Car Kits

As the seasons change people think of time changing, replacing batteries in smoke detectors and clocks but I also think about rotating emergency supplies. This last week made a list for a young couple that is about to get married. My husband and I have been acting as mentors for them in the ways of preparedness. We were discussing first aid kits for his truck and he asked what we kept in our car so I made him a list. I just thought I would share it with you.

FOOD (Non-Perishable) - Power bars, peanut crackers, jerky, hard candy, pop tarts, dry fruit, nuts, etc. Think high protein fast energy and you will be good; remember this is going in your car or truck and it will get hot so chocolate is not what you want, it will be a nasty mess if you ever need it. Remember if you pack cans you will need a can opener and a spoon or fork. This will need to be rotated frequently due to heat.

WATER- you will survive longer without food than you will without water. If it is just you then I suggest a 6 pack of 16-20 ounce bottles. Stop and think about this if you plan on walking away from your vehicle you will need to carry water with you and you will not want to tote 4 or 5 bottles so it might be nice to have a canteen in your car so you can pour water in it that way you can tote easily.

SLEEPING BAG or BLANKET (wool is best) - For combating shock and for staying warm if you end up in a snow bank. Mylar "space" blankets are also good "extra" insulation and they don’t take up much space. The only thing is you will sweat with those mylar blankets so be careful when using them. You will not want to get all sweaty then have to get out in the cold and be wet from sweat.

SHOES or BOOTS- Sturdy sensible boots or shoes that you can hike in or walk in bad terrain in. A pair of heavy socks should be stuffed in each shoe. If you are a female you will not want to walk away from your car in heels. Also if you have to push your car out of the mud or snow you do not want to do that in heels either. You want your feet dry.

MATCHES- in waterproof container, you can never have too many matches. We have been saved many times when we go camping and get there only to realize that we had no matches in our camping gear but there were matches in the car.

FLASHLIGHT- with spare BATTERIES and BULBS. I can not stress this one enough. Please if nothing else make sure you have water and a working flash light at all times. The little LCD ones that you wear on your head are awesome. They free up your hands so you can change a tire or repair a hose. Not only that but it works a headlight (no pun intended) so that people will see you walking on the side of the road.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER - An ABC type, I never would have thought of this but my husband and I were driving my mother’s car and we passed a car that was on fire. My husband stopped was able to help before the fire department got there because my mother had a fire extinguisher in her car. Who knows maybe that car was saved to drive another day.

FIRST AID KIT- Purchase one at auto or drug store, or build you own with what you need. Always keep an updated list of prescription with the RX number from the bottle and pharmacy incase you need to get a few extras to get you through until you get home. Have pills, etc. in approved containers (my mother saves her last prescription bottle just for this reason. Once every three months my mother rotates her stock by using her last prescription bottle, then put them inside ZIP LOCK bag. If you use a liquid medicine, use separate bag from pills. Fishing tackle boxes are awesome for this because of all the little divided trays.

FIRST AID ITEMS
First aid hand book - You never know when your mind will blank and you can’t think straight. It happens especially when that is your spouse or child laying there.
BANDAGES- Assorted- Sterile Adhesive Bandages, Plastic/Cloth – be sure and include knuckle and finger tip bandages also.
2" Sterile Gauze Pads
4" Sterile Gauze Pads
Triangular Bandage
2" Sterile Roller bandages
3" Sterile Roller Bandages
TAPE- Please make sure this is hypoallergenic adhesive tape or silk tape.
SISSORS- Folding Scissors
TWEEZERS/MAGNIFYING GLASS- splinters happen
STITCHING- Needle and Thread (maybe a few buttons too)
CLEAN-UP- wet ones, baby wipes, you get the picture.
Antiseptic
Petroleum Jelly
Assorted Safety Pins
Cleansing Agent or Soap (hand sanitizer is good but there will still be times that you need good old fashion soap and water)
Latex Gloves (you can buy a small box of 50 gloves for a couple of dollars, I keep one in the car because my husband likes to use them if he has to check the fluids and he is dressed up that way he doesn’t get grease all over his hands.
Sunscreen (SPF 30+) be sure and include chapstick with sunscreen also.
Skin Lotion
Burn Cream – never know what you might touch under the hood of the car that is hot.
Preparation H – don’t laugh it reduces swelling and gets rid of the itch from bee stings and bug bits.

NON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Aspirin/Non-Aspirin/Ibuprofen/ETC
Anti-Diarrhea Medication
Antacid- Liquid/Tablet
Syrup of Ipecac (Use only if directed by DR or PCC)
Laxative (yes even for the car – we were traveling with family one vacation and our boys were riding with another family member who allowed them to eat gummy worms almost the entire trip and needless to say the boys needed this when we got where we were going.)
Activated Charcoal (Use only if directed by DR or PCC)
Cough Drops
Motion Sickness Tablets
Tooth Ache Kit
Nose & Eye Drops (well at least the eye drops, I have had to use these on trips)
THINGS YOU NEVER THINK OF…
Eye glasses
Eye glass repair kit – you never know when a lens will fall out. Trust me on this one.
Feminine products
Condoms / Birth Control (again think camping trips – enough said)
At least 72 hours of every day prescription meds like blood pressure medicine – this will need to be rotated on a regular basics. You never know when you are going to be stranded away from home. Or if you have to evacuate and you are gone longer than what you planned or you just simply forgot to pack your prescription meds.

