*This is a partnered post with AutoZone, however all opinions are my own.
Several years ago, I won a car, and that car is my baby. Â Not only do I keep the interior and exterior clean and well cared for, I always make sure we take her in for scheduled maintenance. Â My car has been extremely kind to me, so it seems only fair to return the favor. Â Here she is…I love her:
Taking care of your vehicle is so important, especially if you live in states that endure harsh, cold weather during the winter months. Although I live in California, it does get COLD here in the winter, and we do all we can to take care of our vehicles, so they will live a good, long life!
With holiday traveling right around the corner, now is the perfect time to “winterize” your car. Most of these suggestions are pretty simple, so ladies, don’t be scared! You can also save money when you do this type of maintenance yourself.
AutoZone wants to help, and they have provided some fantastic winterizing tips!
Driving in winter with AutoZone: Simple precautions you can take to help your car run smoothly this winter season:
Battery power. This is the perfect time of year to to double check that your battery’s posts, connections, etc. are free of corrosion and that your battery has the proper amount of water.  Did you know? AutoZone will perform a battery check for free!  Take advantage of this free service by stopping by AutoZone  to have a technician test your battery’s ability to hold a charge. After all, you definitely wouldn’t want to get caught in a blizzard only to discover you have a dead battery!
Windshield Wiper Blades. Windshield wiper blades typically work efficiently for one year, but should really be replaced every six months or so. if you notice that your blades are cracked, torn, streaking, cut or chattering (I hate that noise!), it is time to invest in new wiper blades. Also important, is to make sure that  your windshield washer fluid reservoir has the right amount of washer fluid (just don’t refill it with water because it could freeze in cooler months. Keep an eye out for de-icer washer fluid next time you are at AutoZone.  This product will help break through snow and ice.
Is your oil too thick? Oil tends to thicken when it gets colder, and when this happens, it cannot properly lubricate your engine. Take a look in your owner’s manual for information on which oil to use in your climate.
Tire pressure. It is SO important to keep an eye on your tire pressure when temperatures drop. We all know that ires have to be properly inflated to maintain optimal driving traction, but sometimes tire pressure can be in jeopardy in snowy, icy or just wet conditions. Your owner’s manual should have information for your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure.
Antifreeze. You should have a 50-50 mix of antifreeze (coolant) and water in your radiator. This mix will helps to prevent freezing (even in the coldest temperatures!). At AutoZone, you can purchase an inexpensive tester, and test your own antifreeze mixture. Please, please dispose of antifreeze in a safe manner. Pets and children can suffer greatly when they ingest antifreeze. Â You can speak with local authorities to find out if their are used fluids recycling programs in your area.
If you have four-wheel drive… Now is a great time to make sure it is working properly. Since the cold climates are more likely to call for its use, you should make sure that the  system engages and disengages easily, and also insist that every driver  in your household if aware of how and when to use it.
Wax it!  A coat of waxing on your car can deflect snow and ice. It makes the chore of brushing ice and snow off much easier. Plus it  keeps the paint looking new!
Emergency Kits. Â It is always a good idea to keep an emergency kit readily available. Â You don’t have to keep it inside your car, but you can stow it away in the trunk during the colder months. Â If you will be traveling during the holidays, please make sure you have a a kit packed! Â Here is a handy checklist to make sure your emergency kit has everything it needs:
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Blanket (or two!)
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Extra gloves and boots
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Extra set of warm clothes
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Water and food, and even hard candies
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Ice scraper
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Small shovel
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Flashlight
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Flares
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Jumper cables
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Tool kit
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Tire gauge
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Spare tire (make sure it has air in it!)
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Tire-changing equipment
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First-aid kit
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Paper towels
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Bag of salt, sand or non-clumping kitty litter (these will help in providing additional traction if a tire gets stuck in the snow.
I hope these suggestions will help you winterize your car. Â It will be a good feeling to know you are prepared for just about any situation that arises in these cold winter months. Â Safe travels, friends!
To help you with you winterizing, AutoZone is giving one lucky Eighty MPH Mom reader a gift card!
