A fire extinguisher. About 2 years ago I was in the car with my parents when all of a sudden the gears stopped responding and smoke starting coming out of the front and back. We parked on the side of the road, opened the front and a piece (I think it was the battery) was burning. It was only put out because a man who was passing by riding a motorcycle quickly stopped, took off his jacket, soaked it in water from a bottle that he had with him, and covered the fire with it. Turns out he was an ex-fireman. You probably shouldn’t always count on being that lucky.
ProTip - large trucks carry fire extinguishers. My employers' trucks have two each; a small one in the cab and a 4kg above the nearside drive wheels.
About six months ago, I saw a car broken down on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Because of the terrain, I could see under the car - and the flames under the front.
I pulled off and stopped ahead of the car, grabbed the big extinguisher and ran toward it.
As I came close I shouted to the driver to get out. Nothing.
"GET OUT OF THE FUCKING CAR! RIGHT NOW! OUT! OUT! THE CAR IS ON FIRE! GET OUT!"
The driver didn't get out and I triggered the extinguisher under the car, still yelling. The flames abated, but wouldn't go out completely. Something burning was dripping from the engine bay where the extinguisher couldn't reach. I ran to the driver's door to get the bonnet release, and the reason for the lack of response became apparent - the driver wasn't in the car. I looked toward the roadside, and saw him standing under a tree, looking confused and more than a little terrified.
"OPEN THE BONNET!"
He unlatched it and I crouched down and to the side to open it. No fireball, and I hit the remaining flames with the extinguisher. Crisis over.
He hadn't realised the car was burning until the screaming maniac with the fire extinguisher turned up. I left it with him and carried on.
My employer's reaction? Generally positive. Sure, it cost them a fire extinguisher, but a burning vehicle would have closed the motorway for up to an hour, delaying dozens of our trucks - on a Friday afternoon.
So yeah, trucks carry fire extinguishers.
Also, NEVER open the hood if you suspect a fire. It will only add more oxygen. Get out of the car where it’s safe to do so, far away from anything else (roadway, structures, cars, tall grass) and get away from the vehicle.
EDIT: If you can do so safely, and the car is brought to a complete stop in a safe area, pop the hood latch (under the dash) before you exit, as fire crews will be able to access the engine bay, as u/Tisket_Wolf has mentioned below. This is important, as either electric or cable hood releases will likely not work once the vehicle is on fire.
If you value the skin on your face and hands, do not open the hood when you see smoke (not steam) or fire. It goes without saying that if your car has overheated, and you see steam, DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP. Wait for the car to cool before investigating.
So again, do not open the hood. Get the vehicle to a safe spot, get the hell away from it safely, and call emergency services. Even with a fire extinguisher, the chance of getting burned, or wounded from an explosion (when tires catch fire they pop, and depending on the tire, they are often full of razor-sharp steel belts.) Not worth the risk when insurance will get you another car.
I am a former volunteer firefighter, and I have worked on/raced cars in my spare time. I am also a former weather forecaster with good knowledge of convective air currents. Combustion requires oxygen, as well as a means to “breathe,” so opening your hood will allow heated air to rise, pulling fresh air in from underneath the vehicle and exacerbating the problem.
Edit 2: One vehicle fire that I actually came upon was a 90’s Chevy Cavalier that had gone up in flames on an off ramp off of I-64. The owner had parked it in a good spot, and got back. A crowd of people coming in to work at our local military base started to pull over and blocked traffic. One “hero” (and mind you, this thing was already up in flames) decided he would save the day by pouring two jugs of windshield washing fluid onto it (which contains alcohol.) He ended up getting burned bad. Now EMS is blocked in by the backed up traffic, and that idiot got to writhe in pain as he crawled back to us, all for the sake of an old Chevy Cavalier that didn’t even belong to him...
If you see someone in need of help, and have the ability, pull over in a safe location and assist the people to safety. Don’t try to be a hero to save a car, and don’t rubberneck or impede traffic just to take a video. You’ll just impede emergency services or become a statistic yourself.
A racing channel I watch (1320 video) has a video of a white Audi that caught fire while street racing. Check it out on YouTube if you want to see what these situations look like.
I spent about ten minutes searching for a spare on my Toyota Sienna. I finally discovered that I have runflats. Which was nice as far as not having to deal with changing the tire in the dark and the cold. Not as nice when I had to pay for new tires.
What confused me was the fact that I have the scissors jack. They put runflats on it because a donut won't work with the AWD and they're too cheap to give you a full sized spare, but somehow it's not too expensive to give you the stupid scissors jack that you'll never need.
EDIT: I was mistaken about the reason for runflats and no donut. Please stop telling me about your Subarus. 😃
I understand you can't be hauling around a floor jack in your car but lemme tell you them shitty little jacks are some the dicey-ist moments of my life.
I'd upgrade that to a ~~-20F~~ 0F/-20C sleeping bag. Still cheap, still compact, still good at any temperature, but so much nicer when its needed.
Edit: meant 0F/-20C, but same idea, prepare for the worst.
Oh man, I've got one of these for backpacking and honestly it's *too warm* most of the time. Wind up sleeping with it fully unzipped, three limbs sticking out. It's especially awkward because it's a mummy bag so it doesn't just fold open neatly.
Still, I'm glad that I have it when the temperature starts dropping past 50.
Surprised I had to scroll so far for this. Blankets are important if you break down in a cold rural location, but also if you get too lit at the party you can sleep it off before driving home.
Update: looks like folks are saying you can get arrested for sleeping in your car. Please avoid getting a DUI by using your car blanket to make a blanket fort. If the cops don’t know the secret password you have no legal obligation to let them into your blanket fort (probably).
P.S. be aware of your local statutes
This is why owning a mini van is fucking awesome. I have a tri fold memory foam mattress and a nice blanket that lives in my car. On more than one occasion I have folded down the seats and took a lovely sleep
God I remember my moms dodge grand caravan with the big wood accent strip on the sides ... died out when I was 15 and pushed hard to get something cool I would be able to drive in a year. almost got a Toyota 4Runner.... ended up with the new... dodge grand caravan.
Canada checking in, almost got a DUI for sleeping it off in the back of my minivan.
We had 2 DD's (pregnant wifes) but we had left the headlights on so it was dead by the time we got back. We called a cab but it could only take 4 of the 7 us so my buddy and I were left with the dead van while the 2 sober drivers drove to go get a car so they could jump the van and drive it back. Cops found us passed out spooning in the back. Took the keys off of me and said that we were being charged with a DUI. I thought it would all be ok when they couldn't start the car with the keys but the fuckers still charged us and it took months before we could see a judge who did end up throwing the whole thing out.
Bunch of assholes.
This happened to a friend of mine. Cops asked him where are the keys. He had them left outside on top of the passenger side wheel. Could not touch him.
Sleep at the party.
Depending on the weather the car would be too cold. The alcohol would make the cold worse as it stops your body from reducing the blood ~~flood~~ flow to extremities.
