What to Keep in Your Car or Truck in Case of an Emergency
Emergencies can happen to anyone. Prepare for the worst-case scenario (especially in wintertime) by keeping the following supplies in your winter car kit!
Whether you run out of fuel, puncture a tire, or slip off a snowy road, a car emergency kit can help you get back on the road safely and quickly.
In addition to the items listed below, keeping a cell phone on hand is highly advised. Ensure your phone is charged every time you get in the car, and keep a spare cell phone charger and a rechargeable battery pack in your emergency kit.
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Car Emergency Kit List
Keep the below items in a bag in your trunk. Ideally, we鈥檇 suggest keeping these items in a clear, plastic container so it鈥檚 easy to see and locate everything. You can buy a pre-packaged kit or create your own.
Minimum Supplies:
In an emergency, in addition to a full tank of gas and fresh antifreeze, the recommends having these with you at all times:
- Blankets, mittens, socks, and hats
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Flashlight, plus extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight)
- Jumper cables
- First-aid kit (band-aids, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, antiseptic cream, medical wrap). See a first-aid kit checklist.
- Bottled water
- Multi-tool (such as a Leatherman multi-tool or a Swiss Army knife)
- Road flares or reflective warning triangles
- Windshield cleaner
Extra Supplies for Frigid 蜜桃恋人
Add the items below to your emergency kit for those in wintry, snowy areas. (If it鈥檚 balmy all winter where you live, be thankful that you don鈥檛 need all of this stuff!)
- A bag of sand to help with traction (or a bag of non-clumping cat litter)
- Collapsible or folding snow shovel
- Blanket
- Tire chains and tow strap
- Hand warmers
- Winter boots for longer trips
- Sleeping bag for longer trips
Note: Salt helps with de-icing driveways and roads. (Excess salinity can damage vegetation and contaminate groundwater, however. So, with this in mind, salt your driveway only when you must, and try not to use more than necessary.)
Other Essentials:
- Small fire extinguisher (5-lb., Class B and Class C type) in case of a car fire
- Tire gauge to check the inflation pressure in all four tires and the spare tire
- Jack and lug wrench to change a tire
- Rags and hand cleaner (such as baby wipes)
- Duct tape
- Foam tire sealant for minor tire punctures
- Rain poncho
- Nonperishable high-energy foods include unsalted and canned nuts, granola bars, raisins and dried fruit, peanut butter, or hard candy.
- Battery鈥 or hand-crank鈥損owered radio
- Lighter and box of matches (in a waterproof container)
- Scissors and string or cord
- Spare change and cash
- Compass
- Paper maps
Be Prepared for Winter Driving
Before You Go
- If you must travel, make sure you share your travel plans and route with someone before you leave.
- Do not leave your car if you become stranded in bad winter weather. Don鈥檛 try to push your vehicle out of the snow. Light flares are in front and behind the car, and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow, mud, or any object.
- Make sure tires are properly inflated.
- Keep your gas tank filled above halfway to avoid a gas line freeze-up.
- Avoid driving when you have the flu, which can reduce your reaction time almost six times as much as moderate alcohol intake.
Winter Driving Tips
- Beware of black ice. Roads may look clear, but they may still be slippery.
- Stuck without traction and lacking sand or cat litter? You can take the floor mats out of your car in a pinch, place them next to the tires, and slowly inch the car onto and across them.
- Make sure windows are defrosted and clear. And be sure to clear snow and ice from the vehicle鈥檚 top! Gently rub a small, moistened, cloth bag of iodized salt on the outside of your windshield to prevent the ice and snow from sticking.
- To restore proper windshield wiper blade action, smooth the rubber blades with fine sandpaper to remove any grit and pits.
- Fog-proof your mirrors and the inside of your windshields with shaving cream. Spray and wipe it off with paper towels.
- Increase the following distance to 8 to 10 seconds.
- Avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy, and snowy weather.
- Do not use cruise control in wintry conditions.
- Look and steer in the direction you want to go. Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
- Know whether you have antilock brakes, which will 鈥減ump鈥 the brakes for you in a skid.
- If possible, don鈥檛 stop when going uphill.
- Signal distress with a brightly colored cloth tied to the antenna or in a rolled-up window.
See more cold-weather tips provided by .
What do you have in your car emergency kit? Let us know in the comments. (Thank you to our readers who have made suggestions, which we have added to the above list!)
Learn More
To see what weather鈥檚 in store for your area, see our free two-month extended forecasts or check out your local 7-day forecasts.
Be sure to find out what to have in your home emergency supply kit, too!
Catherine Boeckmann
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I can't believe nobody suggested toilet paper? We keep roll in an old coffee can along with a candle. Plastic lid on the can keeps the tp dry and if needed the candle in the can works as a heater.
Can and candle? How can I make that a stove? Is there an illustration somewhere? Perhaps a hobo stove?
Water bottles. Now, I keep my water bottles in thick coolers with well sealed lids. I've had them freeze inside my thinner coolers.
Just recently my windshield ice over so I used a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol and de-iced my windshield with the wipers running. The isopropyl alcohol is now part of our winter auto kits.
put some oil in a mug or something fireproof and light it. The smoke can be seen from a long distance away. I learned this 35 yrs ago from a colleague who had lived in Canada where there are big spaces that are fairly empty of traffic.
Several days worth of food and more water/juice than you think.
I have several Mylar thermal protective blankets and several plastic grocery bags. If you have to walk put them over your socks and then put your shoes on, if your shoes get wet your feet stay dry, a few cans of Sterno.
Carry on your person, a small container of Door Lock Deicer. Do not put in you glove box.
I highly recommend that drivers keep their survival kits inside the cab of the vehicle instead of the trunk. If your car gets damaged in the rear you can still access your gear if it's stored in the back seat or other interior location.
Be sure to clean snow and ice off your headlights and tail-lights, so you are more visible to other drivers.
One essential item was omitted: KITTY LITTER - works great to provide traction when you're stuck on ice.
Always carry a reflective vest ! It will aid you in being seen while changing a tire or performing other roadside work. on top of that carry a piece of plywood to place under the base of your jack, Plywood will flex and not break like solid wood . And it can aid in keeping your jack stable on wet or soft ground . Remember, you're not necessarily going to have a flat tire on nice smooth concrete . This plywood will also come in handy if you need to jack your car on hot asphalt ! It will provide a wider foot for your jack, distributing the weight better. The plywood piece need only be about 18" square .... and 1/2" thick. You'll be glad you have it with you and it doesn't take up too much space .
