The Red Cross Is Finally Launching Its Emergency Catakit, How Can I Get It?

Four very serious natural events per year, compared to just one between 1950 and 2000. Nearly one in four French people live in areas exposed to the risk of flooding. And 81% of those who say they do not feel prepared for a storm or cyclone, reports the OpinionWay barometer carried out for the French Red Cross in January 2026. The association has known these figures for a while. She also published a report a few years ago entitled “Extreme climatic events: are we ready for the inevitable?”, in collaboration with Crédoc, the findings of which were already clear. The difference in 2026 is that it moves from recommendations to direct action.

This April 16, the French Red Cross announces the official launch of the Catakit, a ready-to-use emergency bag, available for purchase on its official website. A first, while the recommendations had been formulated in 2024 to allow individuals to create one from scratch. Marketed in partnership with Genuine First Aid, the product is presented as the minimum basis to last the first 24 to 72 hours in a crisis situation, before help arrives.

What does the new Catakit contain?

The content of the Catakit covers what the Red Cross calls five vital needs in an emergency : take care of yourself, protect yourself, signal yourself, feed yourself and hydrate yourself. Concretely, there is a multifunction flashlight with rechargeable radio, a 40-hour candle, a multifunction knife, a metal whistle, an SOS sign, light sticks, a Mylar survival sleeping bag, an anti-particle mask, a three-liter water container with purification tablets, matches, a parachute cord, as well as a complete first aid kit including bandages, sterile compresses, pressure dressings, wipes antiseptics, tourniquet and clothes cutting scissors. A guide on first aid is also included. Count on €79.90 for one person, and €149.90 for a family of four.

Please note, some products are not in the box, you will have to remember to add them. Personal medications, copies of identity documents, cash, food and water will need to be added, and replaced regularly for perishable data. Concerning hydration, the Red Cross recalls the basic rule: six liters of water per day and per person are necessary. For rapid evacuation, it is therefore advisable to carry a one-liter bottle per person and a ten-liter collapsible container. For food, you should favor long-life products that do not require water or cooking. Also add a USB key with essential family data, emergency glasses, games for children… anything you think is essential if needed.

The Red Cross approach is interesting on several levels. First, she recognizes that awareness alone is not enough. Despite a shocking campaign two years ago, 3 out of 4 French people still do not know how to react to a climate catastrophe. Offering a turnkey product will undoubtedly reduce friction. The timing is all the more important since in certain countries exposed to natural risks such as Japan or the United States, the emergency bag has been part of basic household reflexes for decades. In France, the authorities are slowly but surely beginning to realize its importance. The Catakit is available on the official website of the Red Cross.