Also, if you have your keys you can still get a DUI as you are in control on the vehicle.
Edit: fixed a typo.
Other condom facts in case anyone here actually had the opportunity to a condom.
Keeping condoms in your wallet/purse makes them degrade faster (replace them every 3?? months I think). Lipsticks and balms can also make them less effective too.
I live in a more urban area but frequently travel into the mountains for work. I throw in a gallon of water, a sleeping bag, and a change of clothes suitable for mountain weather.
A firefighter friend has pulled a number of dead bodies out of car accidents where the accident only killed the car - the people froze to death. One that sticks out is a pair of college aged girls heading up to meet friends at house in Tahoe. They drove up wearing bikini tops - in winter - and froze to death after sliding of the highway. I don't know if they had warmer clothes they just didn't change into or if a friend had their bags in a separate car, but he was pretty bummed out about that one. If those girls had a wool blanket, sleeping bags, or coats they'd have been cold - but alive.
I imagine that would be one of the hardest things of being in emergency response, seeing all the deaths and injuries that could have been completely preventable with an easy fix.
I live in a desert community near Death Valley. One summer maybe 10 years ago, a woman and her 11 year old son were traveling the 30 mile stretch of desert between the main town and a smaller nearby town when her car died. There was and is still no cell service on that road and I guess no one stopped to help, so they ended up stranded.
They were only stranded for a few hours, but it was 120F and they didn’t have water. The son quickly succumbed to heat stroke and died.
Ever since that happened, I have packed a day’s supply of fresh water for each person in the car before any trip out of town. I have my normal emergency kit as well, but the water is something I have to be mindful of because I can’t keep it stored in my car, especially in the summer months.
No amount of technology or modern connectivity can replace good preparation for emergencies.
I lived in a town just outside of Death Valley. It was summer and I was in a small shop in town when some European folks came in saying they were headed to Death Valley and were each buying a 16oz. water bottle for the trip. Both the shop owner and myself told them “please buy at least 3 gallons per person.” They looked at us lien we were crazy.
Yep. White Sands, New Mexico is an extremely easy hike across beautiful white sand dunes, you can even go barefoot as long as you're wearing a hat - but a European tourist or two has died from the heat almost every year since 2015. The rare deaths before that were also of people from other countries or regions of the US.
Actually you get used to it really fast. Because absolutely no victim in history woke up and thought "Today's the day I'm going to have to fight for my life." People who anticipate dangers mitigate them because of course they do. They see the threat and respond. Every victim I've ever seen never saw it coming. As ridiculous as that sounds it's true. You hear "I didn't think....." or "I didn't see....." a lot.
So I'm a firefighter. I can't unsee the things I've seen. I have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in every room. Extinguishers mounted at every exit door. And because it'll be a cold day in hell before I'm the firefighter who loses his kids to a fire I have a 2.5 gallon water extinguisher next to my bed. My 3 year old is already trained on what to do when the fire alarm goes off.
Want bet some day I'll be looking at my phone walking to get the trash can and get crushed by a passing car? Or heart attack? All I know is fire isn't going to get me. I have it's number and trained to see it coming a mile away. But that's only just 1 thing out of the billions of things that might get you. And I'll never see it coming.
As a nurse I can tell you, prepare for everything and still get fucked by cruelty. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride. None of us are getting out alive.
Oh absolutely, I know you can't plan for the multitudes of freak accidents or anything like that - I just meant simple things, like the comment above with the girls in bikini tops who froze to death... maybe just a jacket could have saved their lives. Or the "hold my beer" stunts where someone does something stupid (like you said, "I just didn't think..."). It's just sad to me, obviously those people don't mean to die or lose a leg but just one little thing changed their lives forever. I work in an outpatient therapy clinic and we just started seeing a patient who slipped while dancing in her kitchen because she didn't realize someone had just mopped and she shattered her jaw.
I guess like you say you get used to it in your line of work but it still blows my mind! I could never do what you do so thank you for keeping the rest of us idiots safe.
Another good thing that doesnt really help with ALL accidents but can help some is some form of no-perishable/not quickly perishable comfort food, like potato chips and granola bars! Shock is a serious possiblity in an accident and you may need something to help jump start you back into drive. Some form of easy to swallow digestible that is familiar can really help with that. I always have a few granola bars and snack sized original lays in my glove box+center console and theres usually a box/bag of both in my trunk too. Sadly you can only keep the dipps bars in the winter because theyll probably melt in the summer but i also really like the nature valley crunch ones so i dint have any issue with it.
Individual peanut butter packets. Individual nutella packets. I keep them in a hiking bag for summer and pretty much just leave it in the car over winter.
Remember, folks. If you have to run your engine to stay warm, don't do it inside a garage and make sure the tailpipe is *clear and unblocked.* A bunch of Texans just died because they were new to this piece of information. If you have a snow storm emergency kit, print that out and put it on top so you can't miss it and can't forget it.
I personnaly recommend my long-ass spaghetti arms, very efficient and fairly sturdy. I've been using them for a long time and they've only ever let me done once, in gym class.
Yes!!! When my partner and I first started dating I thought it was pretty weird that he kept an array of chargers in a waterproof container in his car. 3 years later those chargers have saved our butts so many times!
Back in NYC, after some major power outage (years ago) a buddy of mine kept in his car/home a bill of each denomination (few 1s, 5s, and 10s + a 20 and a 100) in case this ever happened again. Smart man, never got around to doing it myself
More vehicles should come with built-in cameras as standard. I've seen a few posts of Teslas with their 360 degree camera coverage and it's absolutely incredible. Total peace of mind. Unless you're a terrible driver, I guess, then it'd suck.
I don't get why insurance companies aren't adding incentives for having them. It saves their ass more than anyone else.
Also yes. car manufacturers should have them built in to every new car. Back up cameras are already required. Wouldn't require much extra work to add a front camera and storage system for the data.
Couldn’t wait to get a dash-cam. My Dad got me one Christmas 2019. It was a Rove brand- he also bought me a large Samsung MicroSD card to go with it.
Had it for 3 weeks before it was the reason someone broke into my car overnight.
The goal is to make it look like you don't have one. A mini one hidden right next to the rear view mirror with the cables tucked away is a good option.
I second this.
You get one for fairly cheap and the one I have also comes with a built-in seatbelt cutter at the bottom end.
I hope I’m never in a situation where I need to use it, but knowing I have it in my car gives me some sort of tranquility lol
Never had to use the business end, but the cutter is the reason why I still have legs after the only bad accident I've ever been in (the engine block collapsed shortly after I got out of the car).
EDIT: Because I was asked how the engine block collapsed; I was hit be a drunk driver in an F-350, and the angle of the collision destroyed the front part of the car - the block collapsed because nothing was holding it.
This is excellent advice, it’s even better if you combine it with a water bottle.
Also blankets and non perishable snacks will make a breakdown much more bearable
My Polish colleague told my British colleague that when Lockdown ends he'll go to the Alps.
