This guest post was written by Lee Flynn.

5 Things to Keep in Your Car in Case of Emergencies

There are a few key items that every person should keep in their vehicle for emergencies. If a person becomes stranded, these items can help keep them alive until help arrives. The most important thing is to prepare ahead of time because no one knows when their vehicle might break down, or a natural disaster will strand them without help.
5 Things to Keep in Your Car in Case of Emergencies

There are a few key items that every person should keep in their vehicle for emergencies. If a person becomes stranded, these items can help keep them alive until help arrives. The most important thing is to prepare ahead of time because no one knows when their vehicle might break down, or a natural disaster will strand them without help.

Canned Goods and Water

FEMA suggests the people who are preparing for emergency situations keep at least a half a gallon of water available per person. The minimum amount of time to prepare for is three days. Keeping canned goods on hand is very helpful because they stay sealed, can be heated over a fire, and can be eaten cold if necessary. FEMA also says that each person should have enough food for at least one full meal a day to maintain strength and energy levels in an emergency situation. Emergency food is a vital part of being prepared for the unexpected. A can opener and a knife are other handy items to keep with food stores.

First Aid Kit

People should always keep a first aid kit in their vehicle and home at all times. There should be bandages, gauze, antiseptic, tape, scissors, antibiotic cream, tweezers, Q-tips or cotton balls, Benadryl and plastic bags in an emergency first aid kit. Any scrapes or cuts can be cleaned and bandaged right away if the necessary supplies are on hand. If an allergic reaction occurs from being stranded in an area where allergens are present, then the person can counteract the reaction with Benadryl. This medicine is an extremely important step for people who are severely allergic to anything in nature like bees or poison ivy. The plastic bags can be used as a clean surface while bandaging a wound.

Bible

A Christian will always want to keep an extra Bible handy to help give them strength through the tough time of being stranded. Verses on perseverance are helpful to read in times of despair. The Bible also gives the person something to do to keep their mind off from the danger they are in when emergencies hit.

Alternative Power Source

Besides keeping a flashlight and extra batteries handy, it is also important to have an extra power source like a jump pack or 12-volt battery. The battery pack can be used to give the car a jump in cold weather to help keep people warm. The alternative power source can also serve to power cell phones to call for help. Another advantage of having an alternative power source is the ability to use it to create a spark to make a fire for warmth. The fire that can be created from the jump pack can also be used to signal for help in case there are no cell signals.

Warm Clothing and Blankets

Another set of items to keep in a vehicle in case of being stranded are extra blankets, coats, gloves, hats, and scarves. People who are traveling in the winter or in places where the temperatures drop in the night should always have warm items to protect them from hypothermia. Clothing can be layered for comfort and warmth while waiting for help. Every person should have at least one warm blanket ready in case of emergencies.

Keeping an emergency kit in the trunk lets people travel with ease. People never know when they may get stranded in an area where there is very little or no help nearby. Items in the emergency kit should be stored in a cool, dry container like a large storage tote. Using large Ziplock bags for clothing storage is a good way to protect items in case of a flood or a leak in the trunk.

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When making any kit a good approach is to make sure you have the five basics covered; water, food, shelter, security and energy. There might be an item that could (or should) be in another group, and I am sure I missed an item or two.  There might also be items here that don’t make sense for you. Just use this as a guide for building the kit that meets your needs.

I carry a lot of gear in my car, mostly because my car is usually where I am. I store the gear in a GHB (Get Home Bag) and in a plastic storage bin.  Some of this gear is only in the care because of the GHB and it is not necessarily just for the car kit.

Water

• Metal coffee can (can be used to melt snow and to heat up water with candle, could also be used as a shovel if needed. You can also store food stuffs inside as to save space.)
• Half full water container (half full to provide room for freezing)
• Filtered sport water bottle
• Water purification tablets (not photographed)

Food

• Bouillon cubes
• Hard candy that won’t melt
• Power bars
• MRE
• Emergency bar

Shelter

• Flares
• Ice scraper
• Small tool kit
• Goggles (to keep rain or wind out of your eyes)
• Wool blanket
• 4-way tire iron (I won’t carry any other kind, this is a must IMHO)
• Metal Folding Shovel
• Tarp
• Garbage bag(‘s)
• Emergency blanket
• Para cord (this is hard to see, but it’s a 100ft section in between the flares and the garbage bags)
• Fix A Flat
• Jumper Cables
• Map (not photographed)
• Jack (not photographed)
• Shemagh (not photographed)

