Emergency Kit For Car

[Gingerella72]

I've been looking at articles that explain what essentials you should include in an emergency kit in your car, such as extra water, flashlight/batteries, food, first aid kit, etc. but none of them go into just HOW you should store them.

I guess I'm thinking about this because it's so hot right now, the interior of cars can reach up to 120 F and the trunk is probably no cooler. Wouldn't flashlight batteries corrode in no time sitting in a hot humid trunk or glove compartment? What emergency food can withstand such temps? What about the adhesive on band-aids or the alcohol content in antiseptic - wouldn't those be effected by such extreme temps? Not to mention storing water in plastic containers, as heat can make chemicals from the bottle leach into the water, even the BPA-free ones.

Do you have such an emergency kit in your vehicle, and if so, what problems have you encountered with storage? Any advice?

[frugal-one]

The only time I have an "emergency kit" in the car is during the winter months. I live in the north and have been known to be stuck in traffic or in a snow bank for extended periods of time which could cause a person to freeze. The summer months do not pose such a threat.

[bae]

I have emergency kits in every vehicle, some more over-the-top than others.

I live in the Pacific NW, heat isn't a big issue, humidity is.

I use my vacuum sealer to make packages up of the more sensitive items, and zip-lock bags. I've not had many things go bad, as long as I inspect the kits and replenish contents every year.

If you are thinking of a car kit, I'd encourage you to consider having, and knowing how to use:

- nitrile exam gloves, masks, *lots* of gauze, 2-3 good modern tourniquets, QuikClot
- CPR mask
- a significant fire extinguisher or two
- a tool sufficient for prying, ripping, breaking things
- sturdy, cut-resistant work gloves

[try2bfrugal]

I need to review ours again for completeness, but the kinds of things I usually keep include first aid kit, emergency glow sticks, fire extinguisher, phone charger that runs off the car battery, jumper cables, water, flashlight, Swiss army knife, emergency blanket and rain ponchos.

[SteveinMN]

My car comes with a first-aid kit and a reflecting warning triangle (it's the law in Germany) but I have learned to unearth the first-aid kit periodically because some of the items inside have an expiration date. We already have 12V chargers for our phones in the glove compartment and a snowbrush/ice scraper is de rigeur.

Like frugal-one, we carry kits only in the winter. Ours contain:
- a large metal coffee can that can be used for digging or for capturing snow to use as drinking water;
- a pen knife;
- a tow rope;
- waterproof matches;
- a couple of votive candles;
- a flashlight and batteries (kept separate and, yes, sometimes the batteries need to be warmed up before use);
- one of those Mylar blankets used to reflect body heat (we also usuallly carry an old comforter/sleeping bag for warmth);
- a loud whistle for use as a locator (this preceded mobile phones but they don't always work, either);
- a few servings of "trail food" -- GORP or what the coop calls "Energy Cubes" which appear to be ground-up nuts, dried fruits, and a binder. (very stable in any temperature)

Thank goodness we've never needed to use one. You may need multiples of some of these items if you're carrying passengers.

[Gingerella72]

In hot temperatures, how quickly do flashlight batteries drain down? Should I be worried about corrosion at all?

[KayLR]

The Red Cross has some good lists:
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit (http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit)