Winter emergency kit?

[morkus64]

So, my wife has to drive an hour back and forth through rural, mountainous New Mexico to get to work - it's all highway, but there are definitely sections where there's no cell signal and there aren't that many other cars at times - so I want to put together an emergency kit for her. I could use some help making a list of what should be inside. We turned on Find my Phone (which is great unless she gets stuck somewhere without service, I guess), and I generally know when she'll be driving, so if she wound up being late and I didn't hear from her, I'd know to go looking. But, for instance, this fall I got stuck in a U-Haul and it took over 6 hours for a tow truck, so I'd like to be prepared for anything like that. All this is to say, I'm not making a crazy expensive kit so that she can survive the apocalypse - but if she has to pull over to wait out a storm or anything like that, I'd like her to feel safe.

Here's what I'm thinking so far:

- Dynamo flashlight / radio
- Thermal blankets
- Extra scarf, gloves, hat
- Non spoiling food
- Glow sticks
- Hand warmers
- Reflective duct tape
- Water (is there a way to keep it from freezing?)

Anything critical that I'm missing?

TIA!

 

[IronWing]

Lighter, matches
Jumper cables
Wool blanket - provides warmth even when wet, tough, can be used for all sorts of first aid

Tire chains can be very handy to get unstuck. They require practice putting on and taking off.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Breaker bar. There's the tire iron of course but, it's usually locked in the trunk . You can put water or juice in a thermos to keep it from freezing . Heavy plastic bags are also handy.

 

[zinfamous]

whiskey, flare gun, matches and kindling.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Battery powered jumper w/ tire pump. You can plug usb stuff into these nowadays, very handy.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Flares are great, but you need to replace em every few years or else they will leak all over the place and wont work.
Good emergency light source, good emergency fire source, good emergency smoke source ... flares are awesome.

 

[FeuerFrei]

knife, gun, pillow, butane torch, air compressor, usb charger, empty cup, something for traction, blinky lights, pen/marker+paper, tampon, adhesive bandages, smoke bombs, pair of boots/shoes

 

[MrSquished]

nice LED flashlight with extra Lithium batteries. Haven't heard great things about dynamo lights but I haven't checked in a while

 

[lxskllr]

Winch or comealong, and a tow strap.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Foldable shovel, can of fix-a-flat, small bag of cat litter for traction, flashlight/emergency light/portable air compressor thingie that plugs into cigarette lighter

 

[shortylickens]

I have two kits in my car, and I try to keep them in good condition especially for the winter.
1. The car kit - Tools and flares and fuses, some other shit.
2. Bright orange backpack with emergency clothes, mylar blankets, flashlight, a bit of food and water, and some other things I cannot recall.

Oh, and this

https://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC660-1700-12-Volt-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6

 

[MrSquished]

Reflective vest
Pair of winter boots, hats, scarf and gloves
Spare cell phone battery charger

 

[PricklyPete]

I have two kits in my car, and I try to keep them in good condition especially for the winter.
1. The car kit - Tools and flares and fuses, some other shit.
2. Bright orange backpack with emergency clothes, mylar blankets, flashlight, a bit of food and water, and some other things I cannot recall.

Oh, and this

https://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC660-1700-12-Volt-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6

So how often do you have to take that out of your car to charge?

 

[clamum]

Sootch recently did a video on this. I'm not saying that every single thing he mentions is necessary, but there's some good ideas I think: sootch Winter Survival Vehicle Kit

 

[Imp]

Shovel or trowel... A metal one, not a snow shovel.

Got stuck in a pick-up twice at work with 2-wheel rear drive. Idiots in the driver's seat decided to excavate a ditch with the wheels. I had to dig with cardboard.

Edit: And if you can afford it, there are satellite phone/trackers now for <$500 -- no idea about subscription/service charges. Check the reviews though.

https://www.amazon.com/AG-008727-201-Explorer-Satellite-Communicator-Navigation/dp/B00I6EY01C/

https://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Satellite-GPS-Messenger-Orange/dp/B00C8S8S4W/

 

[IronWing]

Shovel or trowel... A metal one, not a snow shovel.

Got stuck in a pick-up twice at work with 2-wheel rear drive. Idiots in the driver's seat decided to excavate a ditch with the wheels. I had to dig with cardboard.

"Why is our front end coming up like that?"

 

[highland145]

Lighter, matches
Jumper cables
Wool blanket - provides warmth even when wet, tough, can be used for all sorts of first aid

Tire chains can be very handy to get unstuck. They require practice putting on and taking off.

:thumbsup:
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hiking/wool-when-wet.htm

 

[lxskllr]

Shovel or trowel... A metal one, not a snow shovel.

Genuine military. Doesn't have to be US military, but it should be someone's. They're made to win wars, and are less likely to leave you stranded when you need them. One caveat is very old entrenching shovels with wood handles. Sometimes the wood it dryrotten from long storage. That's fixable with a bit of work, but you should know whether or not you can depend on it before you need it.

 

[shortylickens]

So how often do you have to take that out of your car to charge?

If I dont use it, the thing lasts for better part of 6 months.
But if I use it I can only get about 3 or 4 solid jumps from the thing and then it needs overnight charging. At least eight hours.

 

[PricklyPete]

If I dont use it, the thing lasts for better part of 6 months.
But if I use it I can only get about 3 or 4 solid jumps from the thing and then it needs overnight charging. At least eight hours.

Cool...might have to look into buying one. We take our vehicle far enough off the beaten path that this could be very handy.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Tent, sleeping bag, stove, water filter, fifth of whiskey, kleenex, chapstick, hand lotion, slippers.

 

[PricklyPete]

Tent, sleeping bag, stove, water filter, fifth of whiskey, kleenex, chapstick, hand lotion, slippers.

No visuals?

 

[Carson Dyle]

And, oh yeah: toothpicks. I hate it when I'm stranded at the bottom of a 200' ravine and get something from dinner caught in my teeth.

 

[BrainEater]

I have to say , all of the above , if your vehicle will carry it.You cannot be too prepared.
I drive a truck with a welder/genset onboard, and a 2'x2'x4' toolbox with basically everything listed above .
I go through some pretty hairy shit driving through the 'rocks to go skiing , and I still worry.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Best stuff EVER.

I don't keep any kind of emergency kit in my car, but I do always have toothpicks, hand cream, lip balm and kleenex. More about comfort while driving than worrying about breaking down in the wilderness.