Tips for Surviving the Unexpected in Your Vehicle

Anytime a trip is taken in your vehicle, always remember that the most important part of your trip is the planning. The car is usually checked out before the trip to make sure it's roadworthy, but what about you? Would you be able to sustain yourself and your family with what you have in your car if something unexpected happened?

Pre-planning for a trip is especially important in the winter months. In these months Mother Nature can change your plans at the drop of a hat. Every year millions of travelers hit the road for that much awaited trip, but some of these trips are cut short by the unexpected.

In 2006, the Kim family was stranded in Oregon, which made a lot people aware of the many hazards that can overcome us when we least expect it. Just a few essentials carried along in your car can help you to survive even the most adverse conditions.

A West Virginia man survived from starving to death by eating taco sauces which he kept in his car. These packets of sauce are what sustained him long enough to be able to tell his story today. If you were to leave tonight on a trip, would there be enough in your car to provide nourishment to sustain you for several days?

Would you be able to dry your clothes if they got wet, or signal for help if it was needed? Can you build a fire to keep you and your family warm? Here are some ideas which can help you and your family survive the elements of winter, should an emergency arrive.

Before the trip

Document your trip, and familiarize yourself with the route. Before you leave on any trip always be sure that at least two people are aware of your trip. Make sure that they know the exact route which you're taking, and also who is making the trip with you. Be sure that all of your arrival and departure times are also known.

Even if you know the area in which you're traveling, make sure you familiarize yourself with the surrounding areas, due to construction and road closers. Always keep an atlas handy in your car, because your trip may need to be altered. At least be familiar with the surrounding areas just in case of an emergency, and you have to travel unknown roads. Make sure that you call and notify everyone of these route changes.

Get you car prepared for the trip ahead. Make sure all of the necessary essentials are packed and ready for the trip. This road worthy is not only for the driving ability of the car, but also road worthy just in case you have to live out of it for several hours, or several days.

Essentials for the trip

Store in your car an auto organizer. This is a box or bag which contains life saving essentials which will help in your survival. Here are some essential things which you should consider storing in the car's organizer: extra drinking water, more food than you think you'll need, extra clothes, nuts and dried fruits, energy bars, and cans of liquid nourishment. Aside from these bare essentials make sure that you also carry a cell phone, and a phone charger.

Also store in your vehicle blankets and waterproof matches, which are essentials in case you get wet. Road flares and whistles are excellent for signaling devices. Flashlights and mirrors can also be used to signal for help in an emergency situation.

Duck tape is always handy to have around, and can serve many uses such as sealing windows and doors from the cold. When traveling in winter months a bag of kindling is also suggested for starting a fire.

Always make sure that you travel with a first aid kit. Having a first aid kit and knowing how to use it are two separate things, so learn how to use it. Rope and jumper cables are also handy to have along, as are candles and any type of cutting devises. Also keep in the car some type of fire starter, and also a collapsible shovel.

Check and make sure that your spare tire and your car jack are both in working order, just in case they're needed. An extra gallon of gasoline should also be stored safely and securely in the car in case of emergency.

Are you roadworthy?

Now that you've prepared your car for the trip, make sure that you're also road worthy. If you plan on traveling in the winter months, or in an area where severe weather or abnormal temperatures are expected, it's always best to learn a few survival skills. Are you able to survive in below freezing temperatures for several days? And are you also able to build a fire strong enough to dry clothes, and keep your family warm?

Hypothermia, which is overexposure to the elements, is deadly for people who are stranded in severe cold temperatures. The ability to start a fire is a key ingredient which is very essential in sustaining the body's temperature for survival. Fire is also a source of light, and helps to keep away some animals that travel at night. Fire is also considered by some to be the "first aide for the mind."

The normal body temperature is normally 98.6 degrees, but even a drop of three degrees in temperature can put the body into jeopardy. At a body temperature of 95 degrees the body begins to get tired. Now the body begins to work harder just to keep the temperature up. Overworking the body should always be closely monitored in severe cold weather. Cold air is inhaled into the body which is very hard on your internal organs such as the lungs.

Always remember, the mind is probably your most important tool. Try not to panic. This does nothing but confuses the situation at hand, and adds more useless work which robs the body of its much needed energy. If you're stranded without any type of heat, the first thing you need to do is start a fire. This is an easy task, if you've prepared the essentials above.

If you don't have any kindling with you, look around the area for some small branches and twigs on the ground. Some of these twigs and branches are dry on the inside and will burn along with their foliage. This will make a smoky fire which will also draw more attention to you. Gather more pieces of wood which are different sizes to keep the fire going once you've got it started.

If you have trouble getting the twigs and branches to catch on fire, get some pieces of paper or newspaper and wad them up loosely. Put some small twigs or kindling around the paper, and light it up with your fire starter. Soon the small twigs will catch fire and begin to burn.

As a last resort put some accelerant on the wood to help start the fire, but be very careful when doing this. When the fire begins to build, put a few smaller pieces of branches on the fire to help increase its momentum. When the fire has grown, add some larger pieces of wood on the fire to keep it going.

Think smart

Before you make any quick moves, always plan your decisions before you react. Your best defense in an emergency situation is to be able to think and make the right choices. If you're in a car which has heat, a good rule of thumb is to run the car at thirty minute intervals for five to ten minutes at a time. Make sure that the tailpipe is not blocked of any snow or debris. The window of the vehicle should also be cracked in order to filter in fresh air.

If you are stranded and can't get a signal on your cell phone, try hiking to a hill or climb a tree to get a better signal to call for help. If the weather is very cold, dress in several layers of clothing, this will help to retain your body heat. Always keep plenty of water available. You can live for many days without food, but not water.

Signaling is also something which is necessary for your rescue if you have become stranded. If your cell phone is dead, the fire is also a good signal. Flashlights or any other type of noise or reflecting objects are also great for signaling help. Three signals of any type are considered a signal for help such as: three gunshots, or even three blows on a whistle. Three reflective flares are also considered a signal for help.

Know how to ration the food that you have, because you never know how long this ordeal will last. Try not to panic, because your mind might be the key element which could save you in the end. Always try to keep a positive attitude. Remember, it's always better to be too safe than not safe enough, when it comes to dealing with severe elements in the winter months.

Sources of information:

reliableanswers.com/winterdriving
www.hubpages.com/winterdriving
www.ehow.com/winterdriving