THE GIVEAWAY:
ONE (1) winner will receive a $50 Auto Zone Gift Card to help winterize their car!
Open to US only. Ends 11/8.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No purchase necessary. Open to residents of US only. Giveaway ends November 8, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. (PST). ONE ENTRANT PER HOUSEHOLD/IP Address! I check all entries – cheating will not be tolerated. Winner will be notified via email and needs to reply within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen. Please make sure you check your spam folder – I will not be responsible if you did not receive winning email notification. Winners name(s) will be displayed on the post, and will also be posted on Winners List shortly after drawing has occurred. Winners will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. Screenshots of winners available by request. Prize will be shipped directly from sponsor or their PR Agency unless otherwise noted. Eighty MPH Mom is not responsible for prizes lost in transit, although every attempt will be made for prize delivery.
**By entering this giveaway, you confirm that you have read and agree to my giveaway rules. Sponsor reserves the right to limit one prize per person/household (of this item/prize pack). Please allow 6-8 weeks for deliver of prize {though it is usually much sooner}. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Odds of winning: The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. All prizes will be awarded. Void where prohibited by law.
283 Responses
Road flares, jumper cables, emergency blankets and a first aid kid
i have survival blanket, flashlight, and jumper cables
blanket, bottled water, flashligh
We keep a blanket, water, flashlight and snacks.
jumper cables, flash light, road flares
Scraper, blanket, water, flashlight.
Granola bars, blanket, bottled water and flashlight
I always put a flashlight and some spare batteries
Flashlight, Flares, Water, Snacks, Jumper Cables
Blanket, Jumper Cables, Flashight, Flares, Jumper Cables.
Ice scaper,blanket,jumper cables and kitty litter
Make sure you carry a shovel, ice scraper, sand and newspaper in your trunk
blankets and a flashlight
Cables and a flashloght that probably need new batteries :/
We always keep a change of clothes, including sensible shoes. If you have to change a tire, or walk somewhere, it could make a huge difference in the way your day goes.
Keep a blanket and flashlight somewhere in the car.
Fortunately, we don’t need a winter road trip kit here in Hawaii! But when weused to live on the mainland, we made sure we had flashlight, snacks, blankets!
We put together a box with a blanket, reflectors, a collapsible shovel, granola bars, an ice scraper, and a flashlight. It’s really important here in rural Maine!
heated ice scraper
I keep a coat in my car since I don’t usually wear one. And gloves, an ice scraper, and I always have my AAA card and my cell phone with me.
I always have a flashlight, jumper cables, and a spare tire.
we carry a blanket, flashlight, cat litter (for traction), those little heater/warmer things for your hands and feet that hunters use, some granola bars/water or juice pouches a shovel etc in a handy backpack in the trunk for when the Maine weather gets nasty!
I do not have one yet
I don’t have one since we don’t really have winter here and I never go anywhere anyway.
A blanket, flashlight, and jumper cables.
Blanket, ice scraper, food, flashlight, and kitty litter.
blanket, matches, flashlight
Flashlights water and blanker
Bottled water, flashlights, and a blanket.
flares and a blanket are some of the items in it
flares, escape tool, flashlight, water, blankets, first aid kit
We keep a blanket, water, flashlight and snacks.
we dont get severe weather like up north- so its the basic- flashlight, batteries, jumper cable, air pump, wipes, lighter, and water
Right now a blanket, flashlight and granola bars.
We always carry water, an extra blanket in trunk, jumper cables and snacks for the kids
We live in Florida, but we still have an emergency kit.
We have a blanket and triangles as well as jumper cables and flashlights
sadly I dont have one
I live in florida so I carry jumper cables, a blanket, fix a flat and bottled water
Thankfully I have everything that you have listed with the exception of the salt/kitty litter. I never thought of that. It is my biggest fear to get stranded due to weather or running out of gas so I try to stay on top of it. Thanks!
