How to Create a High School Survival Kit (Girls)

Last Updated: July 8, 2021 References Approved

A good emergency kit can save you from a lot of trouble by providing you with the essentials during the school day. Your survival kit should include basic school supplies, like pens and pencils. You should also include things like cosmetic products and feminine products. In addition to this, pack some items in case of an emergency, such as a flashlight.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Packing School Supplies

1
Find a suitable container. To start, find a container to fit your supplies. You can use something like a bag or backpack. You can also use a box, such as a pencil box or other storage container.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Whichever container you choose, make sure it has many compartments. This way, you can separate items by type.
- Your kit should be slightly smaller than a backpack or purse. This way, it can easily fit in your locker but will be large enough to contain all your supplies.
- You can try bags such as tote bags or toiletry bags. You can also use plastic containers. A makeup container could be cleared out and used as a school survival kit.
2
Add an agenda or planner. An agenda or planner is a must have for a school survival kit. This will help you keep track of homework, tests, quizzes, and other deadlines. You can buy an agenda or planner at a local department store before school starts.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Have some fun selecting your planner. Pick one that uses colors and designs you like.
Advertisement
3
Pack writing utensils. It's always a good idea to have extra pens and pencils on hand. Make sure to pack these items in your survival kit. In addition to pens and pencils, get sharpies, red pens, highlighters, and other utensils you write with during class.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you use mechanical pencils, make sure to pack extra lead.
- You should also pack a small pencil sharpener.
- You can pack some fun, decorative pens or pencils too for writing notes to your friends or doodling during lunch time. Add something like colorful gel pens, colored pencils, or markers.
4
Pack a calculator. A calculator is a great tool to have for high school, especially if you're taking high level math classes. Make sure it's the type of calculator you need for your course. High level courses may require that you use graphing calculators.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Refer to your syllabus if a specific type of calculator is required and make sure that's the one you have. Texas Instrument calculators, such as the TI-83 and TI-84, are frequently used for high school math courses. However, your school may require a different brand, like Hawlett-Packard (HP) calculators.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
5
Add basic office supplies. You never know when you may need something like a stapler, ruler, sticky notes, sticky tabs, tabbed dividers or things like graphing paper for math or art courses. Have these kinds of basic office supplies on hand in your school survival kit.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You should also bring things like USB drives or zip drives if you frequently need to print out homework supplies at school.
6
Have some notebooks and paper on hand. It's important to have scrap paper and notebooks for your classes. Add these things to your school survival kit. Pack a few extra notebooks as well as a folder of scrap paper.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Toiletries and Cosmetics

1
Pack eye care supplies if you need them. If you wear contacts or glasses, pack supplies for these items. You should have contact lens solution, a contact case, and a few spare contacts if you wear contacts. If you wear glasses, keep glasses cleaner on hand as well as microfiber lens wipers.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- It's a good idea to have anti-bacterial hand gel on hand so you can use this to sanitize your hands if you need to change your contacts when you're not near a sink.
2
Add deodorant or perfume. If you like to smell nice, a small bottle of perfume, body spray, or deodorant can be great. You can use these products to freshen up between classes. It's a good idea to keep your perfume in a Ziploc bag. This will minimize damage in the event your perfume leaks.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- You can buy travel sized containers of perfume and body spray at department stores. These may fit better in a high school survival kit.
3
Make sure to include feminine products. If you have your period at school, you want to be prepared. Always have tampons, pads, or panty liners packed in your survival kit.
- In the event of a leak, it's a good idea to have a spare pair of underwear. You can roll up your underwear and keep them in a discreet pocket of your survival kit or somewhere in your backpack.
- You also may want to carry painkillers if you end up with menstrual cramps at school.
4
Remember hair ties and hair brushes. You may need hair ties for gym class. You may also simply want to redo your hair during lunch or between classes. Pack a hairbrush in your survival kit, as well as a few hair ties.^{[10]
X
Research source}
5
Pack any makeup you use. If you wear makeup, you may need to touch it up at some point during school. Keep makeup in a small, sealable container and put this in your survival kit.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You should also pack any brushes or other instruments you use to apply makeup.
- Make sure to close containers of things like lipstick, lipgloss, and foundation carefully. You do not want such items to spill in your kit. If your lips get dry, add chapstick as well.
- Add a compact mirror as well as you can use that while touching up your makeup.
6
Bring travel-sized products. You never know when you may want to freshen up your breath or touch up your hair. Buy travel-sized versions of toiletries you commonly use. For example, have some travel sized dry shampoo, leave-in conditioner, mouth wash, and toothpaste. You can also add a small tooth brush to your kit.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Compiling Supplies for An Emergency

1
Add a water bottle. In the event there is an emergency and you end up on lockdown, you will want access to water. Always keep a water bottle on hand in your emergency kit. Opt for the largest size you can fit so you'll have access to plenty of water.^{[12]
X
Research source}
2
Pack an emergency whistle. If you're in danger at any point during the school day, an emergency whistle can alert others you need help. Pack a loud, shrill whistle in your survival kit. If you're in danger, you can blow the whistle for help.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Opt for a whistle with a string tied around it. If you're going anywhere alone, you can take the whistle out and hang it around your neck.
- If your school allows it, you can also pack pepper spray for an emergency.
3
Make sure to pack a flashlight. In the event of a power outage, it's important you're able to see. This can help prevent injury and guide others to safety. Pack a flashlight in your survival kit.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- If space is an issue, you can pack a small flashlight. Some flashlights are even sold as keychains.
4
Have any medications you need on hand. If you take medication, make sure to pack it in your survival kit. This is especially important if you have a specific medical issue, such as an allergy, that may require quick medicating in the event of an emergency.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- You don't want to carry the entire bottle, in case it gets lost or stolen. Instead, keep a few pills in an old, empty bottle of medication.

Expert Q&A

Question

What else should I do if I want to be a great student?

Ashley Pritchard, MA
School Counselor
Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine.

Ashley Pritchard, MA

School Counselor

Expert Answer

It's extremely important to be organized. Whatever that means for you, do it. If it's just compiling all of your work in a binder, do that. If it involves creating separate folders for each class, you can do that as well. Also, it's important to stay motivated. For most students, this means keeping your dreams or goals in mind. Finally, it's important to stay disciplined and be a good self-advocate. Stand up for yourself, ask for help when you need it, and keep a solid schedule and routine.

Warnings

Many schools do not allow painkillers in lockers. If you really need some, keep some at the nurse's office or get some from them.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 48 Not Helpful 7