All the things the people probably wish they had right after getting stuck on the highway.
The idea of getting stuck in your car for almost 24 hours is, for most of us, absolutely terrifying. But it was the reality hundreds of people faced along a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Virginia after the first big storm of 2022 dumped over a foot of snow on the area. While you might be thinking, “this would never happen to me,” we’d bet the folks in Virginia never thought they’d be in that situation either. So we rounded up a list of items you should keep in your car at all times, in the off-chance you get stranded. We know that cargo space can be a precious commodity, so we focused on the most important items that take up the least amount of space. And if you’re faced with a situation like those drivers in Virginia, trust us — you’re going to be glad you prepared in advance.
13 Things to Keep in Your Car in Case of Emergencies
Portable charger
The last thing you need in a stressful situation like this is a dying phone. Keep a portable charger in your car and make sure it’s fully charged at all times — that way if your car battery dies, you have a secondary power source. We like this dual bank model, which can charge two devices at once.
Blanket
If you’re stranded due to the weather, it’s likely going to get quite cold at night. Do not sleep with your car on and the heat running — this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Instead, try to get as warm as you can before you hunker down for the night. We suggest keeping a good camping blanket in your car, like this insulated puffy blanket from Rumpl. If you have any extra material in your car like newspapers or magazines, use them to cover the windshield at night for extra insulation.
Water
Regardless of what type of climate you live in, it’s always a smart idea to keep extra potable water in your car. This five-gallon container from REI should fit snugly in your trunk and has an easy-to-use spout so you can access it whenever you need it.
Dry food
If you’ve stashed emergency supplies in your car for over a year, you want to make sure the food items you’ve chosen aren’t going bad. We suggest something with a long shelf life, like granola bars, nuts, or dried fruit. Personally, we’re big fans of the chocolate chip Clif bars, because they last forever and they’re surprisingly delicious.
Toilet paper
Even when you’re in an emergency, nature still calls. To adhere to the “leave no trace” rule, we suggest keeping a roll of toilet paper and a few plastic bags in your automobile — that way you can carry the paper out with you and dispose of it properly once you’re safely back at home. We suggest Cloud Paper subscriptions to prevent those “forgot to restock the TP supply” moments.
Extra contacts or medication
If you use something daily, like contacts or medication, we suggest keeping a few extras stowed away in your car. Depending on how long you’re stuck for, you won’t have to worry about either missing a dose or not being able to see. (A potentially major issue in an emergency.)
Flashlight and extra batteries
When the sun goes down, you’ll want to save your car battery and switch the car lights off. Keeping a good flashlight and an extra pair of batteries in the car is an easy way to avoid freaking out even further when you’re stranded at night. Plus, it’ll come in handy if you need to get out to use the bathroom at night.
Reflective triangles
Hopefully, you’ll never need to use these and they’ll just gather dust in your trunk, but if your car does get stranded, you won’t want anyone crashing into it. These reflective triangles are for day or night use, won’t blow away, and are meant to be placed about ten feet behind your vehicle to warn any oncoming drivers.
First aid kit
If you’ve been in a crash and you’re stranded, a first aid kit can be a lifesaver. This one from My Medic has bandages, a thermometer, a CPR shield, and even a finger splint. If anyone has a minor injury, this kit should keep things under control until help arrives.
Jumper cables
When at last you are rescued, there’s a good chance your car battery is dead (we understand if you listened to the radio for a little too long, and we don’t blame you). On the off chance your savior doesn’t have jumper cables, get the jump on them and make sure you have your own set ready to go.
Snow brush
If it’s still snowing when you get stranded, you’re going to be kicking yourself if you don’t have a snow brush and ice scraper in your car to bail yourself out once you’re ready to go. You can get a pretty good one for less than five dollars, and if you live in an area where it snows a lot, we’re pretty sure you’re going to get a lot of use from it!
Shovel
Depending on the snowfall, you may end up needing to shovel your car out. This durable shovel is made for cars — it has an extendable handle so it takes up minimal space, and is made of aluminum so is heavy-duty enough to get the job done.
Kitty litter
No, this is not a joke. If you find your car gets stuck on a patch of ice or heavily packed snow, your tires may spin out from a lack of traction. That’s where the kitty litter comes in. It absorbs moisture and can provide traction on snow, slush, and ice. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive making it a great “just in case” item to keep handy.
