The contents, item by item
Unlike the 72h emergency kit, complete and meant to stay home, the evacuation bag favours light and essential:
- A small bottle of water, not the full 6-litre reserve.
- Photocopies of identity papers, in a waterproof pouch.
- Ongoing medication, for a few days.
- A pocket-sized first-aid kit.
- A change of clothes and a survival blanket.
- A flashlight and a phone charger.
- Some cash.
Adapting the bag by person
| Profile | What's adapted |
|---|---|
| Adult | The full bag, worn on their back. It must remain bearable over several kilometres if needed. |
| Child | A significantly lighter version, with a familiar object for comfort. |
| Elderly or reduced-mobility person | The strict essentials, with a designated adult to help carry the rest — see our guide on elderly or dependent relatives. |
| Baby | A separate bag for them: nappies, infant formula, a few clothes, carried by an adult. |
There's no official regulatory weight for an evacuation bag: weights suggested by apps or guides remain estimates, to adjust to each person's physical condition.
Where to store it
Near an exit, easily accessible, as the Ministry for Ecological Transition recommends for the emergency kit in general. The goal is to be able to grab it without thinking, even in the dark if needed.
Mistakes to avoid
- Confusing the evacuation bag with the full household kit. The bag stays deliberately light.
- A bag too heavy to carry for long. Better the essentials carried all the way than a full bag abandoned on the road.
- A single bag for the whole family. Split it into one bag per person instead.
- Never trying it on. Have everyone carry their bag at least once, to check it's not too heavy.
A bag per member, with an indicative weight
LASTLINE can help you:
- build a 72h bag per household member, adapted to their profile;
- display an indicative weight per bag, to adjust to your own choices;
- tick off each item as it's added.
The displayed weights are estimates, not an actual weighing of your bag.
Prepare my bag with LASTLINEFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between the evacuation bag and the 72h emergency kit?
The 72h emergency kit stays at home, for self-sufficiency on site. The evacuation bag is lighter: it's what you take when leaving home within minutes, with the essentials rather than the kit's full volume.
How much should an evacuation bag weigh?
There's no single official weight: the idea is that an adult can carry it several kilometres if needed, and a child carries a significantly lighter version, suited to their size.
Should there be one bag per person or a single family bag?
One bag per person is preferable: everyone can carry their own, and losing one bag doesn't deprive the whole household of everything needed.
Sources
- SGDSN, Guide « Tous responsables: face aux risques, agissons », November 2025.
- Ministry for Ecological Transition, Preparing your 72h emergency kit (storage principles applicable to the evacuation bag).