To keep a sort of survival kit in the car

[Soopertooter]

I travel alone by car with my three children quite often and I always think I ought to keep some essentials in the car. I think if we were to ever get stuck in mega traffic or breakdown I would be so screwed with three kids under five and a few squashed cereal bars from the bottom of the nappy bag .

Is it OTT to keep food, drinks, blankets, maybe even a pop up tent in case we had to wait on a verge in pouring rain? I tend to imagine worst case scenarios!

If you do have something similar in your car, what do you keep in it?

Am amazed that people don't do this tbh!

I always have an emergency bag in the boot throughout winter. I drive hundreds of miles to and from work and live in an area that can get plenty of snow. I have a thick fluorescent coat, boots, a blanket, hand warmer throwaway pads and one of those neck pillows. I also always keep my phone plugged into the car so it’s at max battery. Never had to use it yet thankfully!

I moved from the tropics to the UK in late 2017 and was very worried about driving in snow and ice. I have a very comprehensive winter kit in my car and would add that extra large high vis vests should be added so that they can go over coats. I also have one of these which I have never used but would provide shelter if I had to sit outside the car on a motorway. I think I would rather be considered OTT than get caught out.

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Cat litter could get your car moving if it’s skidding on ice/snow.

Forgot to say, I also have a torch and a brolly.

Auto socks are so much more effective than messing about with cat litter. I wouldnt go anywhere in winter without them.

Auto socks tear very easily. And can be a pain to fit.

I just have winter tyres fitted, easier still.

It's a good idea if you're likely to get caught out in one of those snowmaggedon motorway white-outs but I've never had to drive anywhere it's likely to happen.

My dad used to nag me to do this and I used to roll my eyes. I know, I know. He was probably right and did it out of love, but equally it was very unlikely that I would get stranded in sub-zero temperatures while driving about four miles on the M11 in Essex to Redbridge roundabout

He wanted me to have a blanket, woolly hat, gloves and walking shoes in the boot. I had a warm waxed jacket in there because I went riding and a petrol canister (empty, I didn't like the idea of carrying around petrol) but that was it and I wore very foolish shoes.

If it was a long journey he would have advised snacks and water. He was in the Army and he was a Dad. That was his job .

Cat litter is to help your tyres grip and get moving in ice/snow.

I keep a box of emergency stuff in the boot and always have. There's a couple of books for the DC, plus foil blankets, water, snacks and torches. We've always got wellies, hoodies, coats and gloves as we spend a lot of time at stables, and although it sounds like a lot, it helps to know that on long, dark drives we have supplies.

Eh? I can fit mine in less than 30 seconds (had a race with DH!). They will tear if you drive on bare road in them, but not if you're driving on snow.

I keep a little bag for each of us in the boot of my car change of clothes etc as well as a big blanket and sturdy ponchos to keep us all dry. I've needed to use it all loads of times my DH thought I was a bit mad when I first started doing it but now he helps me change all the clothes around every few months and make sure we have replaced anything that's been used. I don't keep snacks or drinks but nearly always have bits in the change bag and I'm not organised enough to change them Regularly.

Agree Honeyroar that if you're somewhere where snow/ice is very likely, winter tyres are the best bet.

I keep a 6 pack of small sized bottled water. I bought it once and didn't unload it upon getting home. Then decided keeping it in the car might be handy.

A spare coat for me and DC (couple of sizes too small by now I'm sure). A pair of alternative shoes for myself. A £5 note and a torch.

I don't know what I expect to happen as I mostly only drive to Sainsbury's or DC's school! But it's 'just incase'.

Also worth keeping a packed hold-all in case you need to
Take one of the kids to hospital. So change of clothes, pjs, change, cash, notepad

Please don’t carry petrol around 💥💥💥

Kez437 It stops you spilling a bottle of piss all over your car because the bottle leaks even though it was a pop bottle originally and you assumed it was watertight.

Yes of course, we do it we have;
Blankets
Those instant warming pads
Bottles of water
First aid kit
Hi vis vests for all of us
Thermals for all of us, clothes for the DC.
Spare charged battery thingy for phones
Cereal bars and some other snacks
Torches
Hats,scarves and gloves.

I often have DDog in the car with me so keep an emergency bonio handy! If I'm going a longer journey or weather is bad, I make sure I have at least one meal's worth of kibble and a bottle/bowl with water for DDog.
He would be very handy to snuggle up to as well if I got stuck on a chilly night!

I always have a kit in the car inc first aid kit, water, long life food, power bank jump starter, book, torch, blanket, hand warmer sachets, hi vis. In poor weather forecast there will be coat, waterproof trousers, gloves/hat, thick socks, boots, more food and water, hot choc sachets, sleeping bag and I'll put a big thermos of boiling water in before any long journey.
I drive all over the place for work, and you only have to be stuck once for a few hours to be very glad of being nice and warm with snacks to take the very small effort to be prepared.

I never even leave the neighbourhood without a blanket, drink and food and some games/books when I have the kids in my car.

I am amazed if you have never even been caught in a traffic jam and unexpectedly stuck for nearly 1 hour, it would be hell with the kids without at least basic supplies.

In the winter, none of us ever goes in the car without proper outdoor clothing in the back even to go to Tesco.I wouldn't want my kids to be freezing if the car ever broke down.

Some of the ideas above are great.
I also always have a map, it's been useful a couple of times when my sat nav decided to go on strike for no reason.

Great idea;

Survival blankets
Torch
First aid kit
Travel phone charger
Protein/nut bars
Crisps
Chocolate
Baby food (?)
Pre made formula & bottle (?)
Bottled water
Nappies (?)
Wipes / a toilet roll
Spare / extra clothes

I need to double check what's in our boot actually and top up / replace things. Friends of mine were stuck overnight in their car in heavy snow. Actually it seems to happen relatively often in Scotland so I don't think it's ott to be prepared.

In snowy weather I add a shovel and sleeping bag.

Permanently since I started driving, I've kept a "car coat" an old once beloved duffle coat that's seen better days. It's been handy a few times. Once I had a flat tyre in March, one of those days where it was just mild enough to save the bother of lugging a coat around school all day, but definitelu not warm enough for 30 mins on the embankment of a dual carriageway waiting for the RAC. I once had a long wait for help with a flat battery on a sleety day. Both times I've been jammed for multiple hours on a shut motorway have been the week before Christmas. Since the DCs outgrew their buggy, their waterproof/ fleecy cosytoes has moved to the car either as a lap blanket or for a seat. Stationary for 2+hrs, plus regional gridlock as a result of the closure turned a 2x 20 minute trip up one junction of the motorway into a 5hr+ epic.

I don't do distance often but do have a supply of nibbles and water on board.

Please don’t carry petrol around

Remain calm Redtartanshoes. I'm not that stupid and I doubt many people are.

You are allowed to carry a small amount of petrol in an approved container - which I had - but I never wanted to do it because it seemed risky. I've only once run out of petrol in over 30 years - a faulty fuel gauge. I walked to the petrol station with my empty approved container and walked back again.

I always have a couple of baby blankets and a couple of space blankets but I’m thinking I really need to up my game now! This sounds like a fun little project to do this week. (WOW maternity leave has made me boring)

The backpack idea is good.