car accident in the middle of nowhere (article)

[storyville]

What can you do if you crash in the middle of nowhere? Depends, on large part, on what you did to prepare beforehand, of course. Here’s a news story from yesterday’s LA Times with some useful “lessons”:

www.latimes.com/news/highway1/20000412/t000034226.html

(BTW, there is one *teeny* knife ref -- see if you can find it!)

And the “hers” account to match “his” above:

www.latimes.com/news/highway1/20000412/t000034225.html

FYI --
Glen

 

[GLP-1]

Interesting point is that the equipment they did have was lost in the accident. Good argument for keeping some stuff in your pockets.

They commented that they didn't have a single match, but they could blow the vehicle horn. I wonder if they considered shorting something to start a fire, or if the vehicle had an integral cigarette lighter?

 

[Squid]

Interesting articles!

That is exactly why I carry a disaster/survival kit in my SUV. When I was putting it together, I put myself in various survival scenarios that I might find myself in, and packed accordingly. That includes food, water, clothing, maps, a backpack, and a good pair of hiking boots. Everything fits nicely in a Rubbermaid Action Packer storage box. As for stuff that's within arms length - cell phone, Spydie Endura, and UK flashlight.

 

[storyville]

Good replies. I think the article makes for an interesting follow-up to the General Discussions thread by Bagheera, RE what knives to carry in your car. I.e., it's a good idea to have emergency tools and supplies upfront!

GLP-1: Most interesting part of the article for me, also, was learning that their emergency equipmt was blown out of the rear windows -- lousy situation!

Squid: good kit. I keep some similar items in mine, but not nearly as well thought-out as yours. So it's going on the To-Do list.

Other point I liked in the article is to keep a lightstick (e.g., cyalume) in the glove compartment or somewhere upfront. If it's dark and you're trapped upfront and immobilized (like the poor soul who recently tried to cut off his own arm -- ouch!), that flashlight ain't going to last through the night!

Glen

 

[Jeff Clark]

Don't trust the glove compartment or underseat storage. In a crash things fly everywhere, glove compartments crack open, and you get injured and less able to find things. Always (every time you leave the house) have an SAK and a Bic lighter in your pocket. These are enough things to make light, heat, signals, slings, splints, break windows..."survive". You surely can carry these without excessive burden.