Car Emergency kit!

[RICHARD]

Please Please Please take few minutes to put some stuf into your car to help you survive an accident or getting stranded in winter weather!

The story about the gentleman who left his family to get help in the Pacific Northwest, only to be found dead, mades me want to go out and check on my truck supplies.

A change of clothes- It doesn't have to be a North Face down parka- an old sweat shirt, tshirts, sock and underwear.

MIttens, gloves a knit hat.

Plastic bags, lighter, mirror, hard candy.Tropical choclate (this you can find in a surplus store.)

Knife, wire, string, the fancy pliers with all the attachments in the handle.



--------------

I recently added some thing that is really kinda stupid but the more I looked at it...

For the Fourth of July the fireworks stands sell these things called 'flashpots"

It's a like minature cup cake with a fuse on it.

You light it and it flashes really brightly for about 40 seconds.

They are incredibly bright and really can get your attention.


All this stuff will fit into a small duffel bag under the seat.


IT's pretty cheap and some insurance that may save your life.

[lvpets2002]

:( Yes that was just Horrible about the Couple's whole ordeal.. I have always kept supplies & warm clothing {thick overalls} in my trunk.. Now I do not have any food loaded && need to do that.. Thanks for this Thread & its a Very Good Reminder..

[borzoimom]

We also keep several tow straps,- a red tarp with reflective tape= ( could put on the top of a car if necessary) or even provide additional insulation, a 5 gallon of water, I also keep a bag of bil jac in there too, and will add snack bars . Remember to keep your cars full of gas in the winter. Not just to keep the gas line from freezing but also for obvious reasons here..

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I read that story- how sad. :(

Having a good kit in your car is always a good idea. I'm sure you could even find plenty of those items at the dollar section of target or walmart.

[kimlovescats]

Good thread, and good advice, Richard!

[Blue_Frog]

Thanks for the reminder! I took out my kit when I moved in Sept. because I needed the space and never put it back in my truck since then.

Also, one thing to add is a long burning candle -- both for light and warmth :)

[catland]

Another piece of advice I heard driving home was - to prevent hypothermia in a situation like this...

Take that handy knife that Richard told you to pack and cut up the car upholstery so you can stuff the batting in your clothes and shoes.

Still not warm enough? Scavenge for twigs, leaves, bark, anything you can stuff in your clothes to create dead air space to hold in your body heat.


This is such a sad, sad story.

[borzoimom]

Another piece of advice I heard driving home was - to prevent hypothermia in a situation like this...

Take that handy knife that Richard told you to pack and cut up the car upholstery so you can stuff the batting in your clothes and shoes.

Still not warm enough? Scavenge for twigs, leaves, bark, anything you can stuff in your clothes to create dead air space to hold in your body heat.


This is such a sad, sad story.
Oh wow that is a good one..

[kuhio98]

In the winter, we add a thick, polar fleece blanket and a coffee can full of kitty litter to our emergency kit in the trunk.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Justin and I keep a fire extinguisher in each of our cars too. Though if your car is on fire the best thing to do is get out and get far away from it, it's still not a bad idea to have one.

We also keep a flashlight in our cars. They now make ones that don't even need batteries, you just shake them.

[Lady's Human]

Mandatory Winter emergency Kit for soldiers:

First aid kit (Mandatory year round)

Road Flares

3 days of food (MRE's work great, one MRE is 3000 calories, don't need to carry many of them to last for a long time)

water

a sleeping bag

warm clothing (Polypro underwear in most cases, REALLY warm, and at about $9 for a shirt and $8 for the pants, cheap)

a shovel, and sand.

Most of us add a tool kit of some sort.

[cmayer31]

Very good idea for a thread, Richard!

I have a few must haves in my truck:

(Some of this is EMT/First responder, so might not be normal)

Multi-tool / knife
Flashlight
Extra sweater or blanket
First aid kit
Non-rebreather mask
BP cuff and stethoscope
Sam Splints - soft splints that are multi-purpose
Extra triangle bandages with safety pins
Sunscreen
Tool kit

If I plan on making a long trip, or if I'm going someplace I don't know I'll add:

A bag of food with beef jerky, hard candy, and some MRE style meals.
At least a gallon of water
Extra engine oil and radiator coolant
Rope
Electrical and duct tape
Exta fuses for the specific vehicle
Blanket

There have been some really good items listed in this thread. Another great thing to remember that if for some reason you do end up lost pull of your rear view mirror. It makes an excellent signaling device if the sun is out. Another trick that my grandfather taught me is to use the exhaust manifold to heat food and water.