
Young children
Questions
How much water should a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment store?
18 L for 3 days or 42 L for a week, for 2 adults, at 3 litres per person per day.
What extra does a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment need?
Backup plan for powered equipment: A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity. Essential medication: A supply of any medication your household relies on. Plan for medication that needs a fridge: Know how you'd keep it cool during a power cut.
Sources
- SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
- Power cuts, UK Government Be Ready campaign. Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Be Ready Checklist (PDF, created 2026-10-15), UK Government (Cabinet Office) Be Ready campaign. Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Food allergy and intolerance advice for consumers, Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK). Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- SupKit household preparedness checklist (2026.3), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.