Security

• Flag rag (color should stand out, if you live in the south white may be good. In Minnesnowta white isn’t a good choice, so blaze orange it is.)
• Heavy-Duty Leather Work Gloves
• Safety Reflective Vest
• Fire Extinguisher
• Emergency Hammer (there are many types, as long as it has the metal tip for breaking a window and the ability to cut through a seat belt, it should be fine. Try to find a place within reach of the driver’s seat to keep it; I keep mine in the door pocket.)
• Glow sticks
• Whistle (I have recently heard of this extremely loud whistle called Storm and Windstorm whistles, they claim it can be heard ½ a mile away. I’ll be getting a few of these at some point. Good for waking the kids when they over sleep haha)
• Walking shoes (this is a must, especially for my women readers who wear fashionable shoes for work. Keep a pair of walking shoes in your car kit.)
• First Aid kit
• Poncho
• 3M N95 mask (These have a respirator and will keep glasses from fogging up.)

Energy

• Headlamp (great to keep the hands free, if you need to work under the hood or change a tire.)
• Flashlight (I keep a shake light in my kit, no worrying if the batteries are good.
• Candles (if you’re stranded and need to shelter in your car, a candle can heat up a small area relatively well, just make sure to crack a window now and again for fresh air.)
• Lighter

What other items do you carry as a part of your car kit?

 
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Every year I see at least one story about someone sliding off the road and into a ravine or getting lost in the mountains or some other unfortunate act.  These people are often found alive, days or sometimes weeks later.  Many are not so fortunate.  It was one of these stories that got me carrying what I call a mini kit in our vehicles.  This was actually an article I had planned on writing later this fall.  That is until I saw this story about a California man survives after his car plunges 200

“La Vau, 68, said he survived for six days after the crash by eating bugs and leaves and drinking water from a creek. He said he spent nights in his wrecked car and his days outside, yelling for help every 30 minutes or so. He could hear cars on the road above him, but none stopped.”

There was another car not far from Mr. La Vau, that driver had crashed two weeks prior and was only found because Mr. La Vau was.

I carry other gear in my car but this kit is kept in my console and is, in large part, supplemental.  The stories I mentioned above are the reason I carry it at all.  One of the stories involves a woman who had her pelvis broken and was stuck in the driver seat, this is why I keep the kit withing reach of the driver seat, console or glove box should be ok.

• Altoids tin is the container for the mini kit

• Tinfoil; I think it’s 12” x 12”.  This can be used to catch rain, boil water or make a fancy hat (LOL).

• Lighter and matches for making fire.  If you have your battery, you have another way to make fire.  (the matches are “strike anywhere” , I think they changed the makeup of these, they used to light if you gave them a dirty look, I couldn’t get these to light on anything short of the strike plate.)

• Cotton balls with some Vaseline; these are fantastic for starting a fire.  If you plan to use this, spend some time making sure they’ll light.  I did and found I was using too much Vaseline and the flame wouldn’t hold.  I actually pulled this kit out and tried to use the cotton and a flint to start a fire, the Vaseline had dried out.  Lesson learned; check all kits yearly, not just the BOB’s.  (Dryer lint or char cloth are also good here.)

• Razor blade; I always carry a pocket knife, but I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

• I also carry a small fishing kit, a few hooks, sinkers and 25 or so feet of line.  In one of these stories I read that a man was stranded near a lake and could see small fish, with no way to catch them. 

•  One item I just thought of as I am writing this that I need to add is a whistle. Yelling can quickly wear you out and do a number on your throat, while blowing a whistle all day long takes next to no effort, just ask my neighbor kid.

Here is a good article from ield and Stream that shows make a Survival Kit out of an Altoids Tin

Here is a picture of how I keep the kit in my car.

• $.99 first aid kit (you can supplement this with some meds)

• Cheap knife; my thought or this is to be able to cut the seatbelt if needed.

• I might wrap a section of Para-cord around these two instead of the rubber band, that would give a good length of rope.

 
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I see BOB’s as a bag that is used to either get to the BOL or support you for three days away from home. Where those three days are spent is going to determine the gear you plan on bringing as will the season that you might be in. If you plan on hoofing it and spending three days in the outdoors, weight is going to be a huge factor. If you plan on BO to a hotel and staying there for three days, weight isn’t as big of a deal. It should still be kept as light as possible just in case you need to carry it for any length of time.

