Author Archives: David Adams

Bartering Basics: How to Trade Goods After SHTF

No matter how well prepared you are, if a crisis goes on long enough, you’ll eventually run out of something…whether that’s food, water, medicine, or something else.

When this happens, you’ll need to find some way to get more supplies. But after SHTF, you won’t be able to get them through normal means, such as going to the grocery store.

This is where a special skill called bartering comes in handy. Bartering is where you and another person agree to trade goods directly without using money.

To get you up to speed on how to barter effectively, I’ve made a short guide showing you the basics.

Step 1 – Have Something of Value

To barter, you need to have an item that someone else wants. Since this is after a SHTF event, this would be some sort of resource, like food, water, clothing or medicine.

One thing to keep in mind is that the “value” of an item depends on individual people and can be subjective. This is a big mistake that causes people to not get as much out of a deal as they could have.

For example, you might have a worn-out pair of shoes that you consider to be junk…but to someone who doesn’t have shoes, they’re valuable enough to trade something like food or water for.

Step 2 – Find Someone to Barter With

With money, we can do business with anyone because everyone takes money…but with bartering, it’s a little less convenient. You have to find someone who has what you want and is willing to trade for what you have.

This will be easier if you want to trade necessary items that everyone needs, like food and water, but more obscure items, like a specific type of medication, will be harder to come by.

Step 3 – Negotiate

With bartering, there’s no set “price” on items like there is in the commercial world.  Your deals can be negotiated up or down depending on how you negotiate.

The good news is you can come out ahead if you play your cards right, but the bad news is you can get screwed if you aren’t careful.

Here are a couple tips to help you out…

First, talk up the value of what you have to offer. For example, you can mention how useful it is or how difficult it is to obtain.

Next, talk down the value of the item you want to get. Just do the opposite here and mention how it’s not that useful or it’s easy to obtain.

Doing this will help you get a better deal than you might otherwise, however, don’t exaggerate or you won’t close a deal at all.

If you plan on bartering with this person again in the future, you’ll want to keep the transaction roughly equal. That way, they’ll be willing to barter with you again and be easier to deal with.

Step 4 – End the Deal Peacefully

Whether or not you and the other person come to an agreement and make a deal, you need to part ways…hopefully peacefully.

The best way to stay safe during a deal is to bring multiple people with you for backup if things go wrong. Of course, you and your group should also be armed so you have some way to defend yourself.

If the person you want to barter with asks you to disarm before trading, end the deal immediately and get out of there…you’re going to get jumped and your goods stolen.

Did I miss any important tips on bartering here? Tell us your success stories with bartering in the comments section below!

7 Things You Should Do Before SHTF

Preparing for when SHTF is a never-ending process. Even the most prepared people in the world can still improve their survival plans a little bit.

Picking up a few new survival skills is always a good idea, and if you do it consistently, you’ll be much more prepared for when a crisis eventually happens.

This post isn’t a complete list by any means, but it will give you a good start and give you some good ideas on areas where your survival plan might need some work.

Physical Fitness

This might surprise some people, but hauling and handling your survival gear will be difficult if you’re seriously out of shape.

You don’t need to be a full-blown athlete, but if you can walk for a few miles and do repetitive heavy lifting now as part of your daily routine, then you’ll be much more likely to survive when SHTF.

There’s no need for rigorous workouts. Simply going for a daily walk and doing a few bodyweight exercises is enough to keep you reasonably fit.

Cooking on an Open Flame

You might be wondering why something like this is even on this list…but let me explain.

Cooking on an open flame is different than cooking with an oven. It’s also harder than using a barbeque because a barbeque is designed for you to cook on it, while a campfire has no extra luxuries that make cooking easy.

You might not “need” to know how to cook on an open flame now, but if you want to eat tasty and wholesome meals in the worst case SHTF situation, you need to know this skill.

Try it for yourself and notice how different it is. Keep practicing and you’ll come up with ways to make it easier and your food taste better.

Natural Medicine

Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs will be scarce when SHTF. You can stockpile them, but at some point they’re going to run out.

That’s why it’s a good idea to learn about natural medicine. Many of the things we take drugs for today have natural alternatives.

Essential oils are a good place to start, though there are many other things that will work, too. And you can find them in nature.

Ammo Reloading

Ammo is expensive, and if you’re on a limited budget, you might not be able to buy as much as you’d like. If that’s the case, you should look into ammo reloading.

