How to Put Together a Winter Survival Kit for Your Car

No matter the time of the year, you need to be prepared, and having a winter car survival kit is essential for the colder months. But how should you put one together? What are the staple winter emergency kit items you need? What situations should I be prepared for? All good questions that the team at Army Surplus World is here to answer and help you stay safe in the cold and be prepared with a winter car survival kit. 

 

Consider Your Needs

When creating a survival kit, it’s important to fill it with winter emergency kit items that suit your specific needs. Whether you’re going on a long-distance road trip or just driving across town in tough, cold weather, you should be prepared for a variety of situations. Consider the geography of the terrain you’ll be driving across and any variables that may happen. If you’re driving across mountains, you may need chains for your winter car survival kit, but if your terrain is a bit more forgiving, you probably won’t need them. 

 

Think About the Car You’re Driving 

Your winter car survival kit also depends upon the type of car you drive. If you have a smaller car, you may need to pack extra weight to help give you some more traction in the snow. Larger vehicles tend to skid a bit more, so you probably wouldn’t need extra weight from winter emergency kit items, but you should adjust your driving speed if roads are snowy or icy. 

 

What You’ll Need 

Now that some of the basics are out of the way, it’s time to start building out your winter car survival kit. This will include a variety of winter emergency kit items including tools, food, accessories, and more that can be life-saving when you’re in the cold. 

 

Items for Traction 

Colder weather usually means there’s a high chance for ice and snow. When you’re on a longer trip where the weather may not be consistent the whole way through, roads can get messy. slushy, icy, and dangerous. So, be sure you have a winter car survival kit with items that will give you traction.

• Chains. Chains are great for roads that become covered in ice. The sharp teeth grip into the ice and provide far more stability and traction than typical snow tires. 
• Kitty litter. It may seem like a peculiar item for a survival kit, but kitty litter is great in a pinch and perhaps a bit more accessible than chains for some. Placing loose litter under your tires will give them something to grip and could get you out of a slippery snowbank. 
• Dirt and stones. If you’re in dire straits and don’t have any chains or litter, your next best bet would be to dig up dirt to give your tires traction. But be careful with this: too much dirt may turn into mud and make things worse. 

One of the main reasons people usually need survival kits is because they get stuck in the snow somewhere, so your best option is to avoid it entirely with these winter emergency kit items. 

 

Keep Yourself Warm 

Perhaps the most important component of any winter car survival kit, items that keep you warm are a must. If you get stranded in a snowstorm with no gas, that means your car can’t heat up. So, you’ll be needing items to keep you warm. 

• Gas Can. You were probably thinking a blanket would be number one, but a proper gas can (filled with gas) will give you the ability to keep your car running if you get stuck in the snow somewhere and run out of gas. Periodically turn the car on and heat up the interior. Keep in mind: you won’t want to leave the car running for hours, because there may be a build-up of carbon monoxide when your car is idling for a long time. 
• Blankets. A blanket is one of the most standard winter emergency kit items you can buy. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to get a hold of and take up very little space in your car. 
• Mittens. If you’re working on your car in the snow, you’ll want to keep your fingers warm. Gloves are great for dexterity, but mittens work better than gloves at keeping your hands warm and trapping body heat. 
• Hand & Foot Warmers. Hand and foot warmers are also another great item to include in your winter car survival kit. They require no electricity, so all you have to do is shake them together to activate the heating agent. They typically last a couple of hours and can be found at a variety of stores. 

 

Stay Nourished

If you get stranded somewhere without food, that will make the entire process much more difficult. Plus, what would a winter car survival kit be without food? Be sure to pack non-perishables or winter emergency kit items with a long shelf life. That way you won’t have to constantly change them or worry about decomposition.

• Water. Water is first on this list because your body needs hydration before it needs food. All you need is a 24-pack of bottled water, and you’ll be all set. 
• MREs. MREs(Meals-Ready-To-Eat) are the perfect winter emergency kit items. They last for years, are lightweight, and have all the nourishment you would get in a regular meal. 

 

Miscellaneous Tools & Equipment 

The list of winter emergency kit items could be endless, but we’re trying to keep things concise. When you’re traveling over the road during the winter, there are a few basic tools and items that can go a long way in getting you out of sticky situations: 

• Road flares. They make it easy for other cars or rescuers to see you. Plus, they can be a source of warmth and help spark a fire if you need them. 
• Spare tire. Spares come in most cars, but be sure you know where yours is and that you have one. 
• Car Jack. A small car jack is a fantastic item for your winter car survival kit because it makes changing your spare a whole lot easier. 
• Phone Charger. Whether you’re driving for hours or very briefly, you never want to have a dead cell phone when you’re on the road. Keep a phone charger in your car so you won’t have to worry about a dead battery.
• Jumper Cables. This one is less specific to winter and more of an all-the-time item you should have in your car. A set of jumper cables can be the only thing standing between you and a tow truck if the only thing wrong with your car is a battery.

Army Surplus World has all of your winter emergency kit items and tactical gear. We want to help our customers stay safe on the job and on the roads. Shop now!