flashlight, lantern, blankets, extra water bottles, jumper cables, flares and a basic first aid kit incase of minor injuries
always have a winter survival kit in my car
My best items I have for an emergency in my car is my triple AAA card and my cell phone. Oh yeah, they have been my life saver more than once. I also keep things in my car as well for when I have a problem but it isn’t bad enough to need the assistance of my Triple AAA card like booster cable , spare tire, jack of course, a few common wrenches that come in handy like one to fit the battery cables and of course everyone needs a bag of cat liter because a hand full of that is all you need sometimes to get going. I also keep a blanket and a book for when I have to wait for a tow truck. It’s to cold to keep a flashlight in the car because the batteries go dead to quick from the cold and they never work when you need them so I keep a mini flashlight in my coat pocket and one on my car key chain instead. It can get cold real quick inside a vehicle that isn’t running in -40 below weather here in Maine. That way I’m warm and not bored while waiting for help. I don’t keep water or anything liquid because it freezes in the trunk and if your car isn’t running and broke down frozen water isn’t going to do you any good. I almost always take a 20oz water with me though so at least I have enough to drink for a few hours. It’s getting that time of year when we have to check windshield wipers , antifreeze and put snow tires one and change the oil for winter.
I hate to admit I don’t have one, but am going to do a winter car kit/ emergency kit today. Thanks for reminding me.
I have lock deicer, washer fluid, flashlight, flares, inflate-a-flat and jumper cables in my winter driving kit.
Windshield scraper and de-icer
Ice scraper, jumper cables, water
The First Aid kit
An air pump in case of a flat tire
First aid kit, two blankets, jumper cables,ice scraper, matches, bottled water and a couple cans of soup just incase have to be stranded a couple of days.
a mini cooler of water bottles a heavy sleeping bag, shovel salt, spare tire jumper cables and a first aid kit toilet paper and handwipes–you never know LOL
Now that I moved back to where it snows, I carry kitty litter, small shovel, sleeping bag, flashlight and flares.
Jumper cables, blanket and scraper are in mine.
make sure you have a car charger for phone and jumper cables
Air Compressor/Jump starter.
winter driving is no joke up here in the north! We keep the Sorel boots with wool socks, extra clothes, including snowmobile suit AND blankets. Our kits include a metal cup and candles, for melting snow to drink should you be stranded somewhere for two days!!! And food!
We keep a thick blanket, outerwear along with hand warmers, an ice scraper, flashlight, and small first aid kit.
I have a flashlight, jumper cables and an ice scraper
A blanket, an ice scraper and a flashlight.
I always keep a blanket and a tool box in the car with tools and a tire gauge, flashlight, etc.
after seeing this list…not enough. I do keep kitty litter in the trunk to help get out of an ice spot and at least an extra blanket and granola bars.
We have water, blankets, flashlights. We’ll be other stuff soon.
blanket and jumper cables
Flashlight.
I live in Georgia, so my winter kit is pretty much non-existent. In the summer, I always make sure to have a bottle of water. Yay for clement weather?
I have flares, jumper cables, fuses & bulbs & washer fluid.
Thanks for the giveaway…we keep a blanket, flashlight, shovel, sand, and gloves in our car trunks.
all we have is an ice scraper which my dad gave me when we visited him. we live where it never snows.
water and a warm blanket
ice scraper, blankets, and I have a whole kit with jumper cables, flares, etc.
Always keep extra blankets and supplies in the trunk during the winter.
I keep a flashlight and a blanket and some bottles water. Thanks.
flashlights, blankets, batteries, ice scraper
Water and medicine.
Flashlight, blanket, band aids and gloves.
Now that I’ve moved to sunny texas I no longer have a winter kit just an emergency kit with a blanket, a flashlight, and bottled water
Make sure you have emergency supplies like a blanket and food/water.
We pack blankets, water, and lights in our winter pack
Kitty litter, spare can of fix a flat, undiluted windshield wiper wash.
My cell phone and blanket
I need to put in an ice scraper but we have blankets and jumper cables!
Nothing, really. I live in Southern California. We don’t have winter here 🙂
We have a blanket, pillows, phone chargers, battery charger, and more! Just in case!
Ice scraper and sometimes road salt. Living where it snows over 20ft a year I suppose I ought to have more items in my car.
Keep a blanket and flashlight in your car.
