Winter Kit for the Car - explained (Part 2)

In Part 1, we explained the reasoning behind a few of the items in my wife's Winter Kit. There are a couple of other things I want to touch on before we leave the subject. You will remember that her winter kit consisted of

• • plastic shopping bag from _____ (pick any grocery or chain store here)
  
  
  • plastic trash bag (big, black one)
  
  
  • bottle of water (pick your favorite brand) sealed in
  
  
  • quart-sized plastic bag (just in case the bottle freezes and splits)
  
  
  • polar fleece wrap (blanket may be substituted)
  
  
  • fuzzy hat
  
  
  • "magic" gloves (these are the knit gloves that stretch forever)
  
  
  • two votive candles
  
  
  • clean, empty flat can (like a tuna can or a cat food can)
  
  
  • disposable butane lighter (to light candles)
  
  
  • energy food snacks (just a few)
  
  
  • disposable latex gloves (to waterproof magic gloves)
  
  

This time I want to talk about the plastic trash bag and about the snacks.

Trash bags aren't just for trash

The trash bag is has a variety of emergency uses. It can hold water, if needed. It can be a waterproof shelter. It can be a raincoat. (Slit a hole in the bottom at the middle (for your head) and one in each side seam (for each arm... if you have more arms than that, the add the appropriate number of holes in the proper places.)) If you have to change a tire in weather that has turned to freezing rain, you will appreciate having something that keeps your torso dry. I suspect if you think about it, you will come up with even more uses for it.

By the way, I would use the heavier-duty bags if you have them (or need to get more bags.) If you just have lighter-weight trash bags, then use one of them, but consider getting the heavier lawn and garden ones or even the ones designed for construction trash. Whatever you have, put something in your trunk. It is better to have something (even something that is mildly inadequate) than nothing.

Snacks, anyone?

Yes, I really think that you should put some snacks in your winter kit. Whether you store the kit under the seat or in the trunk, a winter kit really needs some energy snacks. Why? Because if you are in an emergency situation in the winter, there is likely to be cold involved. (As you know, cold happens much more frequently in the winter than in the summer.) Our bodies use a lot of energy dealing with the cold. If you don't have an external source of heat (such as your car's heater or a fire) you will be using a lot of food fuel just to keep warm.

Do you need to put a lot of snacks in your car? For most situations, probably not. If you know that you are going to be taking a three day trek across the backroads of Montana, then you might consider adding a bit more than usual. But for most of us, a couple of energy bars is probably enough.

Now, I will tell you right here that I don't like energy bars (and neither does my wife) so that is not what we use. I like "trail mix" and so that is what we use. (Your emergency snack should be something that you are willing eat should you have to, so chose wisely.) I like trail mix as an emergency food for several reasons:

• nuts and peanuts for protein (longer-term energy generation)


• raisins and coated chocolate candies for quick carbs (immediate energy)


• long-term storage potential (the salt will help the nuts keep, the raisins are naturally long-lived)


• reasonably tasty (nice mix of salt and sweet)


• it comes prepackaged in convenient sizes


• it isn't a "designer" brand so it is pretty inexpensive (compared to energy bars)


• versatile - it is a food item that is useful year-round and for other situations

But you might like energy bars. Then, by all means use them. You could be allergic to peanuts. Then don't use trail mix as I have never seen any that didn't include peanuts. The most important thing is to find something that will give you quick energy, keep providing energy for a while, be relatively insensitive to heat and cold, and to have a long shelf life.

Do you have an emergency snack that fits the bill and is your favorite? Why don't you share it with the rest of us? (I know there probably won't be enough to go around, so just tell us what it is and why you like it for this purpose.) You comments of this are welcome.