Emergency Car Kit

On November 25, 2006 the Kim family was on the way home to San Francisco from a Thanksgiving trip when they took a wrong turn while traveling through the Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon.  Before long the snow caused the family with two small children to be stranded on the remote backcountry road.   After all attempts to signal rescuers failed, the family began to loss hope of being rescued.  On December 2, seven days after becoming stranded, James Kim set out on foot to find help that they believed was only 5 miles away.  On December 4, Kati Kim and their two young girls were found by a helicopter pilot.  All fuel had been used up, and what small amount of food and water they had when they started out for home had been severely rationed.  A few days later the body of James Kim was found.  He had died of exposure.

Would you have been prepared?  Could you survive in your car in the middle of winter for 9 days?  Or would you have been forced to leave the safety of your vehicle?


Here are some things that you should have in your car to be prepared.

Emergency Car Kit Check List
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries (or crank/battery-powered) - to
          keep informed if your car radio doesn't work.
Flashlight and extra batteries
Blankets or sleeping bag
Booster/jumper cables
Fire extinguisher (5lb. ABC type) - keep in a place that is easy for the
          driver to grab
3 days supply of water
3 days supply of non-perishable, high-energy food
Cell phone, track phone, or Phone card, quarters for phone calls.
Compass and road maps - and know how to use them!
Dry clothing, gloves or mittens, winter boots, hat, tennis shoes - restock
          seasonally
Tire repair kit, air pump, basic tool kit
Knife
Shovel - not just for getting stuck in snow, it's also great if you get stuck in
          sand (I should know!)
Pencil and paper for writing down other’s insurance information or to leave
          a note to rescue personnel.
Tow rope or chain
Flares and reflectors (or reflective duct tape)
Metal cup or coffee can for water - make sure that it's metal so if need be
          you can melt ice into water in the winter.
Waterproof poncho
Toilet paper
Duct tape (in contrasting color to car) - you can mark the roof or hood of
          your vehicle with and "X" or "SOS" to let others know that you are
          in trouble.
Whistle
Can heater - (more on this soon to come)
First-aid kit
Extra fan belt, radiator hose, and fuses - or substitutes that will get you
          by such as womens nylons, and radiator hose tape.
Anti-freeze/windshield washer fluid
Matches and 100-hr candle - multiple fire starting devices are always best.
Emergency money ($50-$100 in small bills and coins)