Vehicle Essentials for Summertime Travel

Vehicle Essentials for Summertime Travel

Summertime heat can be hard on a vehicle. The engine is prone to overheating, and tires can be affected by the heat as well. This means if you are traveling in the summertime you may experience a vehicle breakdown on a desolate stretch of highway. The summer heat can be dangerous to you as well. Dehydration is a very real possibility in the heat and you must prepare yourself as well as your vehicle.

Essentials for Your Vehicle

Even if you only commute, a few miles to work you never know what might happen. You might decide to take a shortcut or for whatever reason you travel somewhere else. You need to be prepared, for a breakdown or an accident, involving wildlife or you simply run off the road and your vehicle becomes disabled. To survive a few hours or a few days in the summertime heat you need to be prepared. The following is a list of essentials everyone should have in their vehicle for summertime travel.

• At least three days’ supply of water and calculate the amount using the one gallon/four liters recommendation for each person daily. The average person needs at least two quarts/liters daily just for hydration and if you are sweating profusely you may need up to a gallon daily to maintain fluid levels in your body
• Food for 72-hours such as protein bars, MRE’s, trail mix and/or peanut butter and crackers
• Coolant for the radiator and avoid using water for coolant. Water boils at a lower temperature than radiator coolant. Only use water in the radiator as a last resort
• Quality spare tire and the tools needed to change tires
• Tools for roadside repairs
• Duct tape, electrical tape
• Cell phone and charger and have an extra battery
• Maps of the area and a compass
• Signal flags that can be attached to the vehicle and if your vehicle has run off the road into heavy vegetation place signal flags where the vehicle left the road
• Glow lights that can be placed in the back and front windows so the vehicle can be located in the dark
• Work gloves
• Fire starting materials
• Battery operated flashlight
• Multi-tool and a fixed bladed knife

If it is hot, stay close to the vehicle, try to avoid exertion to slow your perspiration and do not attempt to walk to civilization. You can become dehydrated in a matter of hours. The vehicle is your only shelter for the night and unless you fear your life is in danger never attempt to hike out of your predicament in the dark. Nocturnal animals begin hunting at dark and this includes dangerous reptiles such as snakes. Let rescue personnel find you and make their job easier by staying close to your vehicle. Start a signal fire if there is no chance of creating a forest fire, the smoke can be spotted from miles away.

If you are prepared, you can survive quite easily for three days or longer if you do not panic and begin blundering around out in the heat. Water is your main priority along with having shelter at night, so do not give up your shelter and avoid exertion to prevent heavy sweating.

Emergency Wintertime Essentials for You Vehicle

Snowscape

Emergency Wintertime Essentials for You Vehicle

Snowscape

The safest place if you are caught in a snowstorm while driving is in your vehicle. Sudden blizzards accompanied by high winds can cause whiteout conditions, and you can become disorientated and lost just feet from your vehicle. Stay inside and when you have to go out to make sure the tail pipe is not clogged with snow. Keep one hand on the vehicle or tie a rope to you and the car’s door handle. You cannot run your engine if the exhaust pipe is obstructed with snow or vegetation. Make sure to have a window down a few inches when running the engine. Once you become stranded run the car’s engine for ten minutes every 45 minutes to an hour.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Always keep the vehicles’ gas tank topped off, this ensures you have fuel if you become stranded and it also prevents moisture build up in the lines that can freeze and prevent you from starting the engine. The following is a list of essentials you should always have in your car when traveling in the wintertime.
• Three days of high protein foods that can be eaten as is, such as Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s), protein bars, hard chocolate and trail mix
• 72-hour supply of water protected from freezing, place in Styrofoam coolers with newspaper or clothing for insulation
• Tire chains and traction pads, sand or cat litter for traction
• Small shovel
• Glow Lights the kind that you snap and shake
• Cell phone and charger/extra battery even if the phone does not have a carrier if charged the phone can dial 911
• Two thermal or wool blankets and/or sleeping bag
• Snow boots, heavy coat, gloves and hat
• Signal material such as brightly colored cloth or signal flags that can be held in place by closing a rear window on the material, used to signal rescue personnel
• Jumper/battery cables and/or a battery box with power converter and jump start cables attached
• Tools for minor car repair, duct tape, gallon of anti-freeze and extra motor oil
• Knife and multi-tool
• Matches, lighter and alternative fire starting materials such as a magnesium stick
• First aid supplies
• Snow brush and ice scraper
• Maps of the area along with a compass
• Flashlight and avoid lights that use the vehicles’ battery
• Nylon tow rope and avoid chains or steel cables for towing, they can snap and whip around causing serious injury if used to pull a vehicle

If possible, get signal fires going near the vehicle. Smoke can be seen for miles during the day and the flames can be seen at night. Keep wrapped in blankets to prevent body heat from conducting away from your body. Hypothermia is dangerous and can be a fatal condition if you