The Worst-Case Survival Kit for Your Car

The Worst-Case Survival Kit for Your Car

A big credit card company asks over and over again on its TV ads, "What's in your wallet?”With summer travel season here, a better question might be, "What's in your trunk?" You want to prepare for whatever fate might throw your way on the road, and good preparedness starts with the right emergency gear.
Unless your car has run-flat tires, it already comes with a survival kit for the most common emergency--a flat tire. Check the inflation pressure of your spare tire every six months or so. (If you have a flat or under-inflated spare, then you really don't have a spare at all.) Know the location of the jack and jack handle/lug wrench and how to use them.
Some people like to assemble two emergency kits -- one for summer and one for winter -- each containing items specific to the season.
"Why bother to put one in and take the other out every six months?" says Tom Waring, senior director of health and safety for the Red Cross of Greater New York. "Kitty litter works great for traction on ice, but it can also be used in mud. A good hat will keep you warm in winter and keep off the sun in summer. Try not to make it so complicated. The things that you take in and out should be the exceptions."
The stuff listed below will save you time, save your sanity and may even save your life. Consider carrying these items in a big plastic tub in your trunk or cargo area:
Mechanical Preparedness
• Jumper cables. The longer the cables, the less jockeying you'll need to do to position a vehicle for a jump-start. But added length also requires added thickness to carry the current on a cold, wet day. Thickness is measured in gauge numbers -- the lower the gauge number, the thicker the cable. When comparing sets of equal length, choose the one with lowest gauge number.
• Flashlight (with extra batteries) or other noncombustible source of illumination.
• Tools. Pliers, an adjustable wrench, utility knife and screwdrivers (Phillips and flat head) will do for most situations. A collapsible shovel also comes in handy for snow or sand. You might also consider a few cable ties (to bind electrical wiring under the hood), PVC tape (to temporarily repair a leaky hose) and mechanic's wire (to keep a tailpipe or other component from dragging after a clamp breaks).
• Warning devices. Although flares attract plenty of attention and warn oncoming traffic of a roadside breakdown, they burn out in about a half-hour. On the other hand, reflective triangles are reusable and fold flat in your trunk. They should measure at least 17 inches long and 2 inches wide on each side. Look for the symbol "DOT" or the statement that they conform to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
• Traction aids. A sack of sand or kitty litter works on ice, snow and other slick surfaces.
Personal Preparedness
• First aid kit. A good kit should contain plenty of bandages and gauze dressings in assorted sizes, waterproof tape, latex gloves, antiseptic towelettes or alcohol wipes, wound ointment, cold packs, scissors and--most important--clear instructions on basic first aid.
• Cell phone (with charger).
• Work clothes. A pair of old jeans or coveralls, oversize sweatshirt, work gloves, hat and sturdy shoes can save your everyday clothing and provide extra warmth if necessary.
• Blanket. A Mylar blanket works wonders. Lightweight and inexpensive, it provides warmth without absorbing water or perspiration. Spread on the roof of your vehicle, it reflects sunlight and keeps the interior cooler.
• Whistle. You can blow louder and longer than you can yell to attract help.
• Clean-up supplies. A package of premoistened towelettes, a roll of paper towels or shop towels keep you tidy and can also be used for personal hygiene.
• Personal supplies. "We recommend that you customize the contents of any emergency kit to fit your particular circumstances," says Keith Robertory, preparedness expert with the American Red Cross national headquarters. "For example, are you allergic to bee stings? Then you might want to include an EpiPen or antihistamine." Families with infants will pack extra diapers and formula; fair skinned folks will want sunscreen.
Family Preparedness
Although the stuff above will help in a roadside crisis, other emergencies -- hurricanes, floods, terrorist attacks and the like -- may require evacuation. "In that case, your car becomes an extension of your home," says Red Cross's Waring. Keep the following in your vehicle or ready to go in a plastic tub, backpack or duffel bag:
• Food and water. Simple, high-energy foods such as nuts, raisins and peanut butter require no cooking. (Remember a can opener!) The Department of Homeland Security recommends keeping a three-day supply of water for your household--one gallon per person per day.
• Portable radio (and extra batteries). If you're stuck in traffic or turn off the engine to conserve gas, a radio will give you the latest bulletins without running down your car battery.
• Phone list. Rather than relying on your cell phone's memory (which dies when the battery dies), keep a paper list of relatives and other contacts in a zip-lock baggie. Long-distance landlines often remain open when high call volumes overwhelm local or wireless networks.
• Local and regional maps. "Don't assume that you know the best evacuation routes," notes Waring. Traffic, power outages and other problems may force officials to reroute you to unfamiliar areas. A compass helps, too.
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape. Despite late-night talk-show jokes, the Department of Homeland Security still stands by its duct-tape advice. Officials note that if a biological or chemical attack forces you to create a "shelter-in-place," you won't be laughing.
• Dust masks or cotton T-shirts. You can improvise air filters in a biological or chemical attack.
• Garbage bags and twist ties for personal sanitation.
• Personal supplies. Here again, experts recommend customizing the kit for your individual needs. Possible items include extra prescription medication, antacids, aspirin/acetaminophen, anti-diarrhea medicine, laxatives, syrup of Ipecac or activated charcoal (for poison control), fever thermometer (for diagnosis of exposure to biological agents), and contact lens supplies.
Above all, says Waring, every family should have its own disaster plan.
The Red Cross of Greater New York offers a free interactive CD ("Together We Prepare New York") to help you develop one of your own. To get a copy (Windows 98 or higher), call 877/733-2767, ext. 2435, send an e-mail to preparing@arcgny.org or visit www.nyredcross.org.

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