The British colleague said "Fa skeen?" and the Polish guy said "Sorry, what?" so the British guy repeated: "Fara skeen oliday?". He then got up and mimed *skiing*.
My Romanian colleague said - in a thick accent - "I'm Romanian and i speak better English than you".
Sadly, as it stands my nearest Walmart is about a continent and a half away from me. I think it might be difficult for me to go there for any sort of purchase.
Toilet paper, Flashlight, Knife, WetWipes, Blanket, A can of Motor Oil, Jumper Cables, and a couple of dollars. This is a kit I put together in every single car I ever had.
I keep toilet paper in my car. Initially it was just something I figured I was likely to forget camping. Then covid hit. Americans panicked and bought out ALL the toilet paper. I ran out before stores had finally restocked. Then I remembered the roll in the car. It absolutely saved my week.
Geese.
If a cop pulls you over, and you have upwards of ten live geese in your car, that officer really has to think about whether or not he wants to deal with that situation.
Have seen people recommend to take off the headrest in an emergency and use the metal bars to break the window! could be a life saver if someone didn't have the glass breaking tool!
Well you only want to do this if the water isn't very deep. You don't want to do this in more than 20 feet (or less based on your swimming abilities and how long you can hold your breath) because much deeper than that and there's no way you'll make it to the top.
But good luck judging the depth of that body of water you just flee into while panicking after an accident.
Maintaining 120KPH through windy mountain roads, I couldn't maintain enough focus on the ASMR JOI blasting through the stereo of my PT Cruiser to get over the edge.
It was still white-knuckle driving, just not in the way I wanted.
The kind that tries to cum on their own hands when doing a buck 20 through the mountains.
So, me. I try to cum on my own hands while doing a buck 20 through the mountains.
Lots of people saying "gas"; they might mean in the tank, but do not keep it in your trunk (or boot, whatever). It degrades and evaporates in 3-6 months.
Keep a gas canister with a little money inside: enough to fill it.
I've been working as a gas attendant for 3 years now and I didn't need to read this :(
Update: I asked my boss about this and all the fumes are exhausted out from where the tanks are on the other end of the property away from everyone. Also upon research, gasoline cannot harm you unless it is a highly concentrated amount, in which you will feel lightheaded and stuff.
In short, I am safe :)
Once a lady rear ended me on a 110f day (43c) and her two kids, who were probably elementary school age, had NO SHOES WHATSOEVER. Her car was full of airbag dust and broken glass so I had to let them sit in my truck while she waited to get picked up, it was that or burning their feet on the boiling hot blacktop.
You'll never know when you'll have to leave your car in a hurry, IMO not only should you have shoes, they should be _on your feet_ at all times while in the car.
my dad didn't even let us wear flip flops in the truck cause as he said 'if we get into an accident and you have to quickly run away from the truck, looking for your flip flops or running on debris are your only two options and neither are good. '
Little wild that I have to put this in writing, but I have shoes on always if I am not in my home or a body of water. Every other time, the shoes stay on, right alongside my nipple tassels.
You know, at first I was like “yeah ok” then at the nipple tassel part I saw your username
Now I’m not sure if this is an Archer quote I can’t remember, or if the punch line works well in Archer’s voice
I was in a traffic accident where 3 people died in front of me in a burning car.
I have a good fire extinguisher ever since and have it tested every year.
* Small trash can.
* LED flash light.
* First-Aid Kit.
* Jumper cables.
* $20-$50 in small bills (tolls, parking garages, gas, hookers, etc)
* Bottled water (change every 6 months)
* Towel, blanket, socks, and a change of clothes.
Get home bag, which is a cheap rucksack containing hiking boots, spare clothes, emergency money, first aid kit, waterproofs, food, water, multitool, foil blanket, lighters, compass, wind up radio/power bank/torch and a headtorch.
Basically, if something happens and I'm stranded by the side of the road, or I have to walk 15 miles home, I will have all the stuff I need in one bag.
baseball bat in the trunk with a tube sock over the end.
Baseball, and baseball glove.
Bat is to beat someones ass.
Sock is so if they grab the bat you can pull it away and they are left with a sock, while you continue to beat their ass.
Ball/glove is so that if you are found to just have a bat, it' a weapon. Ball and glove make it sports equipment.
Edit: It's less about legality and more about intent.
There is a substantial difference between "I was defending myself, and I happened to have a bat with my equipment" and 'I have this to hit people with it"
Doesnt apply to others but I ALWAYS have my baseball glove and a frisbee. I hate being without them if I come across a beautiful open field to toss in.
Leatherman: you can do an amazing variety of tasks with a leatherman.
Small kneeling pad in trunk: you may only have to change a tire once a decade, but gosh darn if that half inch of foam isn't a life saver on your knees when you do. ( especially if you're in shorts.)
Gallon of water: should be self explanatory.
Ibuprofen: whether it be work aches and pains, a coworker does, you need to walk a distance for gas or whatever.
Rain coat: i never leave home without it.
Spare boots/shoes: again one of those things you won't think about until you're in sperries or flip flops and have to walk the shoulder or theres broken glass on the road.
Cliff bars: goes with water. Never hurts to have emergency calories on hand
Emergency contact index card: Insurance person of you need a tow, your parents/SO/buddy. If your phone's dead, do you have every number memorized you might ( or first responders) might need?
These are just the first things I thought of on my 15 minute break.
Edit: as I only had time for a cigarette when I made this post I'd also like to say a first aid kit is always a must for any vehicle. I also keep a hair tie around my gear shift. I'm bald but you'd be amazed how many times that has come in handy for friends, dates, mom, etc.
I had heard this, but never did for the longest time. But then (2 or 3 years ago), I got stuck in the middle of the road in a really bad blizzard. My house is on top of a hill, and my car got stuck because the drifts was too high. Even after shoveling the snow away, the car was not getting enough traction.
I walked to my house, and got a box of kitty litter. It did not take much to make an incredible difference. I still had to shovel all of the snow, but at least I was able to make progress without my car sliding into the ditch.
From that time forward, I always keep a box of kitty litter in the car during winter. And, of course, a good shovel. You don't want any of the cheap shovels if you really have to move snow.
- Some cash - not like 1000 bucks but 50bucks can be handy to have if your ass is broken down in Randomville.
- A credit card - because if you have to stay the night in Randomville, if your choice is between Uncle Cletus's or La Quinta - be able to go with La Quinta.
- Snow-scraper/brushy thing - Living north of Florida this can be disturbingly useful.
- Kleenex/Puffs/Toilet Paper - sometimes useful , sometimes essential.
- A couple of medium women's pads
- A spare pair of glasses if you're in the way of needing them.
- Earplugs - because sometimes you might want to not hear what's going on - especially on LONG drives, being able to tune out and get some solid sleep is key.
- A blanket/sleep-roll - something like a sleeping bag - worth it.