PORTABLE RADIO- Portable AM/FM (or AM/FM/TV/Weather,etc) radio, with SPARE BATTERIES. If you leave the vehicle, you will be able to keep up on news and weather effecting your situation.(DO NOT store batteries in this radio, and have SPARE set in separate zip lock bag) The windup radios are ok but you have to wind them once or twice a month for them to stay in working condition. But they are better than nothing.

MAPS – Keep a recent (last 5 years) local map in your car. That way you can find alternate routes home. Let me stop right here and say topical maps are best if you can afford them. These are also a wise purchase of areas that you frequent. Also state maps stop at those rest stations and pick up your free map.
.
NOTEBOOK- A small pocket size notebook or scrap paper that you save from your printer with pen and pencil in a zip-lock bag.

ZIPLOCK BAGS- Extra Gallon or quart bags, a dozen or so will be handy.

GARBAGE BAGS- 2 of the 45 gallon, or 33 gallon. (white or yellow bags would be best because they will be reflective in the rain and dark) These can be used for rain suit by cutting hole in corners and center of top of bag for arms and head. They can protect you and your property.

FLARES- Note- put in large zip-lock bag. NEVER IGNITE A FLARE if GASOLINE is dripping from wrecked vehicle or near dry grass. Use a couple rocks to keep it from rolling on pavement, or use an approved holder. Large folding reflectors are also good. I personally prefer the reflectors. But flares are better at night; however, in some states flares are illegal.

CLOTHING- Old COAT...Thrift stores are my favorite places to shop for emergency clothes. That way I don’t feel like I am spending money we don’t have for clothes we may never use. No I do not rotate these in the car. Simple reason we can wear jeans year round. Be sure and have leather work gloves in pockets and a beanie or toboggan or what ever you call the knit cap you wear on your head. You will need a change of clothing also be sure to include underwear and socks. Just in case you get wet. Also a belt just in case you are not wearing one to begin with. A long sleeved COTTON shirt is good for summer with sleeves rolled up, and is good over existing shirt for layered warmth in winter. Those space bags that you suck the air out of work wonders for this. In the pocket of the coat make sure you have a whistle, mirror and life savers (got to have a way to keep your mouth moist)

SIPHON KIT from Auto Supply Store to siphon gasoline into approved container to add gasoline to empty tank.

Approved container for gasoline. Just think if you have to hike to get gas you will need something to put it in. So pick one up for $5-$6 at your local Wal-Mart or auto store instead of $15-$20 at the gas station when you are desperate.

DUCT TAPE- Stored in a baggie, along with ELECTRICAL TAPE, and couple "extra" Band Aids. Reflective tape is also good to have just in case you are dressed in dark clothes.

WATER or COOLANT – I know I said water earlier but that was for you this is for your vehicle. Minimum of one gallon – two is better.

OTHER FLUIDS – This is like brake fluid, oil, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid. You need at least one bottle of each.

WIRE CLOTHES HANGER- 2 minimum. Yeah I know these are hard to find now days but stop by your local cleaners and ask them for one.

PAPER GOODS- Box or Tissue some loose tissue in zip lock bag and/or full box or travel size packet I try to keep the last little bits of toilet tissue on rolls and squish them flat and store in zip lock bags. There have been several times we have been traveling and where we stopped did not have toilet tissue.

TOOL KIT Minimum...Pocket Knife with can-opener/bottle opener, cork screw/ 4" blade, etc., Water-pump pliers, combo needle-nose/cutter, diagonal cutters, phillips and standard blade screwdriver, 6- twist ties from garbage bags, roll of electrical tape, piece of "medium" grit sand paper and a zip ties all sizes... SUGGESTED... large standard screw driver for prying or a small crowbar, 8" crescent wrench, vise-grips, set of metric and standard drive wrench ratchet kit, combination metric/standard box/open wrenches, carpenters hammer(a sectional box with assorted nails and screws) safety glasses or goggles.

HOSE CLAMPS – keep a variety of gator clamps. What I mean by gator clamps are the ones that you tighten with a screw driver not the clamps you squeeze with pliers.

CASH- in a baggie 10 ones and 2 fives, along with 5 dollars in nickels, dimes and quarters (pay phone – cell phones don’t work every where).

JUMPER CABLES- be sure they are long and heavy duty.

CAR KEYS- Extra Set OUTSIDE of the vehicle and not in the trunk.

PAPER TOWELS- Roll or couple of CLEAN RAGS

FIX-A-FLAT - Compressed AIR with goop to fill hole

DISPOSABLE CAMERA- w/FLASH- for taking photos at accident scene

ADDRESS BOOK- or short list of important phone numbers (DRS, INSURANCE, with policy numbers auto/medical,

EMERGENCY LIST people to call to take care of you in case you can not tell anyone and the car is searched.

MEDICAL INFORMATION- In envelope with LARGE LETTERS "medical information" put in things that the EMERGENCY ROOM doctor will want to know including MEDICAL INSURANCE INFO.

DECK of CARDS- solitaire or card game might pass time.

FOLDING CHAIR- you never know when you will need one. (Those fold up umbrella chairs don’t take up much space.

COPY of FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN- Out of State Contact for separated family check-in, etc.

Store as much of this in a back pack that you can grab from your truck or car and walk away with, make sure that the first aid kit, food and clothes are at least in a good heavy duty backpack, along with your emergency information and matches.

Save your dryer lint it makes a good fire starter.

Constantly evaluate what you have in your kit. Check condition at least every 6 months check condition of food and water.