This is where you buy the parts that make ammo as separate components. Instead of buying whole ammo cases, you get the bullets, casings, and powder separately and combine them yourself.

That way, you save on the cost of manufacturing that ammo companies pass on to you and you can reuse the cases a few times as well.

Skinning and Butchering

Going hunting and bringing back your kill might be satisfying, but it will all go to waste if you don’t know how to properly skin and butcher an animal.

In fact, simply removing the guts the wrong way could spoil a large part of the meat…for example, if you puncture the animal’s stomach while trying to remove the innards.

First Aid

It’d be nice if you could get through a crisis without getting hurt, but realistically you or someone you know will suffer some sort of injury.

If you know first aid, you’ll be able to treat them and reduce the chances of something going wrong.

Plant Identification

What happens after your food stockpiles run out? Hopefully, you also have a garden and know how to hunt or fish, but even then it’s still a good idea to know how to forage for edibles.

Get yourself a good book on edible plants in your local area, or better yet, find a guide who will personally show you which plants are good and which to avoid.

What are you planning for when SHTF? Is there anything missing here? Let your fellow preppers know in the comments below!

How to Keep Your Teeth Clean When SHTF

If you’ve ever seen the movie Cast Away, with Tom Hanks, then you probably remember the scene where he has a rotten tooth and is forced to knock it out with a figure skate.

If that scene made you uncomfortable, you’re not alone. The thought of having to do something so extreme and imagining the pain is enough to make anyone cringe…

But the worst part is that situations just like that scene in Cast Away will be very common when SHTF because people won’t be able to take care of their teeth like they usually do.

Everyday items we take for granted like toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash will become scarce after a crisis, which is why I’d like to show you some alternative ways of keeping your teeth clean when SHTF.

This way you won’t have to do anything extreme like pulling your own teeth out.

Use a DIY Toothpick

As a first step, get any chunks out of your teeth. Unless you plan on carrying toothpicks, you’ll need to make your own.

It’s easy. Just find a small stick and use your knife to sharpen one end to a point. Then use the point like you would normally use a toothpick.

Make This Disgusting (But Effective) Toothpaste From Tree Bark

Did you know you can make your own toothpaste from tree bark? It works really well, but I have to warn you…this is going to taste disgusting.

First, gather bark from trees that have tannic acid such as oak, birch, hickory, aspen, and poplar. Then boil that bark so it releases the tannic acid.

The watery solution you’re left with will act like toothpaste.

Chew on Tree Sap

Another way to get the gunk out of your teeth is to chew on tree sap. The sap is sticky and will pull all the bad stuff out of your teeth. Think of it like nature’s chewing gum.

Chew on Twigs and Small Sticks

Can’t find any sap? No problem, because you can also use twigs and small sticks and they’ll work almost as well.

Just make sure the trees you’re getting them from aren’t poisonous.

A Common Weed That Promotes Dental Hygiene

All across North America there are plants called plantains, or Plantago Major…though most people simply see them as weeds.

Plantains have many medicinal properties and are useful for survivalists in general. One of their medicinal uses relates to dental hygiene.

Chewing on the leaves of plantains will help keep your teeth clean and kill bacteria that could cause cavities.

Plantains are also known for their ability to soothe toothaches. You can either chew on their leaves or make an herbal tea out of their leaves.

Do you know any other dental hygiene tips for when SHTF? If so, share your knowledge with your fellow preppers in the comments section below!

Survival Skills You Can Learn Without Leaving Home

As preppers, there are certain skills we need to know that will help us survive during a crisis…but we need to occasionally practice them to keep them sharp.

The problem for some people is that they don’t live near a good outdoor area, like a forest, to practice these skills, or they don’t have time to travel to one.

But that’s OK, because there are plenty of survival skills you can learn without ever leaving the comfort of home. In fact, you can even learn these while sitting on your couch watching TV.  But they’re just as important as any other hard-core survival skills you’d need to master in the wild.

Tying Knots

If you were a boy scout when you were younger, then you learned to tie the most common and useful knots.

For those of you who don’t know how to tie knots or if you need a refresher, practicing at home is a great place to do it.

Get some rope or paracord to practice with and find a good guide to learn from. You can order a book on tying knots or look up a guide online if you don’t want to wait.

Whittling Wood

Whittling wood is an awesome skill to have because it serves two purposes…

First, it’s an excellent way to relax and pass the time. And, more importantly, you can use your whittling skill to create your own custom-made gear.