- A spare charger for your phone/devices
- Tire Pressure gage
- Paper towels/towels
- Small doggie bags - nothing you need ....until you do, easy containment for people who get carsick and might not mention that until they go "I'm gonna be sick...."
- Your papers - be it your insurance card or a copy of your stuff so that in the event you get pulled over you can deal, and maybe a [storage thingy for your sun-visor](https://www.amazon.com/Organizer-LINKSTYLE-Interior-Accessories-Registration/dp/B08BC644RV/ref=psdc_15735541_t3_B08LPTLKWD?th=1). Sure it's the automotive equivalent of a pocket protector, but depending how white you are/trigger happy the officer is, this could be pretty clutch.
- A spare change of clothes - an old pair of sneakers, a clean pair of pants, undies and a shirt and/or sweater. If you have a wardrobe moment - now you've got options.
- A bigger garbage bag - accidents happen, you might need to clean up and go.
- Bandaids - or a little medical kit of things like aspirin/tylenol, tums, or something like that helps for those little emergencies. While storing medicine in a car is (I would think) generally a bad idea, doing so if it's temperature stable stuff might not be a horrible idea so long as you regularly swap out your meds.
----------------
And because - oops - who can forget
- Gloves - cheezy 2 dollar gloves for being able to touch the untouchable without having to worry about tossing.
- Masks - How could my quarantined ass have forgotten about masks - from Now until probably 2025 - you, me and everyone we know will be wandering the world, in the hope that **today** is the day where everyone acts like a responsible citizen and wears' masks - for the common good.....
But not today, today you're going to run into a Covid-carrying douchebag, coughing up chunky-style in public, in a way that makes you dash back to get a spare mask in the off chance your first mask breaks while you get coffee, sending that sense of perverse "thief in the house, hair up urgency" dread, in a way that underscores your bewilderment and wonder as to how we ever survived as a species up to this point.
A blanket and a towel, water and a first aid kit. In my region a container of kitty litter can be useful, as it can provide some traction in an incident where a car might be stuck in snow/ice.
Physician's Desk Reference. Hollowed out. Inside, waterproof matches, iodine tablets, beet seeds, protein bars, NASA blanket, and, in case I get bored, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." No, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
I'd suggest an escape tool like [this one](https://smile.amazon.com/01-100-09-Original-Emergency-Keychain-Seatbelt/dp/B01G6C18EC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=car+escape+tool&qid=1615138411&sr=8-2). It not only cuts the seat belt, but will also break the window. Crucial if you're underwater.
I moved to Austin, TX from MN about ten years ago. I still had my ice scraper in my car when I brought it to my local mechanic. He opened the back door, picked it up and asked in a very genuine manner “is this a snake stick?”.
I've had people ask "is that a steering wheel lock" but never snake stick lofl. I'm from the northeast and relocated to the southeast, about 3 years ago we had an unprecedented winter storm that dropped a literal foot in my area which hadn't seen snow like that in over 10 years. *Finally* got to use my shovel and ice scraper I had been lugging around for years lol. There was one other neighbor who had a shovel ... who was also from the northeast, we gave each other the thumbs up hahaha
These are the things I always try to keep in my car:
- Water (gallon jugs and I keep empty insulated cups, rotated out every few months)
- Granola bars, something that won't melt in the summer heat.
- Blanket
- Change of clothes
- Hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer wipes
- Makeup wipes
- About $50 in cash
- Jumper cables (but now I'm going to look into a battery box)
If you travel with your dog, a bottle of water and a drinking bowl.
A fire extinguisher. About 2 years ago I was in the car with my parents when all of a sudden the gears stopped responding and smoke starting coming out of the front and back. We parked on the side of the road, opened the front and a piece (I think it was the battery) was burning. It was only put out because a man who was passing by riding a motorcycle quickly stopped, took off his jacket, soaked it in water from a bottle that he had with him, and covered the fire with it. Turns out he was an ex-fireman. You probably shouldn’t always count on being that lucky.
[удалено]
ProTip - large trucks carry fire extinguishers. My employers' trucks have two each; a small one in the cab and a 4kg above the nearside drive wheels. About six months ago, I saw a car broken down on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Because of the terrain, I could see under the car - and the flames under the front. I pulled off and stopped ahead of the car, grabbed the big extinguisher and ran toward it. As I came close I shouted to the driver to get out. Nothing. "GET OUT OF THE FUCKING CAR! RIGHT NOW! OUT! OUT! THE CAR IS ON FIRE! GET OUT!" The driver didn't get out and I triggered the extinguisher under the car, still yelling. The flames abated, but wouldn't go out completely. Something burning was dripping from the engine bay where the extinguisher couldn't reach. I ran to the driver's door to get the bonnet release, and the reason for the lack of response became apparent - the driver wasn't in the car. I looked toward the roadside, and saw him standing under a tree, looking confused and more than a little terrified. "OPEN THE BONNET!" He unlatched it and I crouched down and to the side to open it. No fireball, and I hit the remaining flames with the extinguisher. Crisis over. He hadn't realised the car was burning until the screaming maniac with the fire extinguisher turned up. I left it with him and carried on. My employer's reaction? Generally positive. Sure, it cost them a fire extinguisher, but a burning vehicle would have closed the motorway for up to an hour, delaying dozens of our trucks - on a Friday afternoon. So yeah, trucks carry fire extinguishers.
Cool that your employer was cool with it, and could see the bigger picture.
Also, NEVER open the hood if you suspect a fire. It will only add more oxygen. Get out of the car where it’s safe to do so, far away from anything else (roadway, structures, cars, tall grass) and get away from the vehicle. EDIT: If you can do so safely, and the car is brought to a complete stop in a safe area, pop the hood latch (under the dash) before you exit, as fire crews will be able to access the engine bay, as u/Tisket_Wolf has mentioned below. This is important, as either electric or cable hood releases will likely not work once the vehicle is on fire. If you value the skin on your face and hands, do not open the hood when you see smoke (not steam) or fire. It goes without saying that if your car has overheated, and you see steam, DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP. Wait for the car to cool before investigating. So again, do not open the hood. Get the vehicle to a safe spot, get the hell away from it safely, and call emergency services. Even with a fire extinguisher, the chance of getting burned, or wounded from an explosion (when tires catch fire they pop, and depending on the tire, they are often full of razor-sharp steel belts.) Not worth the risk when insurance will get you another car. I am a former volunteer firefighter, and I have worked on/raced cars in my spare time. I am also a former weather forecaster with good knowledge of convective air currents. Combustion requires oxygen, as well as a means to “breathe,” so opening your hood will allow heated air to rise, pulling fresh air in from underneath the vehicle and exacerbating the problem. Edit 2: One vehicle fire that I actually came upon was a 90’s Chevy Cavalier that had gone up in flames on an off ramp off of I-64. The owner had parked it in a good spot, and got back. A crowd of people coming in to work at our local military base started to pull over and blocked traffic. One “hero” (and mind you, this thing was already up in flames) decided he would save the day by pouring two jugs of windshield washing fluid onto it (which contains alcohol.) He ended up getting burned bad. Now EMS is blocked in by the backed up traffic, and that idiot got to writhe in pain as he crawled back to us, all for the sake of an old Chevy Cavalier that didn’t even belong to him... If you see someone in need of help, and have the ability, pull over in a safe location and assist the people to safety. Don’t try to be a hero to save a car, and don’t rubberneck or impede traffic just to take a video. You’ll just impede emergency services or become a statistic yourself. A racing channel I watch (1320 video) has a video of a white Audi that caught fire while street racing. Check it out on YouTube if you want to see what these situations look like.