Not enough: we have some water and storeable food, solar/wind flashlight and charger, tools, a knife, a thermal blanket…
We keep a blanket, water, flashlight and snacks.
We keep blankets, snacks, matches, a torch and water in the car.
Scraper, spare tire, tire gauge and we need a new set of jumper cables since my husband set them on fire…..(happened because he didnt listen to me lol)
I have no clue! We never needed on in the south, but we are moving up north and will need one!
flash light
a hand squeeze flashlight, blankets, first aid kit, jumper cables, and an ice scraper.
we keep kitty litter in our car
Ice scrapers, blanket, first aid kit, food, flashlight
I keep chains, extra food and blankets
jumper cables, blankets, flashlights.
ice scraper, blanket, flashlight, water, batteries, food, cat litter
blanket, granola bars, bottled water, shovel, flashlight.
i have a blanket, flashlight, bag of cat litter and jumper cables
Blanket. Gloves. Jumper cables. First aid kit.
we keep kitty litter in the trunk
I have an ice scraper and a flashlight and fix a flat
a blanket, flash light, and water.
We have a statgear knife and a first aid kit but maybe we need more
Flashlight, blanket, Energizer USB charger
Ice scraper
I always keep a bottle of water in the car (more of a summer thing than winter, I guess, but you never know how long you might be stuck!) and make sure my phone is charged in case I get stuck somewhere! I also keep spare tennis shoes in the car in case I get stuck and have to walk, but am wearing heels or something not great for walking in.
jumper cables, emergency blankets and a first aid kid. batteries and a knife
We have a blanket, flashlight, candle and a few granola bars in our car just in case.
Jumper cables, and an ice scraper
My kit contains jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, radio, gloves, ice scrapper, and small shovel
Water,hand warmers,gloves and blankets and food.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I always have a blanket, water, and try to keep snacks in the car you never know what will happen
Jumper cables, blanket, flashlight
Our winter road emergency pack contains a small trench shovel, bag of cat liter, oil anti freeze, emergency markers, flashlight, blanket, poncho, duct tape and extra belts.
An ice scraper, definitely!
scraper deicer flashlight sand
Blanket tire pressure reader ice scraper and spare tire
Jumper cables, a flashlight, a blanket, flares, water bottle, food rations, and a battery charger!
Blankets and water so far, i’m sure i need more. Thanks for the giveaway.
A flashlight and jumper cables.
We carry a blanket, water, granola bars, flares, flashlights, snow boots, and a first aid kit in both of our cars.
Blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, ice scraper, snacks and water.
new wipre blades
Overalls, chains, lights, and twizzlers.
we carry a blanket and flash light
blanket, flashlight and shovel
I am bad – I don’t have a travel kit.
a flashlight and extra batteries
I have a blanket, flashlight, first aid kit, lighters, and epsom salt in my kit. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Scraper/brush, blanket, extra gloves
I definitely always have an ice scraper and snow brush.
in my bag I have a flashlight, change of clothes, and blanket
At this moment, we don’t have a winter road trip travel kit.
Ice scraper, towels, blanket, a jacket, boots, flashlight, jumper cables, kitty litter.
We live in Florida. So, we just have the usual stuff like jumper cables, first aid kit, etc.
We keep a jump pack, flashlight,wool blankey and many of things in our car year round my husband is Mr prepared 🙂
Jumper cables, blanket
A candle, flashligh,t a few tools and a blanket.
Nothing…my bad! But I live in Texas where there’s not much winter.
Here in Florida, I don’t keep much in our kit compared to when we lived in Ohio! Just a flashlight and some bottles of water!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Snow shovel, a bucket of sand, and a tow rope
I guess I need to get one together because I only have an ice scraper and a blanket!
Water, water, and more water. Also, a knife, shovel, and a flashlight. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
Jumper cables and a flash light!!!!
jumper cables and my cell phone to call for HELP
I def have a blanket, and some of those hand warmers, and a flash light.
flashlight, blankets and water
i don;t have one. I do keep a blanket in my car though.
jumper cables, flash light, and road flares
I must admit nothing right now which is bad especially since we moved to minnesota
Blankets, flashlight, jumper cables, and water. Thanks for the giveaway.
