subject: 72-hour Kits For Your Car [print this page] Having a 72-hour kit inside of you car is an important resource to have in case of an emergency. There are many drivers who get into accidents in the mountains and cannot get out of their car, or drivers who get stuck in a snow storm, or get into an accident on a road far away form any town; whatever the case it is important to be prepared.
A 72-hour kit should include a change of clothes, socks, a blanket, food, water, flashlight, and a small first-aid kit. All of these things can help you survive for a few days if you are stranded and are unable to receive immediate help.
Driving in the mountains with the twisted roads and steep drops on either side of you can be very daunting, especially at night. If somethings happens and you drive off of the road, the chances are you won't be anywhere close to a town with people, and you probably won't know be able to climb back up to the road because of possible injuries.
Having a small first aid kit can help you with any minor cuts or bleeding that you can take care of yourself before the sun comes up and another driver sees your car. A blanket will keep you warm evening in the mountains get very cold and leaving your car engine on is very dangerous if you are sleeping.
Having enough food and water to last you three days is important so you won't get dehydrated and the food will give you enough energy if you do need to leave your car in the daytime to try to flag down a car for help. A flashlight will help you in the evening if you need to find something in your car, like a cell phone or anything else you might need.
Many snowstorms can bury cars on the road, leaving the passengers inside stranded for days without relief. Having a proper 72-hour kit in your vehicle at a time like this can save people form suffering from hypothermia or dehydration.
In a situation like this, the chances are you car engine will not be able to stay running for more than an entire day; this means your car's heater will be useless. A blanket and an extra set of clothes and socks can help keep an individual warm inside of their vehicle.
The food and water will be a needed commodity in any situation, but especially if you are stranded and unable to leave your vehicle for a couple of days. The key in this type of situation is to try to stay as warm as possible and to not try to get out of your car, until a rescue team comes to help you to safety.
If there are multiple people in your family, it is wise to have several 72-hour kits in your car if at all possible. That way if an emergency happens when the entire family is in the car, there will be enough supplies to sustain everyone; and if there are more kits in the car than there are people, the extra supplies will only be more useful.
Having a 72-hour kit in your car is an easy thing to put together, and all of the supplies can fit into a back-pack; allowing for easy storage and it won't take up much room. Every individual should have at least on in their car, no matter what kind of climate they live in, because an emergency can happen anywhere.
If you are not sure exactly what supplies to include in a 72-hour kit, there are many stores and websites that offer lists of supplies to include, and some even offer kits that are already put together with all of the necessary supplies that can be purchased. In addition, advice and pointers can be found on the internet or in books on how to act in different emergency situations.