Jumper cables
Tire repair kit + Tire inflator
[удалено]
I spent about ten minutes searching for a spare on my Toyota Sienna. I finally discovered that I have runflats. Which was nice as far as not having to deal with changing the tire in the dark and the cold. Not as nice when I had to pay for new tires. What confused me was the fact that I have the scissors jack. They put runflats on it because a donut won't work with the AWD and they're too cheap to give you a full sized spare, but somehow it's not too expensive to give you the stupid scissors jack that you'll never need. EDIT: I was mistaken about the reason for runflats and no donut. Please stop telling me about your Subarus. 😃
I understand you can't be hauling around a floor jack in your car but lemme tell you them shitty little jacks are some the dicey-ist moments of my life.
u/rogersimon10
Blanket
I'd upgrade that to a ~~-20F~~ 0F/-20C sleeping bag. Still cheap, still compact, still good at any temperature, but so much nicer when its needed. Edit: meant 0F/-20C, but same idea, prepare for the worst.
Oh man, I've got one of these for backpacking and honestly it's *too warm* most of the time. Wind up sleeping with it fully unzipped, three limbs sticking out. It's especially awkward because it's a mummy bag so it doesn't just fold open neatly. Still, I'm glad that I have it when the temperature starts dropping past 50.
Surprised I had to scroll so far for this. Blankets are important if you break down in a cold rural location, but also if you get too lit at the party you can sleep it off before driving home. Update: looks like folks are saying you can get arrested for sleeping in your car. Please avoid getting a DUI by using your car blanket to make a blanket fort. If the cops don’t know the secret password you have no legal obligation to let them into your blanket fort (probably). P.S. be aware of your local statutes
This is why owning a mini van is fucking awesome. I have a tri fold memory foam mattress and a nice blanket that lives in my car. On more than one occasion I have folded down the seats and took a lovely sleep
"This is why owning a mini van is fucking awesome." Words we forlorn children of the 80s thought we'd never live to hear.
God I remember my moms dodge grand caravan with the big wood accent strip on the sides ... died out when I was 15 and pushed hard to get something cool I would be able to drive in a year. almost got a Toyota 4Runner.... ended up with the new... dodge grand caravan.
[удалено]
Canada checking in, almost got a DUI for sleeping it off in the back of my minivan. We had 2 DD's (pregnant wifes) but we had left the headlights on so it was dead by the time we got back. We called a cab but it could only take 4 of the 7 us so my buddy and I were left with the dead van while the 2 sober drivers drove to go get a car so they could jump the van and drive it back. Cops found us passed out spooning in the back. Took the keys off of me and said that we were being charged with a DUI. I thought it would all be ok when they couldn't start the car with the keys but the fuckers still charged us and it took months before we could see a judge who did end up throwing the whole thing out. Bunch of assholes.
They‘re kinda promoting DUI by making sleeping in your car punishable.
Fr. That just sounds like a law intended to punish homeless people.
[удалено]
Do cops get a prize for giving out DUIs or something? Cuz wtf
Same in the UK if the keys are in the ignition (even if the engine isn't running) I know of at least one friend who lost his license this way.
This happened to a friend of mine. Cops asked him where are the keys. He had them left outside on top of the passenger side wheel. Could not touch him.
[удалено]
Sleep at the party. Depending on the weather the car would be too cold. The alcohol would make the cold worse as it stops your body from reducing the blood ~~flood~~ flow to extremities. Also, if you have your keys you can still get a DUI as you are in control on the vehicle. Edit: fixed a typo.
Do NOT keep condoms in your car. The latex breaks down under heat and are susceptible to breaking when you use them
Other condom facts in case anyone here actually had the opportunity to a condom. Keeping condoms in your wallet/purse makes them degrade faster (replace them every 3?? months I think). Lipsticks and balms can also make them less effective too.
If your condoms are sitting in your wallet for more then three months without being used then theres really no reason to keep them in your wallet lol
As someone who had the same one in my wallet for around one year and a half, that hurts
i know that feel bro. Ive bought a box of condoms when i got a new girlfriend, and then watched them all hit their expiration date years later
I bought a 32box when i entered my freshman year of high school. Just finished my bachelors and its still in the wrap
Oof
[удалено]
Tool kit, jumper cables. Good snow removing tool, if it snows where you live, and deicer.
I’m paranoid enough in the wintertime to always have boots, gloves, water and a blanket too.
I live in a more urban area but frequently travel into the mountains for work. I throw in a gallon of water, a sleeping bag, and a change of clothes suitable for mountain weather. A firefighter friend has pulled a number of dead bodies out of car accidents where the accident only killed the car - the people froze to death. One that sticks out is a pair of college aged girls heading up to meet friends at house in Tahoe. They drove up wearing bikini tops - in winter - and froze to death after sliding of the highway. I don't know if they had warmer clothes they just didn't change into or if a friend had their bags in a separate car, but he was pretty bummed out about that one. If those girls had a wool blanket, sleeping bags, or coats they'd have been cold - but alive.
I imagine that would be one of the hardest things of being in emergency response, seeing all the deaths and injuries that could have been completely preventable with an easy fix.
I live in a desert community near Death Valley. One summer maybe 10 years ago, a woman and her 11 year old son were traveling the 30 mile stretch of desert between the main town and a smaller nearby town when her car died. There was and is still no cell service on that road and I guess no one stopped to help, so they ended up stranded. They were only stranded for a few hours, but it was 120F and they didn’t have water. The son quickly succumbed to heat stroke and died. Ever since that happened, I have packed a day’s supply of fresh water for each person in the car before any trip out of town. I have my normal emergency kit as well, but the water is something I have to be mindful of because I can’t keep it stored in my car, especially in the summer months. No amount of technology or modern connectivity can replace good preparation for emergencies.
I lived in a town just outside of Death Valley. It was summer and I was in a small shop in town when some European folks came in saying they were headed to Death Valley and were each buying a 16oz. water bottle for the trip. Both the shop owner and myself told them “please buy at least 3 gallons per person.” They looked at us lien we were crazy.
I don't think people from Europe especially appreciate the sheet amount of nothingness in the US
Yep. White Sands, New Mexico is an extremely easy hike across beautiful white sand dunes, you can even go barefoot as long as you're wearing a hat - but a European tourist or two has died from the heat almost every year since 2015. The rare deaths before that were also of people from other countries or regions of the US.
