Winter Emergency Car Kit

Being prepared for an emergency is one of the most important things you can do. We don’t want to ever think about something happening, but if we are ready, it takes a lot of the stress away. Although we are having a very mild Winter here in Indiana, there have been times we had over 2 foot of snow at once.

With all the traveling we do, and I’m sure you do as well, it’s a good idea to put together a Winter Emergency Car Kit. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that doesn’t get snow, many of these items are great to have in your car.

The Emergency Car Kit is simple yet filled with some items you may not have thought about. We found everything we needed at Walmart. Start by finding the things you need for the Car Kit, then find a plastic container that will fit them snuggly. The container should be as compact as possible so it doesn’t take up much room in your car.

The first item we added to the container is non-clumping Kitty Litter, just a small 7 pound bag works fine and it was less than $1. Kitty Litter is perfect for throwing under your tires if you are stuck in snow or on ice, it will give you traction.

Next are the Booster Cables, which every car should have regardless if it’s Winter time or not. We found these for less than $10.

Then we added a can of Fix-a-Flat. While this obliviously is not a permanent fix, it could get you by in an emergency.

The heated emergency blanket might have been one of those items you weren’t aware of. I didn’t know they were available until Doug suggested it. We found the blanket in the camping section at Walmart.

Next are the Hand Warmers…these my friends, are the best ever! We used them while sitting through cold football and baseball games last year. And are a perfect addition to your Emergency Car Kit.

Once again, even if it’s not Winter time, a First Aid Kit is a must in every vehicle. We found this one near the Pharmacy, and it’s packed with products.

Finishing off our Winter Emergency Car Kit is quite possibly the coolest item yet, a light, but this is not your ordinary flashlight. This is a LED flashlight and it doesn’t need batteries, you just crank the handle to generate power. It also has a steady light and a flashing light for emergencies.

And there you have it…a little piece of mind that took about 30 minutes of your time to shop for and assemble and about $40 worth of products.

Here are a few extra tips for you…

Winter Emergency Car Kit Tips

1. Be sure all the packaging it removed before you place your items in the kit. Nothing would be worse than needing a bandaid and not having scissors available to cut off the zip tie that was holding it closed.
2. These Car Care Tips are great to read through and make note of.
3. Another good idea for a container is a backpack or bag with a handle in case you need to carry your supplies with you.

Additional Kit Items

1. Protein packed energy bars
2. Bottled water
3. Paper towels, rags or a large beech towel
4. Winter formula window washer solvent
5. Tire chains or Grip Treads
6. Ice-scraper, snow brush and snow shovel – they make shovels that have collapsible handles for easy storage

So if you don’t have an Emergency Car Kit, put it on your to-do list for this weekend. You will be glad you did!