“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger. Underestimation can be fatal.”
Preppare’s Ping!!
Garbage bags are a good thing to have. Don’t take up much space and can be used for makeshift rain coat and will help keep body heat in.
Really useful article. I especially liked the one about the candle. I learned about candles for warmth as a kid, when I read a book about making snow trenches for survival.
What are your thoughts on lightweight “emergency survival blankets” - those silvery mylar things?
I don't know where this quote came from, but it is so true.
The best food to pack would be something like lifeboat rations. Compact, high calorie, well packaged and they last for years. Also not something the kids crave to snack on. Put em in an out of the way place and forget about them till you need them.
I would add a pair of wellies.
Bad juju = cold, wet feet
A couple of six-packs of Sterno would provide loads of heat in a car.
And large plastic garbage bags help keep heat in your clothing while sleeping.
If you must resort to snow, scoop it into a cup, let it melt and drink the water.
You don't need to damage your throat on top of every thing else.
Just WOW....I am stunned that anyone would deride you for carrying an emergency kit in your car. Apparently they have never had a true emergency.
I carry one because my folks did. And a good thing they did for those times when being stranded on the side of the road with NO ONE in sight for many hours on end.
I saw your post and thought GREAT! This is a service and a reminder for those who may not know. I have enough food and water for a day and a half, a thermal blanket, kitty litter (I don’t carry chains anymore but after last year’s snows I may change that this year, extra batteries, a hazard light, a Mag light, some additional clothing, a pair of boots, spare gloves, and a book to read.
I may be ‘over prepared’ but for anyone ever stuck in a blizzard in Colorado you learn the hard way. That is why when the snows hit the north woods here in Georgia I was not only prepared but able to cope. That and the fact that when I saw they were predicting snow I got home ASAP so got to watch the others on the freeway via television.
We had snow up here about three weeks ago. Sure it didn’t stay on the ground long but last night the winds and wind chill left the roads with black ice. And that is a special joy all its own.
I say good for you and keep posting to remind people how to be safe
Thanks for the post for those of us living in snow country.
A kit should allow you to walk out if you have no other choice.
Wind protection
Heat conservation,
Water proof boots
three days food,
Signal flares
Water
Heat generation
My mom always said, “In the summer, take warm clothes. In the winter, take food.”
Gear for an enjoyable night’s stroll for a few miles:
Long underwear, over-sized sweat shirt, heavy, duck pants, insulated, long, duck parka with coyote hood fringe, goggles, pac boots, thick, tightly knitted wool hat with wool face wrap, wool socks, wool mitten liners, leather mitten shells, insulated shell to wear over pants, snowshoes, water, snack,...
Clothing for the enjoyable stroll should be good for staying on in 110 mph wind, BTW.
I liked ideas I picked up along the way about using your car to survive cold: take out your auto headlights and pointing them skyward, burning motor oil in hub caps (remember those?), breaking off your rear-view mirror to use for signaling, and ripping out headliner and seat materials to insulate for warmth.
XLNT info. A survival kit would make good Christmas presents for your loved ones.
If it’s that bad I’m not driving in it. I do need to put something together though.
Time to update the kit and get ready for winter. I work 50 miles away from home. I keep enough food / water / clothes in a backpack so that if I have to hike the whole way, I can make it.
Sure fire firestarters: Road flares.
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1. Grand Trunk packable down blanket. The thing looks ridiculous, it's thin and small and packs down to nothing. I didn't believe how warm it turned out to be.
2. Fleece hoodie. Kept the back of the neck and the head warm.
3. Cheap fleece skullcap. I think I got it for three bucks at Home Depot.
4. Wool socks. You don't want to sleep in your shoes if you can help it - they tend to restrict circulation just enough to make you cold.
5. Wool gloves. Not tight - same thing about circulation.
6. Sterno stove with a tin cup. Because coffee.
7. Instant coffee. Instant chocolate. OhmyGodthatwasgood!
8. Beef jerky. Foil packets of tuna.
9. Water.
10. A little airline-size pillow. Silly luxury but it was nice.
11. Toothbrush, toothpaste, mini-bottle of mouthwash and a hairbrush. I felt great when the cops finally showed up.
12. Cheap LED flashlights. I had at least three.
13. Battery charger for the cellphone. Finally found a working outlet at the rest stop the next day. In the meantime,
14. Lifecharge power bank for the cellphone. I didn't turn the phone off when I found no bars, and it ran itself dry seeking a signal. Dumb.
15. A change of underwear with clean socks.
16. A little Charter Arms .38 snubbie with 30 rounds of ammo. The only thing on this list I didn't use, although just having it was using it.
There was, and should be more, of course, but that's what of what I had that I ended up using. YMMV.