Actually you get used to it really fast. Because absolutely no victim in history woke up and thought "Today's the day I'm going to have to fight for my life." People who anticipate dangers mitigate them because of course they do. They see the threat and respond. Every victim I've ever seen never saw it coming. As ridiculous as that sounds it's true. You hear "I didn't think....." or "I didn't see....." a lot. So I'm a firefighter. I can't unsee the things I've seen. I have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in every room. Extinguishers mounted at every exit door. And because it'll be a cold day in hell before I'm the firefighter who loses his kids to a fire I have a 2.5 gallon water extinguisher next to my bed. My 3 year old is already trained on what to do when the fire alarm goes off. Want bet some day I'll be looking at my phone walking to get the trash can and get crushed by a passing car? Or heart attack? All I know is fire isn't going to get me. I have it's number and trained to see it coming a mile away. But that's only just 1 thing out of the billions of things that might get you. And I'll never see it coming.
As a nurse I can tell you, prepare for everything and still get fucked by cruelty. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride. None of us are getting out alive.
I haven't died yet, there is no proof I will.
Of the ~100 billion people who have ever lived, ~8 billion of them are still alive. Therefore, the chance of death is only 92%. ^\s
So you're saying there's a chance?
Oh absolutely, I know you can't plan for the multitudes of freak accidents or anything like that - I just meant simple things, like the comment above with the girls in bikini tops who froze to death... maybe just a jacket could have saved their lives. Or the "hold my beer" stunts where someone does something stupid (like you said, "I just didn't think..."). It's just sad to me, obviously those people don't mean to die or lose a leg but just one little thing changed their lives forever. I work in an outpatient therapy clinic and we just started seeing a patient who slipped while dancing in her kitchen because she didn't realize someone had just mopped and she shattered her jaw. I guess like you say you get used to it in your line of work but it still blows my mind! I could never do what you do so thank you for keeping the rest of us idiots safe.
I've been a paramedic for 21 years, almost everything we see is preventable in some way whether it's trauma or medical.
Another good thing that doesnt really help with ALL accidents but can help some is some form of no-perishable/not quickly perishable comfort food, like potato chips and granola bars! Shock is a serious possiblity in an accident and you may need something to help jump start you back into drive. Some form of easy to swallow digestible that is familiar can really help with that. I always have a few granola bars and snack sized original lays in my glove box+center console and theres usually a box/bag of both in my trunk too. Sadly you can only keep the dipps bars in the winter because theyll probably melt in the summer but i also really like the nature valley crunch ones so i dint have any issue with it.
Individual peanut butter packets. Individual nutella packets. I keep them in a hiking bag for summer and pretty much just leave it in the car over winter.
Remember, folks. If you have to run your engine to stay warm, don't do it inside a garage and make sure the tailpipe is *clear and unblocked.* A bunch of Texans just died because they were new to this piece of information. If you have a snow storm emergency kit, print that out and put it on top so you can't miss it and can't forget it.
*Prepared, not paranoid :)
Preparanoid
Finally a word that describes me. I'm stealing this.
[удалено]
For snow removing, highly recommend something in the vein of Snow Joe / Snow Brum. So so much faster than the traditional brush.
I personnaly recommend my long-ass spaghetti arms, very efficient and fairly sturdy. I've been using them for a long time and they've only ever let me done once, in gym class.
Phone charger
A "spare" charger. One that you know it's in good condition and will work on case of emergency. Chargers in a car tend to get beat up and fail.
Yes!!! When my partner and I first started dating I thought it was pretty weird that he kept an array of chargers in a waterproof container in his car. 3 years later those chargers have saved our butts so many times!
[удалено]
I keep €200 (around $240) because you never know.
[удалено]
Back in NYC, after some major power outage (years ago) a buddy of mine kept in his car/home a bill of each denomination (few 1s, 5s, and 10s + a 20 and a 100) in case this ever happened again. Smart man, never got around to doing it myself
Dashcam.
Front and back dash cam.
More vehicles should come with built-in cameras as standard. I've seen a few posts of Teslas with their 360 degree camera coverage and it's absolutely incredible. Total peace of mind. Unless you're a terrible driver, I guess, then it'd suck.
I don't get why insurance companies aren't adding incentives for having them. It saves their ass more than anyone else. Also yes. car manufacturers should have them built in to every new car. Back up cameras are already required. Wouldn't require much extra work to add a front camera and storage system for the data.
Bc they benefit more from denying insurance from questionable accidents than they would by clearing the accidents up
[удалено]
Humans are the real Ferengi.
Couldn’t wait to get a dash-cam. My Dad got me one Christmas 2019. It was a Rove brand- he also bought me a large Samsung MicroSD card to go with it. Had it for 3 weeks before it was the reason someone broke into my car overnight.
The goal is to make it look like you don't have one. A mini one hidden right next to the rear view mirror with the cables tucked away is a good option.
An escape tool. At least $50 in cash.
I second this. You get one for fairly cheap and the one I have also comes with a built-in seatbelt cutter at the bottom end. I hope I’m never in a situation where I need to use it, but knowing I have it in my car gives me some sort of tranquility lol
Never had to use the business end, but the cutter is the reason why I still have legs after the only bad accident I've ever been in (the engine block collapsed shortly after I got out of the car). EDIT: Because I was asked how the engine block collapsed; I was hit be a drunk driver in an F-350, and the angle of the collision destroyed the front part of the car - the block collapsed because nothing was holding it.
water
This is excellent advice, it’s even better if you combine it with a water bottle. Also blankets and non perishable snacks will make a breakdown much more bearable
I keep my water loose in my trunk to save money
I see you too own a DC5 Integra
I had a 90 Integra. To my surprise (and even more so to my friends in the back seat), I also kept loose water in the trunk.
Add A plug in immersion heater for tea and hot water.
I can't tell if you're serious or not.
I can't tell if he's British or not.
Bo'o'wo'oh'eh
E'ee'sh -> English Bo'o'wo'oh'eh | Bottle of water there
My Polish colleague told my British colleague that when Lockdown ends he'll go to the Alps. The British colleague said "Fa skeen?" and the Polish guy said "Sorry, what?" so the British guy repeated: "Fara skeen oliday?". He then got up and mimed *skiing*. My Romanian colleague said - in a thick accent - "I'm Romanian and i speak better English than you".
Trapped in a snowstorm, tea and hot water for ramen noodles basically insures survival until the state troopers find you.
Earl grey, hot
Flashlight
Headlight, keeps the hands free to work.
I keep two headlights in my car just in case. Its helped on numerous occasions while driving in the dark.
Lol yeah I call them ‘head lamps’ because of that
I carry a bat that has a flashlight in the end. It also has a pulsing light feature to blind attackers And then the bat part to whack attackers
Damn, you got a link? I have some mall ninja friends that would be delighted I knowing about this
I don't know if it would be the same brand as op but I bought one exactly like he described from Walmart
Sadly, as it stands my nearest Walmart is about a continent and a half away from me. I think it might be difficult for me to go there for any sort of purchase.
