Comments on: How to Pack a First Aid Kit for Your Car

on 8/8/2006 I always keep a Surefire or Maglite with me when I travel. They are practically indestructible. First Aid kits should also be on hand and kept in a water proof container.

on 6/30/2006 If you know CPR, always carry a CPR mask and a pair of disposable gloves in your car. You can get a mask at for about four bucks. There are so many blood-borne pathogens around, you never can be too careful!

on 1/4/2006 You can buy emergency blankets at any outdoor gear store. They only cost a couple of dollars each. They reflect approximately 90% of your body heat back to you. They are paper thin and weigh practically nothing. I carry 4 of them in my glove box, one for each member of my family. Essential equipment for cold weather traveling.

on 11/22/2005 Keep a roll of trash bags in your vehicle. A woman and her son were stranded in their vehicle in winter without the clothing to keep them protected. The mother used the trash bags for warmth by cutting a hole in the closed end of the trash bag for a head hole. Plastic retains heat, so this makes sense to me.

on 11/22/2005 After learning CPR, I now carry pillows or small cushions in my car. These have a multitude of uses.
1. They can protect your knees while administering CPR or EAR on the road.
2. They can elevate a limb.
3. They can be used as an ankle brace or support.
4. They can be used to pad the rib area.
5. They can be used as a pillow for your head.
6. Depending on the type, they can absorb a fair amount of fluid if used as a pressure pad.

on 11/22/2005 Aluminum foil is a great, almost unlimited multi-use component for both first aid and emergency kits. You can remove an entire roll or more from the tube and store it virtually anywhere in your vehicle. Use it as a base for emergency candles (so you don't burn up your car's interior, and your exterior in the process), water container or pan to heat foods, bandage over wound dressings, garbage can, toilet, temporary repairs of the exhaust system, temporary gasket or seal, a home-made emergency blanket under clothing or blankets, signal device on an antenna, or whatever else you can think of.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a child or live in a cold climate where you you may be stuck for a while, you may want to pack some food too. For babies, pack a small bottle and several packs of powder formula (they sell them in 4 oz servings) and several bottles of water, as well as some baby food. Trail mix and cans of soup and a can opener may also be halpful. www.onestepahead.com sells an instant battery free bottle warmer that can be used to warm bottles and food for about $9.oo. Also, if you can't afford a regular cell phone, invest in a "trac fone" and extra cards (so you can recharge in an emergency)...they're cheap and get better reach than most other companies, including my ATT.

on 11/22/2005 In NY all of this stuff would probably be stolen from your car, especially after you have
spent your time stocking yourself up. Be sure you have anti-theft devices and deterrent systems in place to keep yourself from having to replace everything.