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What should we all have in our cars for survival in nasty winter conditions?
I ask, because I have to drive my disabled husband for medical treatment in horrible western NY (southern tier lake-effect) winter driving conditions.
I want a good survival kit in our car, one that a couple of elderly folks could use, and the stronger sex with Parkinson’s.
When I’m out and about in Nevada in the winter (where the majority of the center of Nevada has no cell coverage and will never have any cell coverage), I always make sure I have:
1. A sleeping bag good to -10F. In the area you’re talking about, I’d make sure the bag is good to -20F. Bring along some garbage bags or a light tarp in the event you have to be out of the car. If you keep a good sleeping bag dry, and you have a way to keep the wind off you, you can stay surprisingly warm even in some pretty cold conditions.
2. Weatherproof matches, or a lighter, some road flares, perhaps some sort of fire starting aid as well. Road flares can light a lot of stuff pretty well.
3. A hat and scarf, wool if you’re not allergic. 80% of your heat loss is from your head and neck. Keep those warm and you’re halfway there.
4. Extra socks - wool ones, if you’re not allergic. When your feet get wet, you’d be surprised at how quickly you start feeling miserable.
5. A pot, or steel cup, in which to melt snow for water. DO NOT melt snow in your mouth to obtain water. There’s few ways you can lose heat faster than melting snow in your mouth, or eating snow.
6. The usual tools. With the Leatherman multi-tools available these days, there’s no excuse to not simply buy one at Costco (or wherever) and just chuck it into the glove box.
Bulky warm hat, scarf, long coat, mittens, overpants, felt-pack boots, high energy solid (as in can’t freeze) snack foods (chocolate, nuts, dried bananas, meat jerky), a winter-weight sleeping bag is best but some heavy woolen blankets can do. Best if everything has a windproof and water-resistant (not necessarily waterproof) outer layer.
The hardest thing to carry is liquids because left in storage in the vehicle they will freeze. Take a thermos of a warm drink or soup with at the beginning of every trip. Of course, alcohol won’t freeze but if you drink it in the cold you will.
I used to live in Alaska, now I live in the mountains of Idaho. Same difference except the winter here is 1/2 as long and not as dark and that’s OK with me!
Blankets (those silver survival blankets will do in a pinch). An extra layer or two of clothing -- sweatshirts and sweatpants are cheap, compact, warm and comfortable. A few bottles of water and a few energy bars. Road flares. A portable CB radio isn't a bad idea.
I got one of those kitchen vacuum-sealer gizmos, and started using it to assemble emergency kits. The relevant one is the one I described above. The others are the urban emergency kit: stuff like clean socks, underwear and a toilet kit in case I have to make do and try to look presentable. And the shelter and fire kit: a tarp (Tyvek is good) and parachute cord to construct an emergency shelter, plus a cigarette lighter, matches and kindling to start a fire. Most of that is probably overkill for a road trip, but it all fits in a duffel bag.