One of the first things my Dad taught me regarding the ownership of a vehicle was to be prepared for emergencies. This included having the skills and tools to perform some simple emergency roadside repairs. Every vehicle I’ve owned since has had at least the following items in it.
• Towel – This item was originally included as homage to Sci-Fi Writer Douglas Adams and his book, The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. It has, however, earned its place amongst my tools by proving itself a very versatile and useful ally in travel. For suggestions click Here.
• Flashlight – In order to see at night or under the hood and to signal people traveling on the road.
• Duct Tape – Blue Collar Comedy aside and much like the towel listed above, this is a very useful item to have. Its uses are truly impressive.
• Hammer – Persuasion is sometimes needed in an emergency.
• Screwdriver – I would recommend both a flat and a phillips head individually. More than once I’ve made an unpleasant situation much more aggravating by dropping the screwdriver tip in slushy muck while trying to change it out.
• Adjustable wrench – properly used can take the place of an entire set of standard and metric wrenches.
• Jumper Cables – More often then not, I use my cables as a Good Samaritan rather than as a victim of battery failure but they are still used regularly. It is important to know how to jumpstart a vehicle properly and safely. Doing it incorrectly can not only damage the vehicles but could cause severe injury. If you don’t know how, ask someone to show you. It’s not difficult but it needs to be done right.
• Small gas can – For years I kept a small 1 gallon can in my trunk mostly because I’ve owed a few cars that didn’t have working fuel gauges.
• Backpack, Gym Bag, or Milk Crate – I used a milk crate for years to store everything so it wouldn’t be scattered throughout the vehicle. I also used it as a snow shovel once in order to dig my self out of a snow-plow induced ice blockade. If your in a smaller vehicle, you might consider using a backpack to hold everything. Backpacks are especially helpful if you need to leave your car on foot so you can take your provisions with you. I have recently moved to a back-pack for human gear and an antique wood box for vehicle gear.
This separation allows me to abandon my vehicle quicker without having to take time to repack everything I want to take with me. I stress the fact that this is a set up that works for me. Your personal set up might be quite smaller.
I have added to this list, over the years, a variety of gear that I’ve tested for usefulness. Some of it I kept, most of it I’ve dumped because I didn’t use it, I used it and it failed, or I found a comparable item that was more compact. I added the following items to the list above with winter and the possibility of getting stranded in mind.
• Spare winter Gloves – Once gloves get wet they are virtually worthless and in order to maintain use of your hands, you will want to change them out for a dry pair.
• Winter cap – An emergency is no time to worry about hairstyles. Keeping your head and ears war is very important when out in cold weather.
• Extra Socks – A couple pair of socks can make a world of different. Keeping your feet warm and dry is something that everyone should strive for. You don’t want to end up with “Trench Foot!”
• Blanket or Sleeping bag – In case you get stranded and are forced to stay with your vehicle until help arrives, this can be a life saver. You may not be able to rely on your car heater to keep you warm. If you decide to abandon your vehicle, this can be another layer of protection as you make your way to safety.
• Bottled Water – Hydration is extremely important. I keep a 6 pack of bottled water in my vehicle for drinking in the event I’m stranded. Most bottled water with withstand freezing without breaking the bottle. As a precaution you could seal these bottles in a kitchen garbage bag. It should hold the water if they do break plus the bag can be used for a variety of things including transporting things if you have to walk, keeping things dry in a wet environment, ect.
• Energy bars – I keep a few “Clif Bars” in case I’m stranded. They provide a boost when dealing with a roadside emergency.
• Compass and local map – With training, a compass and local map can direct you to the nearest town where you can seek shelter.
• First Aid Kit – In my opinion, this should come standard on all vehicles. The first aid kit you keep should be one that’s set at your skill level. People often spend a lot of money on a fancy all inclusive medical kit but don’t have the skills required to used a field surgery kit or even a blood pressure cuff so there’s no point in having one take up space.
• Lighter/Matches – It’s always good to have a source of fire available in the event of an emergency. I would lean toward disposable lighters as they are more tolerant of weather conditions then matches.
• Flares/safety triangles – Stopped on the side of the road puts you in immediate danger from passing traffic. Setting out flares or reflective triangles will alert motorist to your presents. You may even get an offer of assistance.
• Small shovel – These you can get at camping or army surplus stores. I mentioned above using a milk crate to shovel snow and ice out of the way. Having a shovel would have made this task a lot easier.
I would be remiss if I don’t say something about personal safety. Sadly, we share a world with people who have malevolent intentions. Often in an emergency you will be relying on strangers for assistance. Your personal safety comes first! If something doesn’t feel right, get out of there. The first resource available in all situations is you. I encourage everyone who I speak with to get some training. Knowing how to properly perform CPR, change a tire, and jump start a car gives you the advantage many people do not possess. I also was to reiterate that this is a fairly personalized endeavor. What works for me in a SUV might not work well at all in your compact car. What I try to do is a yearly audit of what I keep at my disposal in my vehicle. I usually do it around my birthday as a reminder. I check my gear for damage and wear and replace anything that might be expired in my first aid kit, snacks, and water. I also wash my spare cloths and blankets to make sure they fit and do not have any problems. I realize that this list can look intimidating but you don’t have to try to get set up all at once. Start off with what you’re comfortable with and grow from there. The Center for Disease Control has a couple of good pages on the subject of preparedness HERE , HERE , and HERE. Let me know what you do to prepare for driving in Wisconsin.
