Preparedness in Your Car
How to be more comfortable and safe if you have to spend a day or two in
your car.
What’s in
your car? I mean besides that fast food
sack of trash and the empty Starbucks cup.
Most people have things like a spare tire, a jack, and lug wrench in
their trunk. Those who really plan ahead
have a spare tire that actually has air in it.
A spare tire
for your vehicle (not the one around your middle) is probably the item you are
most likely to need. If you have that
covered – good thinking on your part.
However, considering all the time spent in a car there are a lot of
other things that would be good have in the car.
Things to
consider include:
Water – you may
get thirsty while you are changing that flat tire!
Flash light
with extra batteries.
A simple
first aid kit. It should include
band-aids, antibiotic salve, medicine for upset stomach, and just normal things
you might need for first aid. It is
probably cheaper and easier to just buy a kit.
A simple
survival kit which would include a blanket, a jacket or coat, possibly rain
gear depending on where you live, and something non-perishable to eat.
For the
advanced ‘car prepper’ there are more things that can be stored in your
car.
A change of
clothes for family members
Items
necessary for children – extra diapers, games, food items
Travel size
shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, and other similar items – be sure to
personalize it to match your needs. For
instance a travel size shampoo of a brand that gives you dandruff is totally
useless.
Hand warmers
or even thermal heat wraps.
Sleeping
bags.
A really
nice pillow would be wonderful!
A way to
heat water for hot beverages – something that plugs into your cigarette
lighter.
Instant
coffee, tea, cocoa, or instant soup mix.
Whatever you
need to go in your drink – sweetener or creamer.
Coffee
mug(s) or disposable cups.
Spoons.
Toilet paper
Hand wipes.
These things
are all useful. Most of them don’t take
up hardly any space.
A car is
obviously used for transportation, but it can also provide shelter and safety
in a dire situation. You can get in a
car and lock the doors. You will be
dry. A pack of hungry wolves will not be
able to eat you for dinner. You can
drive your car to a safer location in most cases.
Don’t be
bashful about spending some time thinking about how to turn your car into a mini-motorhome.
Ask yourself what specific needs you
would have if you were unable to return home for twenty four hours (or longer) and
then try to see that those needs would be met by things you put in your
car. I am not suggesting that a family
of four can get a really good night’s sleep in a car. I am saying that it would be a lot better
night if you had done some prepping in advance.
Keep your
gas tank at least half full.
Never under any
circumstances leave the motor running while you are parked. The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning
cannot be overstated.
Reading
material! Put a few good books that you
enjoyed reading the first time in the trunk.
Reading them again will kill time.
Car chargers
for phones and other devises
Cheerful music.
I am on the
lookout right now for affordable solar charging contraptions for cell phones
and other portable items. I will keep
you posted.
Have a good
day.
Barbara
Remember the
first four of prepping:
Self-definition
- Christian
Self-discipline
– live within the boundaries of your self-definition in all circumstances
Self-reliance
– don’t wait on the government to send in the cavalry
Scripture
memorization – answer those thoughts of doubt and anxiety by quoting scripture!
