Chapter 2 · Your emergency kit
2.7 Car Kit (Heat and Cold)
Ready.gov recommends for the car: jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, ice scraper, car phone charger, blanket, map, and sand or cat litter for traction. On top of that, add what is specific to your climate.
| Year-round | Summer (heat) | Winter (ice and cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Jumper cables or portable jump starter; reflective triangle; flashlight; first-aid kit; water; food bars; charger and cable; paper map; multitool; gloves; reflective vest; tire pressure gauge; spare tire checked; whistle | Extra water (more than usual) and electrolyte drink; windshield sunshade; cap; sunscreen; towel for wetting; replace the water in the car more often because of the heat in the cabin | Blanket or sleeping bag; warm hat, gloves, dry socks; thermal blanket; ice scraper; sand or cat litter; small folding shovel; chemical hand warmers |
- Keep the tank at least half full. In evacuations and outages, gas stations run out or can't pump.
- Never leave people or pets in a parked car, not even "for a minute." In summer the interior heats up in minutes.
- If you are stranded in the cold with the engine running to stay warm, make sure the exhaust pipe isn't blocked (snow, mud) and crack a window: carbon monoxide risk.
- Never drive through a flooded road. Turn around (chapter 10).