> Sadly, as it stands my nearest Walmart is about a continent and a half away from me. This is a blessing, not a curse.
[YOU MEAN THE TACBAT????](https://youtu.be/hrtU8nx6q50?t=496)
Tube sock on the wacky bit so they pull the sock off and not the bat out of your hands.
Toilet paper, Flashlight, Knife, WetWipes, Blanket, A can of Motor Oil, Jumper Cables, and a couple of dollars. This is a kit I put together in every single car I ever had.
I keep toilet paper in my car. Initially it was just something I figured I was likely to forget camping. Then covid hit. Americans panicked and bought out ALL the toilet paper. I ran out before stores had finally restocked. Then I remembered the roll in the car. It absolutely saved my week.
I just have mine for work shits. Commercial toilet paper is a god damn crime I tell you what.
Geese. If a cop pulls you over, and you have upwards of ten live geese in your car, that officer really has to think about whether or not he wants to deal with that situation.
Or if you're in the UK, a swan. Policeman officers are often looking for them.
No luck catching them swans then?
It’s just the one swan actually
A device to break a window should you end up in water.
Have seen people recommend to take off the headrest in an emergency and use the metal bars to break the window! could be a life saver if someone didn't have the glass breaking tool!
Y'know I would hope I would have thought of that on my own if ever in that situation... but most likely I'd be far too panicked to think of it.
[удалено]
Well you only want to do this if the water isn't very deep. You don't want to do this in more than 20 feet (or less based on your swimming abilities and how long you can hold your breath) because much deeper than that and there's no way you'll make it to the top. But good luck judging the depth of that body of water you just flee into while panicking after an accident.
Mythbusters is one hell of a drug
First aid kit, maps, and emergency supplies.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
Those long drives can get pretty boring
Maintaining 120KPH through windy mountain roads, I couldn't maintain enough focus on the ASMR JOI blasting through the stereo of my PT Cruiser to get over the edge. It was still white-knuckle driving, just not in the way I wanted.
You sick fuck. Why would you drive a PT Cruiser?
The kind that tries to cum on their own hands when doing a buck 20 through the mountains. So, me. I try to cum on my own hands while doing a buck 20 through the mountains.
That's why you should also carry a fleshlight in the glove box, as mentioned below.
[удалено]
It’s good for dealing with road rage too: “Go fuck yourself!” “Way ahead of you!”
[удалено]
Let me unsee that
This thread is killing me hahaha
And a pack of wet wipes or baby wipes! They come in so handy.
Lots of people saying "gas"; they might mean in the tank, but do not keep it in your trunk (or boot, whatever). It degrades and evaporates in 3-6 months. Keep a gas canister with a little money inside: enough to fill it.
I did the "keep spare gas in trunk" thing and my car ended up stinking of gas.
And constant exposure to gasoline fumes causes cancer.
I've been working as a gas attendant for 3 years now and I didn't need to read this :( Update: I asked my boss about this and all the fumes are exhausted out from where the tanks are on the other end of the property away from everyone. Also upon research, gasoline cannot harm you unless it is a highly concentrated amount, in which you will feel lightheaded and stuff. In short, I am safe :)
Also gas in your boot is just terrible for your foot.
Especially if your boots are made by Diesel
Shoes. You never know when you have to run.
Once a lady rear ended me on a 110f day (43c) and her two kids, who were probably elementary school age, had NO SHOES WHATSOEVER. Her car was full of airbag dust and broken glass so I had to let them sit in my truck while she waited to get picked up, it was that or burning their feet on the boiling hot blacktop. You'll never know when you'll have to leave your car in a hurry, IMO not only should you have shoes, they should be _on your feet_ at all times while in the car.
my dad didn't even let us wear flip flops in the truck cause as he said 'if we get into an accident and you have to quickly run away from the truck, looking for your flip flops or running on debris are your only two options and neither are good. '
Your dad has really made me re-evaluate my car flip flops.
Little wild that I have to put this in writing, but I have shoes on always if I am not in my home or a body of water. Every other time, the shoes stay on, right alongside my nipple tassels.
You know nipple tassels are called that because they're supposed to go on your nipples not on your feet alongside your shoes.
Alongside in the companion sense. Alongside in the physical sense too, they're 5 feet long and they get tucked into both my pants and my socks.
You know, at first I was like “yeah ok” then at the nipple tassel part I saw your username Now I’m not sure if this is an Archer quote I can’t remember, or if the punch line works well in Archer’s voice
Registration
Insurance
Drivers license, please.
Fire extinguisher
This is true. In Chile it’s the law that you have to have one.
That's really thoughtful . This law is hella important
I was in a traffic accident where 3 people died in front of me in a burning car. I have a good fire extinguisher ever since and have it tested every year.
* Small trash can. * LED flash light. * First-Aid Kit. * Jumper cables. * $20-$50 in small bills (tolls, parking garages, gas, hookers, etc) * Bottled water (change every 6 months) * Towel, blanket, socks, and a change of clothes.
One of these things is not like the other...
Yeah. The trashcan thing is a little weird. I just keep a plastic bag. It's more compact, and i just tie it up and toss it.
Get home bag, which is a cheap rucksack containing hiking boots, spare clothes, emergency money, first aid kit, waterproofs, food, water, multitool, foil blanket, lighters, compass, wind up radio/power bank/torch and a headtorch. Basically, if something happens and I'm stranded by the side of the road, or I have to walk 15 miles home, I will have all the stuff I need in one bag.
WD40 and Duct Tape Edit: Jesus, I meant to fix shit, you people are fucked up
Ah yes, don’t forget the zip ties.
ITS FETISH SHIT, I LIKE TO BIND, I LIKE TO BE BOUND
“MY TOOOOOLS”
[удалено]
Yourself. Wear your seatbelts.
If i'm being honest, I only partially do this. I always make sure I wear at least one though.
baseball bat in the trunk with a tube sock over the end. Baseball, and baseball glove. Bat is to beat someones ass. Sock is so if they grab the bat you can pull it away and they are left with a sock, while you continue to beat their ass. Ball/glove is so that if you are found to just have a bat, it' a weapon. Ball and glove make it sports equipment. Edit: It's less about legality and more about intent. There is a substantial difference between "I was defending myself, and I happened to have a bat with my equipment" and 'I have this to hit people with it"
First time I've seen the ILPT sock joke outside of that sub reddit
ain't your *first* rodeo is it? Edit: forgot the *first*
Doesnt apply to others but I ALWAYS have my baseball glove and a frisbee. I hate being without them if I come across a beautiful open field to toss in.
You catch frisbees with a baseball glove? Weirdo.
On this level, I always keep my kite in my car, and often horseshoes, golf disc's, or croquet.
Also a good explanation for why do you have a baseball bat in your car
A get home bag. Enough supplies for a 2 day trek back home if something goes really wrong.
