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Commuter Car Emergency Supplies
- Thread starter RatDrall
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
- Messages
- 5,846
2 gallons of water in gallon jugs. a couple water bottles on top of that isn't a bad idea. A couple hot cocoa packets, no problem tossing 4 MREs (in my case 8, but I have family) in with this.
2-4 space blankets (they are CHEAP and you may not be the only one stuck.) I keep 2 regular blankets in the car folded neatly and draped over the rear seats. 2-3 cheap pocket sized ponchos and a couple roll up windbreakers. Gloves! Add a basic alien abduction kit- one complete change of clothes, pocket toothbrush, talc, beach towel.
Don't skimp on the first aid kit here. bulking it up won't take up appreciable space in the car and you don't HAVE to pack it all out. You may end up being the one who has hemos even if it's the guy at the other end of the pileup who knows how to use them to close an artery.
Tools: pruning saw, axe, digger. That cna be an E-Tool, or a short spade, I find a wide trencher with a shortish handle works best. I prefer a decent axe- a collins youth felling axe works out well, but don't pop a 10 inch hatchet in there.
For the car itself:
reasonable auto repair tools, extra belt(s), tire valve tool, hand pump (yeah, it takes a while. but it works), make sure you have a real spare. Duct tape, a panel of visqueen. spare bulbs, fuses, oil, coolant, some bike inner tubes and RTV (trust me, I've fixed radiator hose leaks this way for limited periods of time), flares. Chains as appropriate.
sounds like a lot, but I could fit all this in a datsun 210 back in the day and since it mostly fit in void spaces or the way back of the trunk - and in the spare tire compartment- you didn't notice it. It's actually harder to pack all that into the Ford Windstar. because it has fewer void spaces.
2-4 space blankets (they are CHEAP and you may not be the only one stuck.) I keep 2 regular blankets in the car folded neatly and draped over the rear seats. 2-3 cheap pocket sized ponchos and a couple roll up windbreakers. Gloves! Add a basic alien abduction kit- one complete change of clothes, pocket toothbrush, talc, beach towel.
Don't skimp on the first aid kit here. bulking it up won't take up appreciable space in the car and you don't HAVE to pack it all out. You may end up being the one who has hemos even if it's the guy at the other end of the pileup who knows how to use them to close an artery.
Tools: pruning saw, axe, digger. That cna be an E-Tool, or a short spade, I find a wide trencher with a shortish handle works best. I prefer a decent axe- a collins youth felling axe works out well, but don't pop a 10 inch hatchet in there.
For the car itself:
reasonable auto repair tools, extra belt(s), tire valve tool, hand pump (yeah, it takes a while. but it works), make sure you have a real spare. Duct tape, a panel of visqueen. spare bulbs, fuses, oil, coolant, some bike inner tubes and RTV (trust me, I've fixed radiator hose leaks this way for limited periods of time), flares. Chains as appropriate.
sounds like a lot, but I could fit all this in a datsun 210 back in the day and since it mostly fit in void spaces or the way back of the trunk - and in the spare tire compartment- you didn't notice it. It's actually harder to pack all that into the Ford Windstar. because it has fewer void spaces.
There has been a lot of good advice on here so I won't be too redundant.
In the winter a TP toilet heater is a good idea. Do a Google search on it. Easy to make from a roll of toilet paper and a small coffee can and alcohol. Not great, but sufficient, and the coffee can can also be used as a cook pot.
A piece of 2x10 is a good idea for a jack stand in muddy/snowy conditions.
A shovel is a great idea, year around.
A tow strap is a great idea.
Add a basic PSK to what you already have, including a good firestarter like petroleum jelly cotton balls, a whistle (for signaling if you abandon your vehicle or your battery dies) and maybe some Katadyn Micropur MP-1 tablets for water treatment (although you are carrying bottled water).
As far as a FAK for the car concentrate on major trauma (I'm an EMT) as motor vehicle injuries are some of the most traumatic. Lots of roller gauze, lots of Ace-type bandages (ones with velcro closures instead of clips are much better, especially under stress), 4x4 gauze, lots of gloves (nitrile is hypoallergenic and does better in the heat and cold), duct tape or 3M Durapore tape and a CPR mask or shield. A SAM splint is nice to have, too, as you can use it for everything from splinting to a c-collar. After that, toss in the other things you normally have in a FAK for everything else.
Something I keep in my car trauma kit for others who show up on scene and want to help:
(2x) 3" roller gauze, (2x) 4x4 gauze, 4" velcro closure Ace-type bandage, (2 pairs) nitrile gloves, Durapore tape and a CPR shield, all in a 1-quart ziploc bag. Two of these bags are stored loose in my trauma bag so that I can throw them to someone to start on the ABC's until more advanced care can be given. They're also cheap to put together so I'm not out much.
Also note that I only do BLS when stopping for an accident, for liability reasons.
In the winter a TP toilet heater is a good idea. Do a Google search on it. Easy to make from a roll of toilet paper and a small coffee can and alcohol. Not great, but sufficient, and the coffee can can also be used as a cook pot.
A piece of 2x10 is a good idea for a jack stand in muddy/snowy conditions.
A shovel is a great idea, year around.
A tow strap is a great idea.
Add a basic PSK to what you already have, including a good firestarter like petroleum jelly cotton balls, a whistle (for signaling if you abandon your vehicle or your battery dies) and maybe some Katadyn Micropur MP-1 tablets for water treatment (although you are carrying bottled water).
As far as a FAK for the car concentrate on major trauma (I'm an EMT) as motor vehicle injuries are some of the most traumatic. Lots of roller gauze, lots of Ace-type bandages (ones with velcro closures instead of clips are much better, especially under stress), 4x4 gauze, lots of gloves (nitrile is hypoallergenic and does better in the heat and cold), duct tape or 3M Durapore tape and a CPR mask or shield. A SAM splint is nice to have, too, as you can use it for everything from splinting to a c-collar. After that, toss in the other things you normally have in a FAK for everything else.
Something I keep in my car trauma kit for others who show up on scene and want to help:
(2x) 3" roller gauze, (2x) 4x4 gauze, 4" velcro closure Ace-type bandage, (2 pairs) nitrile gloves, Durapore tape and a CPR shield, all in a 1-quart ziploc bag. Two of these bags are stored loose in my trauma bag so that I can throw them to someone to start on the ABC's until more advanced care can be given. They're also cheap to put together so I'm not out much.
Also note that I only do BLS when stopping for an accident, for liability reasons.
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- Joined
- Sep 15, 1999
- Messages
- 3,319
When I first started equipping the car(s) with stuff, the first thing I did was to go through years of collected and stored camping gear. Then instead of storing all those camping cooking pots on shelves in the basement, I figured I'd spread them between the vehicles. I've got at least three folding saws. I may as well store them in the cars. Every once in a while I buy a bunch of para cord. I could store it in the house, but why? I keep it in the car. If I need it, I know where to find it. I've collected too many moras recently. I can keep them in the house where they'll never get used, or I can put them in the car where I can hope they will never get used. I have a few small first aid kits. I have one big first aid kit. That big one stays in the car. If I'm in the house and need a big first aid kit, I walk out to the car and get it. The freeze dried food that I keep in the car is the food that I'll eventually use backpacking this summer. I just store it in the car. Everyone here buys more than we need with multiple lighters, ferro rods, hatchets, saws, ect. If you're not using it. Put it in the car. The point is, I bought very few items specifically for the car. It didn't cost much to have a vehicle that can support me for a few days. All that stuff you have piling up in the basement, can be stored in the car just as easily.
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