I was watching a show where a couple was traveling to a somewhat remote area, missed their turn, ran off the road and into the woods to avoid a moose, and ended up in a couple of late blizzards. Although the movie was a fictional comedy, the characters were quite creative in their efforts to signal for help, and to shelter from the cold, and it set me to thinking . . . maybe in the car kit we need something more than just a road-side reflector triangle.
If you are trying to keep warm, you might wish you had an extra space/mylar blanket as something shiny to attract attention. A bright colored weather-proof flag of some kind might be a good idea–a kite for fun might be attached more securely for a not fun circumstance? The characters in the movie cut up red clothes and laid them out on the snow in large HELP letters. Either of these, of course, may be blown away, and the guy in the story tore shiny parts from the vehicle to set atop and hope someone from above would see. In a blizzard, such things, if not blown away, might also be covered with snow, and you might have to think about how to clear them without suffering from exposure.
I have heard about setting a tire alight to send black ugly smoke into the air to attract attention . . . I’ve heard it’s a good idea. Not sure I could or would manage it, as a paraplegic. And, I would be afraid I might wish I had that tire still attached to my car . . . but then, if I were facing several months of winter–lost, stuck in some isolated, unknown area . . . well, it’s good to have a lot of different ideas to draw from.
Whistles helped the couple find each other through the blizzard, when one went to try to find cell phone access.
Most auto emergency kits include flares, and that’s great, though if you are in a really obscure, unexpected place (I mean if you are not where your near-and-dears are expecting you to be–and by the by, you should always let people know your itinerary … tell trusted people, write it down, leave it somewhere easy to find …), you could use a lot of flares in a short time. You might need to have them on the ready, like Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, I think, had signal fires ready to be set whenever a ship came in sight. In this couple’s case, it was an air craft with a heat detector device.
This couple did have an emergency instruction manual, giving some pointers, such as staying with the vehicle, and cuddling for warmth. And in an emergency, an instruction manual or two in the vehicle would be a valuable resource. You can have a concise reference for first aid, means of obtaining water, warmth (or shelter from heat), etc.
This guy in the movie also sectioned off a smaller space in the RV to try to keep warm, using clothes and/or blankets. I’ve already posted about having a pair of warm socks and boots in the car, along with tough gloves (Jan., etc.). A tarp and cording, stakes if possible, might rig a tent for shade (even for the car, part or whole), or help insulate vs cold.
You can melt snow or rig an evaporative system for water, depending on your circumstances. Don’t eat a lot of snow/ice without melting/warming it at least a little, vs hypothermia. Try to avoid loss of body water and heat, but try not to get sick doing it. I’ve already posted about having emergency food and liquids (Nov., etc.) In the movie, he tried to rig a trap to catch some food, and I have some fishing line and accoutrements in my car, just in case I wish I had them (though it would be a struggle for me to get to the water, maybe a companion could? They don’t take a lot of space, and they might be useful for other than fishing).
It has already been suggested that if a general disaster should occur, you should have a sign and means to attach it to your home front window: one side saying HELP in large letters, the other saying OK. I guess you could have something similar in your vehicle, as well as writing instruments (pen/pencil–sharpener or knife–and paper), if for any reason you did have to leave the car . . . let people know which way you headed (in terms easy to relate to, in case you are disoriented and thinking north is south, right is left…) and your goal . . . But don’t think that you can easily find your way . . . it’s rare when you need to make an exception to the rules.
Emergency Prep--some ideas and options 