Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James Cole on August 23, 2009 at 1:15

The people commenting in this thread are, I believe, quite astute. OK, the most important survival tool is one that everyone has with them at all times; your brain. Think, Think, Think. Don't panic; you panic you die. Beyond that the second and third most important tools, and I'm preaching to the Choir here, is a knife and a way to start a fire. What is the best knife? The one you have at the time. Starting a fire? If your car doesn't have an electric lighter, go to the auto parts store and get one, you already have a storage spot for it. One fire starter that seems to be overlooked is the common road flare; easy to start, hard to put out, and lasts a long time.

Fire starting;
If you don't have at least one piece of paper in your car you are abnormal.
Lint is good and if you have a knife, you can scrape it from your clothing or cloth seats or floor mats, don't breath the fumes from synthetic fibers.
Motor oil on a rag or paper.
Your car is crashed; gas; soooo, but be careful; ¼ to ½ cup poured into dirt in a coffee can makes a nice heater; let it soak in for a few seconds.
The head liner from many cars.
DON'T burn plastics except as a last resort and never in an enclosed space.
If you are forced to burn your spare tire; be sure to let the air out first. Hot tread from an exploding tire should be avoided. Well duh, that was profound.

Some statistics:
You can live about;
3 minutes without air
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

So unless you are under water or locked in an air tight space the air is pretty much taken care of.
Hot weather or cold, you MUST stay hydrated.
Look for food, but try to not use more energy looking than you acquire.

You may have to use whatever is at hand, search everywhere in the vehicle. Make an inventory and improvise. I just looked in the console of my SUV and found two boxes of .22 long rifle cartridges. No gun, but I could still use them for fire starting. Take the bullets out of several and spark it up with some tinder

Now for some additions to the survival kit. Most of the heat loss you will experience is from the extremities, keep your hands, feet, and especially the head warm and the rest of you will be warm. So add an extra pair of woolen socks, woolen gloves, and a woolen hat/cap to the kit. Why wool? Because it wicks away moisture without giving up it's insulating value. Also, consider clothing made with 3M Thinsulate it has a high R factor with low bulk.

Foods, although granola bars are good for this job, they are bulky so if you are going with something that size, take power bars or tigers milk bars, they have more calories. You might want to look into energy gels. They come in small packages, have high calorie counts and are non thirst inducing.

JC

Permalink Reply by SSOAA on August 27, 2009 at 4:11

cant say i read everyone's posts but man some of you guys are ultra prepared...
are there laws where u guys live? some of u mentioned having large knives somewhere other than the trunk, i dont think i could get away with that if a cop finds it, altho its not like i get my car searched often.
i guess mine is rather simple but it goes something like this

1. emergency blanket
2. real blanket
3. several trash bags
4. butane lighter
5. large fixed blade (currently a rat6)
6. water bottles
7.folding shovel... (i mostly have that in there for when i go to the beach)
8. emergency whistle with compass and matches
9. ROAD FLARES!!!

i didnt read everyone's posts but im surprised that not everyone mentioned road flares sitting in their car kits. they are like $2 each at home depot.
i'd imagine a standard car crash is off the side of the road...
worst case scenario and my butane lighter and matches crap out. road flares can be used to start fires...

Permalink Reply by Ian McEntee on August 28, 2009 at 23:52

I can't speak for anywhere else, but in Mass the knife laws are very lenient, if it's not a dagger(double edged), automatic, or a butterfly knife, it's legal to carry, regardless of size. Now, obviously, walking around Boston with a ka-bar on my hip is just asking for trouble, but there wouldn't be any problem with having it in my car. Besides, why would a cop find it? If a cop is searching your car, you already messed something up. Lol.

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on August 29, 2009 at 9:39

I don't go solo auto, ever, in situations where loss of cell phone contact might occur, and then we have at least three cell phones with different accounts. We also carry a single GPS help response unit.

Always have a pretty good survival kit.

In your scenario, people should be going down that road daily, or you shouldn't be on it.

Permalink Reply by Merle Hagen on October 19, 2009 at 20:40

Would that be nurse Annie Wilkes ?

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on March 1, 2010 at 2:47

Is there a lake or stream within one day's walking distance?

Permalink Reply by Ron James on September 2, 2010 at 11:48

The biggest problem with all of these knives, and kits, is the fact that these days cops love to search vehicles, and upon seeing all this stuff, would prolly either take a hard look at you, confiscate it thinking you might be a anti-goverment radical survivalist, or the knives are concealed weapons,, whatever.
So no,,, I never give permission for anyone to search my vehicle, and lock the doors if I'm asked to step out.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on March 16, 2013 at 22:37

I am a hunter with a four wheel drive truck.  So I am often on lonely back roads or even off road.  However I think I am fairly well prepared.  I have a tool box in my truck bed.  In it I always have a bag full of the standard tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.  I also have a machete, a hatchet, a large bowie knife, a folding shovel, rope, bungee cords, a tarp, a small compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter, a hammer, jumper cables (I just had occasion to use those today), a tow strap, flashlight, and probably something else that I am forgetting at the moment.  And I will be armed as I am 24/7.  I EDC a S&W .38 snub and a Ruger LCP .380 auto (yes, both of them).  I also EDC a Case Mini Blackhorn and a Leatherman Micra.  And if I am actually hunting I will also have a rifle or shotgun.  And even though I don't smoke, butane lighters are standard equipment.  An emergency signalling device could be made by breaking off the rear view mirror.

And unless there were some dire strait that forced me to leave it, I would stay with the vehicle.  If worse came to worse, there is a lot in a vehicle that could be used to help you survive.  First and foremost, unless it is too badly wrecked, shelter.  If the engine is still operational, you can start it occasionally for heat.  A tire might be removed to use for fire, rubber floor mats could be burnt.  The black smoke both would generate might draw help to you.  If seats are removable, pull one out and set it on fire.  The horn could be used to honk out SOS.  The head lights at night could be seen for quite a distance.

In a real survival emergency, you might be surprised what you are willing to give up to stay alive.

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