"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
12/10/2013 at 09:35 • Filed to: Survival kit, snow
6
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"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
12/10/2013 at 09:35 • Filed to: Survival kit, snow | 6
| 19 |
There has been a lot of talk around here about the snow and ice that is hitting a good chuck of the US. Having grown up in northern states it was common wisdom to keep a servival kit in you car. Getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, at night, in the snow and cold is no joke. People die every year from that kind of thing. A few minutes, and a few dollars, of prevention could keep you and your family from becoming another sad story.
The North Dakota DOT has an extensive coffee can survival kit recommendation list. I've copied it below for you. The Wisconsin DOT pretty much has the same list, but includes a stocking cap. I would include a couple of blankets as well. Keeping warm, dry and fed increases your chances of survival hugely if you find yourself in a bad spot.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Coffee can or other empty and clean food can
60-inch length string (cut into 3 equal pieces - used to suspend can)
3 large safety pins (tie string to safety pins and pin to car roof interior to suspend can
over candle)
1 candle 2" diameter (place on lid under suspended can for melting snow). Canned
Sterno will also work to heat water.
1 pocket knife, reasonably sharp (or substitute with scissors)
3 pieces of bright cloth 2" wide x 36" long (tie to antenna or door handle)
Several packets of soup, hot chocolate, tea, bouillon cubes, etc. (mixed into melted
snow to provide warmth and nutrition)
Plastic spoons
Packages of easy to eat, high energy foods like peanuts and candy or canned, ready-to- eat soups or fruit
1 pair of socks and 1 pair of gloves or glove liners; cotton is not recommended because it provides no insulation when wet).
Extra clothing and a blanket or sleeping bag
2 packages of book matches
1 sun shield blanket or 2 large green or black plastic leaf bags (to reflect body heat)
1 flash light and batteries (keep separate)
First aid kit
Toilet paper and sealable container for bathroom purposes
Fire extinguisher
Small tool kit
Ice scraper/snowbrush
Shovel
Sand or other traction aid
Tow rope or chain
Jumper cables
Road flares or warning lights
Gas line antifreeze
Large plastic garbage bag
Pencil stub and paper
Plastic whistle
Cellular phone with a charger
You may want to keep the survival kit in the passenger compartment in case you go into a ditch and can't get to or open the trunk.
Put all items in a plastic storage container and place in vehicle when traveling starting in mid October.
Finally, assuming your car isn't in the middle of a river or something, stay with your vehicle if you get stranded. There are too many sad stories of people trying to walk out who didn't make it.
http://www.nd.gov/des/uploads/re…
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motoris…
Photo credits:
Armar Amason and Todd Klassy via Flicker
Stupidru
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 09:36 |
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Being a Wisconsin resident, I wholeheartedly agree with this post. It happens more than you'd imagine
Bluecold
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 09:39 |
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If I find myself in a stranded car, I'd probably have to walk an hour at most to find civilisation.
Cajun Ginger
> Bluecold
12/10/2013 at 09:43 |
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With the windchill it's negative ten here today. Also that hour on flat dry ground will take you much longer through deep snow. Plus if it's a whiteout good luck following the road. And if you were injured?
Guy Meurice
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 09:46 |
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I'm from the UK and we probably get a week's worth of snow at most. As of this week I'll be putting all the necessary bits into my wife's car - makes no sense not to. All you need is one freak snowstorm and to be caught in the middle of nowhere and you're screwed.
Jagvar
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 09:47 |
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Make sure it has all the necessities.
Casper
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 09:59 |
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I agree with most of these items. I keep a basic kit in all my cars and an emergency kit under the seat of my bike. It always amazes me that people don't like to be prepared, and would rather play the victim when something happens. At a minimum I always have the following with me:
* A good knife (I carry a Benchmade Triage every day in my pocket).
* A multi-tool (Leatherman or the like in every vehicle).
* A flash light (good LED lights, usually ones that are able to attach to a belt or on the Leatherman pouch).
* Thermal blanket.
* Fire starting material.
* Iodine tablets.
Beyond that stuff I have some more complete kit items like first aid supplies, a folding shovel, etc, in the main daily driver.
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Casper
> Bluecold
12/10/2013 at 10:00 |
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I don't think you understand how fast you would be dead at sub freezing temps walking... especially if you didn't have a really good warm outfit. Jeans and a nice jacket won't be enough to keep the frost bite away and it's very unlikely that you would be wearing nice Thinsulate & Gortex boots around in the car.
TurboSloth
> f86sabre
12/10/2013 at 10:08 |
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My survival kit:
-Ducttape
-water
-shovel
-machete
I need to rework this :(
Mattbob
> Jagvar
12/10/2013 at 10:13 |
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I want a travel pug!
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Bluecold
> Casper
12/10/2013 at 10:47 |
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Hmm. Here in the netherlands, the lowest temperature I've seen was about -15C. Surely I'd survive an hour in a nice jacket and jeans?
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Casper
> Bluecold
12/10/2013 at 11:11 |
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Walking exposed down the road? You will be alive probably, but you will be looking at some frost bite if you don't have some decent coverings in 30 minutes or so. The problem with hypothermia and frostbite is that it sneaks up on you like heat stroke. The colder you get you essentially become drunk, disoriented, lose motor control, etc. If you are walking for an hour, you will be gradually losing pace, losing focus, etc.
It wouldn't be a hard task at all if you had the right clothing, but it's amazing how fast you run into trouble (losing toes, fingers, ears, nose, etc) in temps like that. A huge benefit would be a mouth/face cover like a balaclava. All of this assumes you also weren't injured in whatever disabled your vehicle. A broken foot will turn that hour walk into a major ordeal.
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Bluecold
> Casper
12/10/2013 at 11:13 |
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You've scared me into never wanting to venture out of the city.
thebigbossyboss
> Casper
12/10/2013 at 11:22 |
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Good post. I built a survival kit for my drive (1050 kms) to NB last year in winter. This year I am not going as far, but i will be driving a long distance in a winters night. Guess I better re-examine the stock and see what needs refreshing and or replacing.
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f86sabre
> Jagvar
12/10/2013 at 13:37 |
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For those of us on the other side of the fence there is also emergency cat.
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Casper
> Bluecold
12/10/2013 at 14:09 |
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You can die just as easily in the city. Just because there are people around doesn't mean any of them will help you if it is a bad storm or some kind of disaster. You need to have a plan to be able to take care of yourself.
RazoE
> f86sabre
12/11/2013 at 17:46 |
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I live in LA, so I just have a pair of binoculars and some zip ties.
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f86sabre
> RazoE
12/11/2013 at 20:31 |
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I've been in LA traffic. Water, food and an emergency toilet would still be valid survival gear.
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f86sabre
> f86sabre
12/11/2013 at 20:39 |
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This. Read this.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1028_3-61…
GreenN_Gold
> f86sabre
12/12/2013 at 14:20 |
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Makes me glad my mom left North Dakota before I was born.