Blanket, water, flashlight
An ice scraper and blanket
we have a blanket,flashlightand jumper cables
A ice scraper, tire chains,and kitty litter
water, blanket, jumper cables, foldable shovel, cat litter
Water, and blankets
Blankets and flashlights
We have flares, jumper cables, flash light’s, blanket, kitty litter (for ifwe get stuck in snow) 🙂
Emergency break down kit & a first aid kit
We live in the South, so we don’t get snow and ice, but we keep a flashlight, blanket, and jumper cables.
ice scraper, flashlight, shovel, cat litter.
tire chains
I haven’t made one yet!
My “emergency kit” needs upgrading! I have a first aid kit, a flat tire kit, a blanket, and a flashlight.
Blanket, flashlight, and jumper cables.
Flash light, blanket, water, snacks! (:
A Collapsible Shovel and Ice Melt.
I am so unprepared I only have a flashlight in the glove box
I have a blanket, flashlight, bottled water and extra cell phone battery
Jumper cables, gas can, flash light
Blankets, scraper, flashlight, batteries, snacks, water, scraper
We carry sand and a shove.
Spare wiper blades, flashlight, blanket and flares
tire repair
I live in FL, I don’t need a winter kit! My normal car kit has a flashlight, tools, and a first aid kit.
flashlights, exttra cell battery packs, and blackets
flashlight, blanket, road flares, and first aid kit
I just need parts for my van
Kitty litter and a shovel when it snows is in my car winter kit.
chains for icy roads
bring kitty litter for traction in snow
Water, food and a cell phone
Blanket, flashlight, jumper cables.
Fill up if you are close to empty. you dont want gas to freeze
Ice scraper/brush, battery charger, air pump for tires, flashlight, sand or rock salt, jumper cables and anti freeze.
An emergency supply backpack
A short snow shovel, cat litter, garbage bags, and blankets.
Blanket, boots, granola bars, gloves, hat, scarf, flashlight. charged cell phone.
pretty much the same as in my summer kit with the addition of an ice scraper. We don’t really get snow!
Always be prepared for the worst!!
Blanket, Flashlight, Water, Jumper Cables, and an Ice Scraper
credit card, in case my ice scraper breaks, antifreeze, duct tape and flashlight
Ice scraper, flashlight, jumper cables, water
We don’t have much winter weather in Dallas but we do have an ice scraper. flashlight, and essential tools in the car.
blanket pillow and water
I have jumper cables, flash light, and blanket in my winter travel kit.
Blankets, a flashlight and some flares
Well being here in Galveston tx we really don’t have much of a winter. when we do I have water, cat litter, flashlight, tow strap, blankets. thanks
salt and blankets
I have jumper cables and road flares.
Always have extra clothes and blankets in your trunk.
Ice scraper, blanket, water….
i put a bag of kitty litter in the trunk
I always have a flas light
My tip is to include a bag of kitty litter, showel and some kind of space blanket.
we have a blanket, water, jumper cables, kitty litter, matches, candle, and hand warmers
I have a warm blanket in my winter kit
always have jumper cables, chains, blanket, flashlight , check the weather, traffic and road conditions.
blanket, bottled water, flashlight, snacks, batteries.
blankets,flashlight,ice scraper
Cat litter to put under the tires to give grip, warm blankets in case we get stuck and ready to eat food cuz Mama’s gotta eat!
Spare blanket, shovel, flares, flashlight, kitty litter etc
I have a blanket, flashlight, water bottle, ice scraper, an extra jacket, and some random snacks 🙂
water,snack foods,protein bars,blankets flash lights,road flares
My winter road kit has deicer in it
I keep a blanket, water, and a flashlight
A box of snacks…
I’m living in Wisconsin after most my life in Florida…. I won’t even drive in the snow! 😀
But I would have an ice scraper, blankets, water, food, a flash light.
Ice Scraper, Ice Melt, Shovel, Gloves
Ice scraper, non-perishable food, road flares, a shovel, a set of clothes, blanket.
Spare tire, jumper cables, blankets, snacks/drinks, flash light and ice scraper.
Foldable shovel, flashlight, water, blankets.
