document updated 10 years ago, on Jul 1, 2014
Maintenance required for my emergency preparedness kit:
Replace supplies that are past their shelf life:
- canned food — see expiry date on label (replacement will be every ~2-5 years, though it can go MUCH longer [2] if really needed)
- disposable butane lighters — shake next to your ear to confirm it still has a decent amount of fuel; light it once to confirm that the flint hasn't crumbled yet (replacement will be every ~5-20 years)
- glow sticks — replace every ~4 years
- batteries — alkaline batteries should be replaced every 7 years
Go through the paper forms and check if any information needs to be updated, every ~3 years.