From "60 Seconds!" to Real Life: Why I Built My Emergency Kit

It started as a joke.
A few friends and I were playing this old survival game called 60 Seconds!—you know, the one where you have just one frantic minute to grab supplies before a nuclear bomb hits and you’re stuck in a fallout shelter?

We were laughing, arguing over whether to grab the soup or the axe, when someone said — “If this was real life, we’d be doomed.”

We laughed.

I used to scroll past those “emergency gear must-haves” posts like they didn’t apply to me. That stuff felt distant—like something for preppers or people living in disaster zones. But lately, with everything going on in the Middle East, things started to feel… different.

The news feels heavier. Tensions are high. There's more unpredictability in the air. One night, after watching yet another headline scroll across the screen—missiles, evacuations, power disruptions—I asked myself: What would I do if something happened tonight?

The answer scared me.

I didn’t have a flashlight that worked. I had no real first-aid supplies. If the internet or electricity went out, I’d be sitting in the dark with a dying phone and not even a bottle of clean water I could count on. That’s the night I stopped joking and started prepping.

Because with everything happening in the Middle East right now— it’s starting to feel a little less like a game.

I didn’t go full bunker-mode, but I built a solid, realistic emergency kit that would keep me alive and safe for at least a few critical days. Here's what I started with:

1. 184-Piece First Aid Kit

The kind of kit that actually matters—burn cream, antiseptics, bandages, scissors, emergency blanket... the whole deal. Not the cute tin box kind. This one’s built for real situations.

2. GX‑800 Tactical Flashlight

After experiencing a brief power outage last month, I realized I didn't own a single working flashlight. This one is bright enough to light an entire room or signal for help, and it’s rugged enough to survive a drop (or three).

3. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

In the game 60 Seconds!, you’re always rationing water. In real life, it’s worse—you can’t drink it unless it’s safe. This tiny straw filters out 99.9% of nasty stuff. I keep it in my bag now, always.

4. Emergency Rations

I ordered high-calorie, shelf-stable food bars. They don’t taste amazing, but they’ll keep you alive. Which is sort of the whole point. The key? They last up to 20 years and require no prep.

5. Hand-Crank Radio with Power Bank

No internet. No news. No phone charger. That’s when you realize how cut off you are. This little radio gives me access to updates, emergency broadcasts, and can charge my phone with just a crank.

6. Respirator Masks (N95 or Better)

This one felt dramatic at first—but after everything the world’s seen in the past few years, it just makes sense. Whether it's a viral outbreak, tear gas, dust storms, or smoke from fires or explosions, a solid N95 or P100 mask could make the difference between breathing safely and struggling.

The Joke Became a Wake-Up Call

I used to think prepping was for conspiracy theorists or survival fanatics. But now? With global tensions rising and instability knocking at more doors, I see it differently.

Preparing for an emergency isn’t about living in fear. It’s about giving yourself choices when things go sideways. It’s about not relying on luck.

So yeah, maybe I took a joke too seriously.
Or maybe we all need to take survival a little more seriously.

Because life doesn’t give you 60 seconds and a countdown.
Sometimes, it just… happens.

Take it from someone who laughed it off—until I didn’t.
Get ready. Stay steady. And maybe keep that soup can handy.