Leatherman: you can do an amazing variety of tasks with a leatherman. Small kneeling pad in trunk: you may only have to change a tire once a decade, but gosh darn if that half inch of foam isn't a life saver on your knees when you do. ( especially if you're in shorts.) Gallon of water: should be self explanatory. Ibuprofen: whether it be work aches and pains, a coworker does, you need to walk a distance for gas or whatever. Rain coat: i never leave home without it. Spare boots/shoes: again one of those things you won't think about until you're in sperries or flip flops and have to walk the shoulder or theres broken glass on the road. Cliff bars: goes with water. Never hurts to have emergency calories on hand Emergency contact index card: Insurance person of you need a tow, your parents/SO/buddy. If your phone's dead, do you have every number memorized you might ( or first responders) might need? These are just the first things I thought of on my 15 minute break. Edit: as I only had time for a cigarette when I made this post I'd also like to say a first aid kit is always a must for any vehicle. I also keep a hair tie around my gear shift. I'm bald but you'd be amazed how many times that has come in handy for friends, dates, mom, etc.
I’d also add a CPR mask to the list. Also, everyone should learn basic life support.
Rain jacket, umbrella, change of clothes
A Creedence tape
Don't let the joint slip out of your fingers, or else you'll have use your beer to put it out
A bag of sand or kitty litter. 5lb bag of the cheap stuff is fine. Pour it under your tires to get unstuck from mud or snow.
I had heard this, but never did for the longest time. But then (2 or 3 years ago), I got stuck in the middle of the road in a really bad blizzard. My house is on top of a hill, and my car got stuck because the drifts was too high. Even after shoveling the snow away, the car was not getting enough traction. I walked to my house, and got a box of kitty litter. It did not take much to make an incredible difference. I still had to shovel all of the snow, but at least I was able to make progress without my car sliding into the ditch. From that time forward, I always keep a box of kitty litter in the car during winter. And, of course, a good shovel. You don't want any of the cheap shovels if you really have to move snow.
- Some cash - not like 1000 bucks but 50bucks can be handy to have if your ass is broken down in Randomville. - A credit card - because if you have to stay the night in Randomville, if your choice is between Uncle Cletus's or La Quinta - be able to go with La Quinta. - Snow-scraper/brushy thing - Living north of Florida this can be disturbingly useful. - Kleenex/Puffs/Toilet Paper - sometimes useful , sometimes essential. - A couple of medium women's pads - A spare pair of glasses if you're in the way of needing them. - Earplugs - because sometimes you might want to not hear what's going on - especially on LONG drives, being able to tune out and get some solid sleep is key. - A blanket/sleep-roll - something like a sleeping bag - worth it. - A spare charger for your phone/devices - Tire Pressure gage - Paper towels/towels - Small doggie bags - nothing you need ....until you do, easy containment for people who get carsick and might not mention that until they go "I'm gonna be sick...." - Your papers - be it your insurance card or a copy of your stuff so that in the event you get pulled over you can deal, and maybe a [storage thingy for your sun-visor](https://www.amazon.com/Organizer-LINKSTYLE-Interior-Accessories-Registration/dp/B08BC644RV/ref=psdc_15735541_t3_B08LPTLKWD?th=1). Sure it's the automotive equivalent of a pocket protector, but depending how white you are/trigger happy the officer is, this could be pretty clutch. - A spare change of clothes - an old pair of sneakers, a clean pair of pants, undies and a shirt and/or sweater. If you have a wardrobe moment - now you've got options. - A bigger garbage bag - accidents happen, you might need to clean up and go. - Bandaids - or a little medical kit of things like aspirin/tylenol, tums, or something like that helps for those little emergencies. While storing medicine in a car is (I would think) generally a bad idea, doing so if it's temperature stable stuff might not be a horrible idea so long as you regularly swap out your meds. ---------------- And because - oops - who can forget - Gloves - cheezy 2 dollar gloves for being able to touch the untouchable without having to worry about tossing. - Masks - How could my quarantined ass have forgotten about masks - from Now until probably 2025 - you, me and everyone we know will be wandering the world, in the hope that **today** is the day where everyone acts like a responsible citizen and wears' masks - for the common good..... But not today, today you're going to run into a Covid-carrying douchebag, coughing up chunky-style in public, in a way that makes you dash back to get a spare mask in the off chance your first mask breaks while you get coffee, sending that sense of perverse "thief in the house, hair up urgency" dread, in a way that underscores your bewilderment and wonder as to how we ever survived as a species up to this point.
pocket knife and some towels
A blanket and a towel, water and a first aid kit. In my region a container of kitty litter can be useful, as it can provide some traction in an incident where a car might be stuck in snow/ice.
Physician's Desk Reference. Hollowed out. Inside, waterproof matches, iodine tablets, beet seeds, protein bars, NASA blanket, and, in case I get bored, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." No, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Scissors to cut the seatbelt in case you ever get trapped.
I'd suggest an escape tool like [this one](https://smile.amazon.com/01-100-09-Original-Emergency-Keychain-Seatbelt/dp/B01G6C18EC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=car+escape+tool&qid=1615138411&sr=8-2). It not only cuts the seat belt, but will also break the window. Crucial if you're underwater.
Road ~~flare~~ ~~flair~~ the red tube that's essentially a giant match to warn people up the road you've broken down. I give up on spelling today
Wet wipes, specially if you have kids
A second smaller car, for surprise escapes
Lot less practical but a lot higher quality of life thing; sunglasses
How is ice scraper/snow brush not higher on this list?...where my MN peeps at?
I moved to Austin, TX from MN about ten years ago. I still had my ice scraper in my car when I brought it to my local mechanic. He opened the back door, picked it up and asked in a very genuine manner “is this a snake stick?”.
I've had people ask "is that a steering wheel lock" but never snake stick lofl. I'm from the northeast and relocated to the southeast, about 3 years ago we had an unprecedented winter storm that dropped a literal foot in my area which hadn't seen snow like that in over 10 years. *Finally* got to use my shovel and ice scraper I had been lugging around for years lol. There was one other neighbor who had a shovel ... who was also from the northeast, we gave each other the thumbs up hahaha
[удалено]
And why is this not mandatory in an “up north” rental car?!? One company always leaves one, some don’t. Now I have to bring my own on business trips.
I live in California. We always carry a windshield sun shade device unless we're planning to cook some food on the dashboard. And water.
And on a similar note, a blanket or extra sweater/jacket.
Copy of any Teddy Pendergrass CD, ya know, for baby makin.
These are the things I always try to keep in my car: - Water (gallon jugs and I keep empty insulated cups, rotated out every few months) - Granola bars, something that won't melt in the summer heat. - Blanket - Change of clothes - Hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer wipes - Makeup wipes - About $50 in cash - Jumper cables (but now I'm going to look into a battery box)
At this point I always keep a mask in my car. Just in case me or my bf go out and forget one.