Winter Survival In A Car (Eight Items)
1. Blankets and warm clothes. There simply is no substitute for layers and layers of clothing to keep us warm if we find ourselves stranded in our vehicle this winter. I throw several coats and blankets in the car and just forget about them until summertime. The more, the merrier!
2. Plastic sheeting or plastic bags. After an accident the windows may be broken. Heating the vehicle becomes much harder, especially in snow or rain. Plastic trash bags or plastic sheeting can cover those areas and help keep us from freezing. I store mine away from any young child access (suffocation hazard).
3. Duct tape. Yeah, good ol’ duct tape can be used to tape the plastic sheeting in place if windows are broken. Maintaining a small, warm capsule inside the cabin can greatly improve our odds of survival.
4. Water. After a few hours of car camping thirst will be noticeable. We will need to hydrate often. I try to keep a couple of liters of water in the car for each person. I am careful to change them out often and not let them get too hot while in storage inside the vehicle (sunlight).
5. First aid kit. A basic first aid kit should contain bandages to help control bleeding, allergy meds and reflective blankets for warmth. First aid kits are built with your family in mind and are generally inexpensive to restock.
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6. Dry nonperishable food. I keep granola bars (dry and without yogurt), nuts and snack cakes in my vehicle. It feels good to know I have snacks handy if I am ever stranded or held over at work.
7. Phone charger. A phone charger should always be in the vehicle. The ability to call for help is critical in winter survival situations. If a vehicle has built in wireless charging, it may be disabled by a crash. A simple charging cable plugged into a USB or 12 volt receptacle may still work.
8. Heat source. If the engine will operate, heating the cabin with the vehicle heater may be an option. Carbon monoxide is a concern, however. Keeping a carbon monoxide detector in the vehicle is a good idea. If the engine is disabled, it may be due to a fuel safety shutoff mechanism. Consult your owners manual for how to reset it.
Disclaimer: Not intended as legal or medical advice. Thanks for reading!