How To Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit

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How To Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit

How To Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit article on Edmunds.com

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mbauserman

A few more additions to your emergency kit should be a blanket or two, a space blanket, and a tarp or some heavy sheet plastic, emergency candles, a windproof lighter and wetproof matches. The candles can be used inside the vehicle for warmth as long as a window is cracked to prevent oxygen loss.
Studying basic survival techniques is also a wise thing. As much as it's desirable to remain with the vehicle, the circumstances may eventually force you to leave it. If this happens, the most important things are to travel while you can best navigate, to keep yourself as warm and dry as possible, and if forced to overnight outside to stop with enough light remaining to build the best shelter you can and gather what fuel for a fire you can. When you think you have gathered enough, multiply that by five times and do your best to gather that much. Your fuel will go faster than you expect. If you can, use the space blanket to reflect heat into your shelter, and the tarp or plastic to trap it there. If you succeed, it can be a very warm and toasty night.
Every chance to dry your socks and footwear as well as gloves should be taken full advantage of.
One simple test to check for hypothermia is to touch your thumb to each finger as quickly as possible. If you can't touch them or it's hard to do so, stop and warm yourself as quickly as possible. Remember that caution is king, and risk kills. Try to plan your moves as far in advance as you can, and to allow enough time to accomplish modest goals. Set your sights too high and you can become demoralized quickly, and start pushing yourself too much, which leads to mistakes. They can kill. Caution wins the day and can save your life.

jburgie

I would add to this one of those interchangeable-bit screwdrivers with a set of Torx bits. I would subtract the antifreeze to save weight, because in a pinch, water will work fine.