As I mentioned in “Bugging Out or Battening Down” , I think everyone should have a BOB. There could always be an event in which you only have time to grab it and go. With that in mind, here is a simple list of items you might want to include in your BOB.

Keep in mind that if you have a family, each person will not need every piece of this gear. There are some pieces of gear that a family will only need one of.

This is not a comprehensive list, it is meant as starting point, to give you ideas. Change this list to fit you and your family.
 
Clothing

Clothing will vary the most, depending on the season and the region where you live.
Undergarments 3 pair
Thermal underwear 1 (seasonal)
Socks 3 pair, if cold climate then 3 additional wool pairs
T-shirt 3 pair
Long sleeve shirt 1-2, even if in a warmer climate as this will protect against the sun
Sweatshirt 1
Jeans or cargo pants 2-3
Shorts 1-2
Seasonal jacket 1
Bandanas 2-3 (many uses)
Watch cap 1
Shoes or boots 1 these need to be trusted. A blister or rolled ankle and you’re done.
Heavy-duty belt. 1
Poncho 1
Sun glasses 1
Leather work gloves 1
Shemagh 1 (Used for head wrap, scarf or even a sling)
Ball cap 1 (any type of hat to keep the sun off of your face)
 
Shelter

I recommend having some basic gear to make shelter in the outdoors, just in case.
Small tent 1
Small tarp 1
Sleeping bag 1 (rated for climate in your region)
Paracord 100’
Contractor trash bags 2-3 (many uses, including placing your BOB in it to waterproof)
 
Food and water

Here are some ideas on what you could bring.
Means to purify water, here are some suggestions from The Storage, Filtration And Purification Of Water
Mountain House pouches
Beef Jerky
Mixed nuts
Trail Mix or GORP
Dehydrated veggies for soups
MRE’s, lifeboat rations
Your favorite mixed spices
Collapsible 5-gallon water container
Canteen or Guyot Designs Stainless Steel Water Bottle (I prefer metal containers (no BPA)
Hard plastic plate and cup
Small bottle of dish soap
Fork, knife, spoon
 
Tools

Machete
Multi-tool
Fixed blade knife
Folding knife
Compass
Flashlight or headlamp
Cooking pot
Water proof matches, lighter or another means to make a spark
Cotton ball mixed with Vaseline or char-cloth, for tinder
Small sewing kit
Whistle
 
Hunting / Security

There are plenty of arguments on this subject, the great “One Gun” debate. I think you bring what you have and what you are trained with. If weight isn’t a concern, I would recommend a handgun, a rifle and a shotgun as well as a .22 and 100 rounds for each, maybe more for the .22.
 
Pets

We have four dogs, so each of us has a mini BOB attached to our BOB that has pet supplies in it.
A travel carrier or kennel might be a good idea, less chance of them getting loose.
Extra collar and leash
Prescription meds
dog food
toys
a length of rope for a dog run might be a good idea as well.
 
Miscellaneous

Prescription Medications
Basic First Aid kit
Imodium
Cortisone cream
Sun block
Chapstick
Bath towel
Insect repellent
Toilet paper
Important papers, license Ect
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Liquid soap
Wet wipes
Cash in small denominations.
Epipen if needed
Duct tape
Feminine products
Fishing pole and tackle
Small New Testament
Small notebook
Pen
Map of area
Trial size shampoo
 
Special Needs

I once saw an Autistic boy that was very attached to a certain type of eyeglass case. In a situation like this, there should be an identical item in the boys BOB. If the person with special needs is unable to carry their BOB you can mitigate this with a Folding Hand Truck.
 
The Bag Itself

I don’t think you need to spend a huge sum on the bag itself unless you do a lot of hiking and camping. You also don’t want to buy the cheapest bag you can find either. I paid $35-$50 for military surplus bags. If you go with military surplus, make sure they are in good repair, no holes, no broke or missing buckles.
 
Other resources

There are more sites out there than I can count that touch on this subject. Here is one site that only deals with BOB’s and BO called “Bug Out Survival”. The owner has also written a book called “Bug Out”. This website gets much more in depth and might be of interest if you want to explore the subject more.

Minimus is a great resource for lightweight, travel and individual wrapped items.

 
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