Survival blanket, first aid kit, jumper cables
blanket, firstaid kit, jumper cables
Make sure to have jumper cables, water for car and yourself, and a way to contact for help is stranded.
Jumper cables, shovel, blankets, gloves and kitty litter in case I get stuck.
We only have a blanket in the car right now. We should get things ready for winter.
Snow boots, blankets, food and water
A big bag of cat litter and a shovel.
Blankets, flashlight, flares, water and some granola bars.
I always have flares in there!
Blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, ice scraper, ponchos
A small shovel
Blanket, water. chemical hand warmers, flashlight and snacks
first aid kit, blankets, flashlights, water, and granola bars.
I try to keep a blanket, handwarmer pouches, gallon of water and a bag of cat liter in the trunk. If I know that the roads are going to be bad, I’ll also grab a shovel and toss in the back before heading out.
Blankets Water Snacks and Flares!
First off my husband is a top notch mechanic. he is my emergency kit lol. he’s always helping stranded people on roadside or parking lots. we also have a spotlight blankets and tools in our vehicles
Snow chains, flares, that’s about all I got!
My kit has a flashlight, kitty litter, and blanket.
Flashlight, blanket, jumper cables.
I keep some water, food, a blanket, flashlight, battery charger (hand-crank) and jumper cables.
Blanket, flashlight, batteries
In my winter road trip travel kit I have 2 extra blankets, jumper cables, water, and a flashlight.
A blanket, water, jumper cables, & a few protein bars
A blanket, a couple traffic cones and a flashlight.
I don’t have a winter road trip kit but if I win this I will buy one!
blanket, water, flashlight and snacks
In mine I have blankets, flashlight, jumper cables, road flares, fix a flat and first aid kit
We have an emergency blanket, jumper cables, hand warmers and a first aid kit.
Ice scraper, antifreeze, chains, blanket, flashlight, phone.
Water,blankets,granolanbars,fruit snacks, diapers, movies, and some other random stuff that is always in our van 🙂
Scraper, blanket, water,
In my kit is a blanket, flashlight and the number for AAA
First aid kit, blankets, and flashlights.
We have a flashlight, handwarmers and a blanket.
blankets, water, and snacks
blanket & flashlight
We have the regular stuff in there all the time (jumper cables, flashlights, tire tools, etc), but there is a special winter bucket that is put in when it starts getting cold that includes cat litter, a blanket, deicers, gloves, and a scraper.
Our winter road trip travel kit is flashlight, jumper cables. blankets, and some water!
a blanket, snow brush, and AAA card!
Always, ALWAYS windshield wiper fluid! I have this thing about needing to have clean windows when the roads are dirty and go through lots of it. While not a traditional emergency, running out is one to me!
I have an emergency first aid kit in my trunk. I also have a tire jack and an ice scraper. I know I should have more things. A blanket would be great. With winter coming, I think I’ll put one in there.
Blanket, gloves, warm hat, cell phone, jumper cables and a bag of cat litter.
ice scraper, kitty litter, bottled water, blanket, flashlight, and jumper cables.
bottled water, flashlight, spare change, etc.
Granola bars, blanket, flares, flashlight and some T.P. (who wants to use leaves)
We have jumper cables, a knife, an adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, air compressor, flashlight, blanket, gloves, a bag of cat litter, a jack and a spade.
living in florida we always have a roll of paper towels with us in the car
Just a shovel for now.
flares, blanket and flashlight
ice scraper, jumper cables, pocket hand warmers. extra blankets/coats
I have a blanket, a candle, water and some food
Make sure that someone knows your route and check in with them.
I keep a blanket, flashlight, cones, some batteries, and a first aid kit.
I have a blanket and jumper cables. Not much else. I need to get better prepared.
First aid kit, jumper cables and a blanket
I have a b;anet, scraper, melting salt, flashlight and spare tire.
Blanket, jumper cables, flashlight, and soup.
I have nothing…I guess I could consider the jumper cables as part of a survival kit 🙂
We have jumper cables, paper towels and an ice scraper. I really do try to be prepared for emergency situations, especially in winter.