Here’s just a few of the things you could make by whittling wood:

  • Spear
  • Spikes
  • Feathered wood
  • Spoon

You can add to the gear you already have and save money by carving essential tools out of wood yourself.

Identifying Plants

Knowing how to identify local plants is a skill that could put food on your table and help you make natural medicine.

There are much more edible plants growing in the wild than people realize, and learning which ones are good to eat (and which ones are poisonous) will give you a backup food source if times ever get tough.

Plus, even if some plants aren’t edible or palatable, they might still be useful as ingredients in a natural remedy. For example, plantains can be used to disinfect wounds.

Get a good book and start memorizing as many of them as possible. Even if you only learn one new plant a week, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an expert.

Just make sure the book you’re using is specific to your region. It doesn’t make sense to learn about plants that don’t grow where you live.

Creating Nets

Put your knot-tying skills to work by taking it a step further and creating your own nets.

Catching fish is the obvious reason to make your own nets. If you live by a river, a net can bring in a lot of fish with relatively little work on your part.

You can also use your net to carry extra gear, or even make a hammock so you can kick back and relax after all your hard work.

Trapping

Trapping is another survival skill that will put food on your table during hard times. Once you get good at making traps, you’ll be able to consistently bring in small game to add to your meals.

Some traps depend on stable objects like trees to work, but there are other types that you can practice making inside your house. Just gather the materials you need from outside one time and then you can practice inside as much as you want.

Know any other survival skills you can practice at home? Tell us what you’re learning in the comments section below!

Is Prepping a Waste of Time If a Crisis Never Happens?

One common question that pops up for both experienced preppers and would-be preppers is if prepping is a waste of time if a crisis never happens.

It might seem foolish to prepare for something that may never happen…

But when you think about it, you’ll quickly realize that prepping is worth it whether there’s a crisis or not, and I’m about to show you why.

Nothing is Wasted

Done properly, there’s little to no waste involved in prepping. Everything you buy or do can be consumed or used whether there’s a crisis or not.

For example, let’s consider stocking food reserves.

Storing extra food is one of the most essential steps a prepper can take. But even long-term food eventually spoils…so if there’s no crisis, it’ll go to waste, right?

Wrong!

Food reserves aren’t something that should be stockpiled and then forgotten about. You should do what’s called “rotating” your food, which is where you eat the older food while gradually adding fresher food.

You need to eat anyway, so why not draw from your food reserves?

Even if a crisis doesn’t happen, you haven’t lost anything because you’re saving on buying meals by dipping into your food reserves. It all equals out.

Prepping Saves Money

Being frugal is part of being a prepper. We know we need money for the things we need, and that naturally leads to cutting out the things we don’t need.

Finding clever ways to cut costs is a habit that will last a lifetime and saves a lot of money over the years, crisis or not.

But there’s another reason prepping saves money, and that’s the emphasis on buying in bulk.

A non-prepper will usually only buy what they need immediately or in the near future…but a prepper will buy enough to last years.

Grocery stores like Costco cater to this kind of consumer and offer huge discounts to those who buy in bulk. When you add it all up, preppers who buy in bulk save a lot of money compared to those who just buy what they immediately need.

Preppers Learn Valuable Skills

Prepping isn’t just about stocking up on gear…it’s also about learning valuable skills. These skills are useful on their own and are well-worth learning.

You might never need to start a fire from scratch…but you can’t lose by learning how to. In fact, learning new skills can be very enjoyable and is part of living a fulfilling life.

Once you learn these survival skills, you can pass them on to your children, grandchildren, or your friends.

Consider Prepping as Insurance

Prepping is really just a form of insurance. It’s something you do just in case something goes wrong.

You might never get into a car crash, but you still have car insurance, right?

You might not have a medical emergency any time soon, but you still have health insurance…

And it’s true that a SHTF scenario might be a long way off…but planning for the worst is always a good idea!

To me, prepping is the smart thing to do. You’ll have a fighting chance at survival if a crisis happens, and you still benefit even if a crisis never happens.

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t lose as a prepper.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? How has being a prepper benefited your life so far? Let me know in the comments section below.

5 Sneaky Places to Hide Your Valuables From Looters

Those who aren’t prepared for a crisis might come knocking on your door when they run out of their own supplies. And if they’re truly desperate, they’ll simply barge in.

