Planning You Car Emergency Kit
You already have your bug out bag packed and ready to go. You likely already have an evacuation plan set, too. Still, you may not be as ready as you think. Most American families own more than one car and each vehicle needs to be ready to get you through a few rough and turbulent days until you can reach your main gear. From car parts to medical supplies, below are the five categories you better focus on.
Spare Tires & Parts
This is a really obvious one, isn’t it? You need to get somewhere in a hurry when the SHTF. You need your vehicle to run and to be able to fix it should it get fussy. Focusing on the basics is a great place to start, and probably all you are going to need to keep in your car.
Jumper cables, roadside flares, fuses, motor oil and a selection of tools are no-brainers. What about your tires, the things that keep your prepper chariot between the two lines? Do you have the gear you need to keep them pressed to the asphalt? If not, get a tire iron, spare jack, run flat and a few full-sized tires as spares. You want to buy name brand tires that have a reputation for quality, such as Michelin. Online retailers are usually your best bet because of the selection available.
Communications
Unless you are a hermit, you are going to need to communicate with somebody. Cell phones and sat phones are fine, and will probably work for the first few days of emergency situation. Just make sure you have all the supplies you need to keep them running: power brick, solar charger, extra cords and a waterproof case in case you have to hoof it.
Medical Supplies
Who knows what is going to happen and who you may need to help. Whatever the case, you want to be ready for medical emergencies. It’s great if you already have a first aid kit in your vehicles. However, you need to step up your medical game if you are going to thrive. Nothing is going to replace training. EMT courses can be taken at most community colleges and they only usually last a semester. Once you are trained, buy a professional-grade emergency medical bag for each of your vehicles. For everybody else, the untrained, at least carry the following items in your cars: non-latex gloves, tourniquet kit, blood clotting agent (Quikclot), EpiPen, aspirin, ace bandages, gauze, trauma dressings and trauma shears. The aforementioned items will get you by until you can get back to your main stash.
advertisement
Hydration
Always, always stash extra water in your vehicles. There no excuse not to. It also doesn’t hurt to carry Gatorade powder and a CamelBak hydration pack in your car.
Toiletries
Personal hygiene is important for many reasons and it helps to sustain morale. You don’t need to shave, and probably won’t have the time, but there a few other items that you should have in your car at all times. Carry a toothbrush and toothpaste, baby wipes for cleaning yourself, deodorant and mouthwash. Nail clippers have many uses so they are good to have in your hygiene kit, too. Even if there isn’t a real emergency, it’s always good to have back ups handy. Follow this advice and you’ll smell good and feel good during the end of the world as we know it.
For more car emergency kit items click here (article)
