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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Wooden matches, and old newspaper or magazine, hand sanitizer, chap stick, small bottle of Windex (many uses), paper towels, flashlight, All can be kept in a new paint can (cheap at hardware stores - keep the key in the glove box, center console, or ash tray).
I keep 2 Duraflame logs in my trunk, you never know how long you may wait for help if you slide off the road.
Donna, that is genius! I never would have thought of that. A campers flint/strike bar igniter combo would be good to have as well and they don't take up much room.
unactivated cell phones cost you next to nothing to keep charged in your vehicle and 911 service is a mandatory feature - usually no sim required and triangulation via cell towers can actually assist emergency crews to locate your whereabouts in a life or death situation.
Not to sound paranoid, but a handgun might come in handy!
A car emergency kit should be available in worst case scenario - being trapped inside your car. All those items are of absolute no use if placed in the trunk. The only things to be placed in the trunk are shovel, kitty litter, tow rope, etc. Anything required for survival should be placed INSIDE the car and always accessible. That means if you're driving by yourself, the emergency kit should be up front with you and not in the backseat.
Most new cars have access to trunk thru backseat
I was hit by a truck and sent off the side of an overpass on my way home for Christmas. Temp was -5 deg F. I survived bc I had a huge old heavy car...an old Eldorado. The weight of that car kept it from flipping, and the long long nose of that car saved my life. BUT...the entire nose and engine etc had smashed onto my legs and pelvis, and had me pinned in the car. The door was off, and windshield busted exposing me to the extreme cold. My hands were free. I had a thermal blanket in the front seat etc. Luckily, it was early evening, and on the interstate so like 100 people rushed to my aid. They covered me till the ambulance and fire dept arrived.
But had I been alone...i wouldnt have been able to get to the trunk through the back seat for my bag, or even the back seat, or even the floor on the front seat. I agree keep your bag within arms reach, and even belt it to the console or whatever so it doesnt get thrown. If I had had to wait for help, id have had protein bars, water, cell phone, and my thermal blanket all within reach.
The awesome ending to this story is that one of the ENT's, and the first guy to put his head inside my car, was dressed like Santa Clause. I actually thought I was hallucinating. But I wasn't. He was suppose to play Santa at the Children's hospital and was ready to head over when he got the 911 call. He had a big pack of teddy bears in the fire truck for the kids, and he gave me one, and I still have it till this day.
But...the pack should always be where you can reach it.
I have heard of the candle and lighter.When a lighter gets cold it will not light,you will have to get it warm by putting it close to your body to warm it up before it will light.A tin can to put your candle in would make a good little stove to keep you warm and it would be safer as far as keeping your car from catching on fire or getting melted wax everywhere.
A candle and lighter in your survival kit. A little warmth from the lit candle will help take away a bit of the chill.
