Why there are no candles, flares or gas in our box

People sometimes ask why our box has no candles, no flares and no gas. It's deliberate.

Candles

Torches are safer. Candles are a fire risk in a dark house, especially with children, pets or older people about. Every box has an LED torch and spare batteries, and you can add a wind-up and solar lantern that lights a whole room.

Flares and fireworks

They need licences, can't be posted, and aren't safe to keep in a home. If you need to show where you are, an LED SOS beacon does the job, again and again.

Gas

Gas cartridges can't go in a normal parcel. Our camping stove is sold with gas separately, and it's for outdoor use only: never use a gas stove, barbecue or generator indoors, because of carbon monoxide. If you have a gas, oil or wood appliance at home, a carbon monoxide alarm is worth having anyway.

The food needs no cooking

Everything in the box can be eaten without heat, which is what the government's checklist asks for.