Build your own emergency car kit that could save your life

Active Times via Yahoo ^ | 2/10/14 | Mark Lebetkin

[Kartographer]

When winter weather starts to get ugly, it’s times like this that your hour-long commute on the interstate can turn into an unexpected adventure, leaving you stuck in a snowy ditch miles from help.

In most cases you can expect to be there for no more than a few hours, says Tony Nester, founder of the Ancient Pathways survival school in Flagstaff, Ariz. and author of the e-book A Vehicle Survival Kit You Can Live With.

“Statistically, you’re more likely to encounter small scale episodes where there’s a blizzard, you spin off the road and you’re there for maybe a day or overnight,” he said. (Nester is also an EMT.)

[Kartographer]

I would also suggest adding some food to snack on like hard candy, breakfast bars, but nothing real salty. If you are worred about shelflife Lifeboat Rations can be purchsed from places like Ebay and Amazon they have a 5 year Shelf Life, Non-Thirst Provoking and Withstands Temperatures of -40° F to 300°F (-40°C to 149°. I would also place a litter or two of water in the front of the vehicle before I left the house.

I myself use to have a couple packs of vacuum pack Ritz crackers and a jar of peanut butter in trunk during winter months as well as candy and some snack bars.

A few weeks ago when Atlanta got shut down by a storm I suggested such a kit and was not so much surprised as disappointed by how many FReepers thought that carry such a kit was foolish. Just goes to show that there are even some FReeppers who rather depend of FEMA or the National Guard to bring them a bottle of water, a MRE, a warm blanket and a kiss for thier boo-boo and maybe even get thier picture on the national news rather then to take any precautions themselves.

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

[1rudeboy]

And don’t ever forget, no one will bring you booze, unless you are very very lucky.

[Kartographer]

I had a couple movers quilts that I keep in my truck and a sleeping bag.

[diverteach]

[Red in Blue PA]

My Car SHTF kit:

Black & Decker START IT VEC012CBD 450 Amp Jump Starter/Inflator
Garmin Nuvi GPS
72 hour Energy Bar
Adventure Medical Kits/Tender Corporation QuikClot Travel hemostatic clotting bag
Emergency LED Light Beacon
Life Hammer Original Emergency Hammer
Etón FR160R Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger
Aspirin
Victorinox Swiss Army Swisscard (Tweezers etc)
Adventure Medical Kits Emergency Bivy Sack
Splint
Bandaids
Gauze (Large & Small)
Wrap
Tape
Antibiotic ointment
Benadryl
Emergency Poncho
Emergency Reflective Blanket
Cabelas Fleece Blanket
Hand-Powered Flashlight
Toilet Paper
Compact Shovel for snow
Multi-Tool
Waterproof matches
“Light My Fire” Firestarter
Magnesium Fire Starter
Duct Tape
Duffel Bag
Sugar
Salt
Packets of Honey
Gloves
Sewing Kit
Potassium Iodide tablets
Emergency Reflective Sleeping Bag

[RetiredArmy]

I have had one in the back of my vehicle for 35 years. Ever since I was stationed in Germany in the 1970s. I keep it even now and we live in the COLD south!!!!! Freezing rain and snow in Alabama on the way tonight and tomorrow. Thus, I have always kept my emergency kit in the back of the vehicle. We stopped at a car wreck a few months back. Out I went, put on the screaming yellow vest and directed traffic till the police arrived, thanked me and took over.

[bgill]

I’d add a paper county map.

A kit shouldn’t be limited to snow.

[Kartographer]

Do you know how inadequate you made me feel? ;-)

If those same FReepers that had a fit about my small kit see yours their will most likely have a ‘Hissy Fit’!

[1rudeboy]

Very nice list, and comprehensive. Missing something, though . . . can't quite put my finger on it.

[discostu]

My suggestion is don’t live where there are blizzards, and when nastiness is coming stay home.

[Red in Blue PA]

Would like to ad one of these too (though I always carry a Kimber on my hip):

[afraidfortherepublic]

I prefer candy bars in the glove compartment -- Dove chocolate is always good. Of course, they may go bad, so you should change them often to insure that they are fresh at all times, consuming the ones that are over 2 weeks old!

[mad_as_he$$]

My minimun vehicle kit:

rope
2 MREs
multi-tools
matches
electrical tape
teflon tape
gorilla tape
zipties
extra pair of leather work boots
hand warmers
starting fluid
snatch block
wheel studs (6)
tire iron
baseball cap
a couple ratchet straps
air compressor and random assorted air compressor chucks
2x 30’ straps, 1x 20’ strap, 1x tree strap
half of a dozen 3/4 crosby screw pin bow shackles, 1x 7/8 crosby ...
tire plug and patch kit — with random bit of scrap welding wire for sewing a sidewall if possible, HF tire spoon
bailing wire, (roll of) surveying flagging
assorted fuses
assorted hand tools
assorted gloves — leather, snow, ...
road flares
bow saw, axe, hatchet, folding shovel, d handled shovel
misc. hardware and clamps
simple spare parts - tie rod end, u-joint, idler, belt
assorted fluids
adventure medical “hunter” kit
small ABC fire extinguisher
GPS
TP
beanies
bottled water
lighters, knives, flashlights, batteries
jumper cables
headlight bulb
Assorted screw clamps
Water filter

[Abathar]

What really drives me nuts is when my kids argue with me (they’re teenagers, so...) because I make them take a coat with them whenever they get in the car with me.

All I hear is “We have these things called cell phones now dad, if we break down or get in an accident we can just call someone... blah, blah, blah...”

Granted I’m an old fogy at 49 to them and ready to be put in a home, but I bet I’m not the only one seeing this dangerous trend either.

[DCBryan1]

Nice list, where is your firearm(s)?! ;)

[Abathar]

You sound like me with the $100 I always kept stashed in the back of my wallet “for emergencies”.

Problem with me is my idea of emergencies always seemed to fluctuate, coming home from the airport at 2a.m. a Wendy’s Frosty could be considered an emergency sometimes too.

And of course once you break it into a 50 and a couple of 20s then it’s all downhill from there.

Rinse and repeat...

[Kartographer]

The problem I encountered were adults! Who should know better! You should go back and read how adament they were that such a kit was foolishness. The hte Bible does tell us:

"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it."
Proverbs 22:3

But who would have thought there were so many simple minded on FR?