Why is Waterproof Matches important for emergency preparedness?

Standard matches become useless after exposure to humidity or water

How should I store Waterproof Matches in my emergency kit?

Store in their original waterproof container plus a sealed zip bag for redundancy

Which organizations recommend Waterproof Matches?

Waterproof Matches is recommended by CDC, Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden as part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan.

How much does Waterproof Matches cost?

Waterproof Matches typically costs between $5-50 depending on quality and quantity. It's a cost-effective investment in emergency preparedness.

Waterproof Matches

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Why this item matters

Recommended by

CDC, American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden

Key reasons

Standard matches become useless after exposure to humidity or water
Lighters can leak fluid or fail at altitude
Reliable fire-starting is essential for boiling water and cooking
Critical for warmth in cold-weather sheltering scenarios

Where to buy

Search for Waterproof Matches on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Other items in Essential items

Related essentials

About this item

Waterproof Matches in your emergency kit

Waterproof matches stay reliable even after water damage, humidity, or accidental drops in puddles — the exact conditions that ruin standard household matches. They are the simplest, most foolproof way to start a fire for cooking, warmth, or signalling. Waterproof Matches appears on the recommended-supplies lists published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection, Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency. It is rated High urgency in our checklist, meaning households in high-risk regions should treat it as a baseline item rather than a "nice to have".

Why you need it

Standard matches become useless after exposure to humidity or water
Lighters can leak fluid or fail at altitude
Reliable fire-starting is essential for boiling water and cooking
Critical for warmth in cold-weather sheltering scenarios
Smoke from a small fire can be used as a signal

Storage and rotation tips

Store in their original waterproof container plus a sealed zip bag for redundancy
NATO or military-spec stormproof matches work in wind and after a soak
Keep at least 2 sources of fire (matches + lighter) in case one fails
Replace every 3-5 years even if container is sealed

How it fits the 72-hour baseline

The EmergencyKit.app checklist follows CDC and American Red Cross guidance to cover the first 72 hours after a major disaster, the period during which public services such as power, water, and emergency response are most likely to be disrupted. Waterproof Matches sits in the Essential items category and should be packed in your stay-at-home kit at minimum, with a smaller portable version in your evacuation go-bag. Review your stock at least once a year, and replace anything past its use-by date.

About the EmergencyKit.app checklist

How we built it

EmergencyKit.app combines the official emergency-kit recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Red Cross, USA.gov's Ready.gov campaign, and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Each item on the checklist is tagged with the organisations that recommend it so you can see at a glance how well-supported it is.

The 20% body-weight rule

A go-bag should weigh no more than roughly 20% of the carrier's body weight. Above that threshold, evacuating on foot becomes painful, slow, and risky for older or smaller adults and for children. The weight checker on the homepage estimates your kit's total weight from the items you select and warns you when you cross the limit, so you can swap heavier items for lighter alternatives before you actually need to leave.

Three days, then more

The baseline kit covers a 72-hour window because that is how long it typically takes public services to restore basic supplies after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes should plan for at least two weeks of food, water, and prescription medication on top of the baseline kit.