Occupy Protest Survival Kit

As the Occupy Wall Street protests spark similar demonstrations in cities nationwide, more people are camping out in the name of the 99%. In the past month, the media has noted the remarkable planning and order of the various Occupy protest sites, which include everything from donation centers and with volunteers organized to sort and distribute goods, to food tents, to media centers with streaming coverage of the protests.

If you're considering joining the Occupy movement, plan to pack a survival kit of sorts and be prepared for a few weeks, or months, on the street. First, choose a backpack with comfortable straps and the most usable space. Some backpacks include insulation, which could be useful in the upcoming winter months, but will most likely just take up valuable packing space. Next, work systematically through each category of items to determine what your needs are.

Toiletries

Begin with two weeks of toiletries and plan to restock at a local store or via donations after that. Cover the basics of sanitation: flushable moist wipes, individual packs of tissues and rolls of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, extra toothbrushes with covers, mouthwash, toothpaste, and deodorant. Baby wipes can be used to cleanse your face and body when no bathing facilities or water are available. Facial toners and cotton balls are also good for removing deep dirt and grease from your face to prevent acne or other skin conditions.

Keep a personal pack of tissues and a mini hand sanitizer in your pocket at all times. You can use these when toilet paper runs out in the portable toilets, to open dirty toilet doors, or a variety of other things.

Include plenty of breath freshening gum and Wisps, toothbrushes you can use without water, to stay fresh in close quarters.

If you wear contacts, include an extra contact case and plenty of solution. Cities often have dust and dirt floating around which can irritate contact wearers. Bring your glasses in a sturdy case as well.

Medicine

Make sure any prescription medicines are in their original bottles with current dates. Make a card with your physician's contact information and place it with your medications in a small toiletry bag. Avoid letting strangers see where you put your prescription bottles. Unfortunately, the Occupy protests have also attracted individuals without the best intentions.

Include small bottles or individually wrapped doses of ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen sodium. If you must ask a stranger for medicine, try to get it in an individual wrapped dose. If you're not used to spending time outside, include some allergy medication in case you have a reaction to dust or vegetation with the changing seasons.

Food

Check with your local Occupy site to see what the food situation is. If they have a well-organized food distribution area, then ask if you can donate foods when you come. Pack snacks, energy bars, and high-calorie foods to sustain you between meals. Also include powdered drink mix for bottled water. If your local Occupy site does not have a meal area, or if the area is in danger of being shut down by the health authorities, you'll need to plan for larger meals. Focus on high-protein, high-fiber foods that will keep you full and energized for the protests. Nuts, energy bars and trail mix are staples. Take note of food stores within walking distance of the Occupy street site. Pack bread and sandwich toppings like peanut butter and jelly that don't have to stay cool.

Take a small cooler bag and purchase just enough fresh fruits, dairy, and other foods for 24 hours. Refill the bag with local stores each day. Avoid a large cooler because purchasing ice will get expensive and it can hinder you from traveling light and quickly.

Shelter

A small, strong tent is your best bet. If you have a few friends going together, you could all go in together on one tent. Occupy tent space may be limited based on your city, so try to stick with small two-person tents. Many tents are designed to be anchored to stakes driven in the dirt during camping, but you may have to set up your tent on concrete. Be prepared to find bricks or weights to anchor your tent against upcoming fall storms.

Fleece offers a lot of warmth for the size of fabric, and fleece blankets can be found as cheap as a few bucks at local stores. Use fleece to line your tent and add warmth to sleeping bags. Leave the heirloom quilts at home and purchase fleece layers just for the protest. Donate them, and the tent, to homeless shelters when you leave the Occupy protest.

Layered Clothing

Clothes usually take up the most amount of space in a protest situation. Bring at least one week's worth of underwear. Wash them out each night and hang them in your tent to dry. Bring three pairs of jeans or pants to rotate. Next, try to include three pieces of each layering top: basic T-shirt, long-sleeved T-shirt, sweatshirt or sweater. Use Febreeze to "wash" your outer pieces that aren't soiled and let them air out hanging in your tent. Jeans or sweatshirts may take more than 24 hours to air-dry in your tent, so have two extra to rotate, and stay fresh and clean.

Extras

Earplugs are a must if you plan to sleep. You might prefer headphones and your iPod or MP3 player to block out noise, but include alternate charging solutions. Most phones and MP3 players can be powered with AA or D batteries with the right adaptor. Try to leave the laptop at home and use your phone to update your Tweets or Facebook. Invest in some large poster markers. You could need them for helping with Occupy signage, organizing volunteers, or identifying your tent.

Make sure you have ICE (In Case of Emergency) numbers programmed in your cell phone and keep ICE note cards on your person at all times. Familiarize yourself with the local laws governing the area in which you will protest and know what your legal rights are if you are asked to leave or if you get arrested.