You know you can’t afford to be generous with your supplies because you need them for your family. Fortunately, you can keep your valuables, gear, and food cleverly hidden so an angry mass of desperate and starving people will never find them.

Here are 5 sneaky places you can hide your stuff in your house so other people can’t find them. There are a lot more hiding places than this, but these will give you a good start.

Underneath a Desk or Dresser Drawers

If a looter breaks into your home and is looking for stuff to steal, one of the most obvious places  they’ll check is inside a desk or dresser drawers…

However, they’ll only look inside the drawers and will never think about checking underneath them.

You’ll need two things to do this: strong tape, such as duct tape, and plastic envelopes.

First, remove the drawer and flip it upside down. Now put your valuables inside the plastic envelopes and seal them.  Tape down the plastic envelopes to the drawer with duct tape.

Put the drawer back in and make sure the drawer can still pull in and out without breaking the envelopes loose. If it glides open smoothly, you’ve got an awesome new hiding spot that most people will never look for.

Inside Air Vents

This hiding spot is great if you have central heating in your home.

All you have to do is unscrew one of the vent plates, put your valuables in the vent, and then screw the plate back in.

It’s simple, but most people won’t bother checking there because they’ll be in too much of a rush to steal your stuff and get out quickly.

To be on the safe side, you should pick a vent that’s either in a more secluded area of your house or is hard to access.

Inside Empty Paint Cans

It’s pretty common to have paint cans lying around your garage or shed, and you can take advantage of that because looters won’t pay any attention to them.

Find some paint cans that are almost empty or that you aren’t going to use anymore and clean out the inside as best you can. Then put your valuables or food reserves in them for safekeeping.

Inside Fake Electrical Outlets

This is a hiding place that’ll go completely unnoticed, but it involves cutting a hole in your wall.

Cut out a small section of your drywall the same size as your other electrical outlets, stuff your gear inside, and then insert a new outlet cover.

You could apply this “hole in the wall” idea in other ways, but an electrical outlet will result in the smallest hole and be the least conspicuous.

Under Floor Tiling

If you have hardwood floors or tiling in your bathroom, you can hide things under your floor that most people won’t notice.

Remove one of the boards or tiles and dig out an area underneath. Then replace the board or tile and try to get it to sit flat with the rest of the floor so it looks natural.

You could also do this with carpet or rugs, but it won’t be as seamless because there will be an indent in the fabric.

Do you know any other cool hiding places? If so, share your ideas in the comments section below with your fellow preppers.

Control Pests Safely and Naturally With Diatomaceous Earth

If you’ve ever had a bug problem before, you probably used a chemical pesticide to get rid of them.

Those chemical pesticides can be effective sometimes, but they’re unhealthy for humans to be around…even if the chemicals are marked “safe” on the label.

And to make matters worse, chemical pesticides are becoming less effective every day.

That’s why I’m showing you something called “diatomaceous earth”…a natural bug killer that works great and is safe to use.

But before I show you why diatomaceous earth is so effective, here’s why chemical pesticides don’t work so well anymore.

Why Pesticides Are Becoming Less Effective

You may have noticed that chemical pesticides have become less effective lately…

It’s not that the chemical pesticides are too weak…it’s that the bugs have become resistant!

Have you heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? That saying is especially true in the bug world. Here’s why…

When you use a chemical pesticide, it’ll kill a certain percentage of the bugs, but some of them will still survive…

Those are the strong ones who are resistant to the chemicals. They’ll hatch more bugs that genetically share their resistance to the chemicals and eventually the whole population will become more resistant.

New chemicals can be discovered that work better, but the bugs will eventually become resistant to those too…so you’re fighting a losing battle when you use chemical pesticides.

You will not have this problem with the natural bug killer I’m about to tell you about…

Diatomaceous Earth – Natural Pest Control

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a safe and natural way to control pests…and they’ll never become resistant to it.

That’s because DE isn’t a chemical…it’s a material that actually cuts bugs open like shards of glass. It’s made from the fossilized remains of an ancient algae called diatoms.

The individual particles of DE are razor-sharp, but they’re microscopic, so it can’t cut us. However, they’re the perfect size to kill insects that crawl over it.

Here’s a short list of pests that DE will kill:

  • Ants
  • Bedbugs
  • Fleas
  • Cockroaches
  • Silverfish
  • Earwigs
  • Centipedes
  • Millipedes
  • Slugs

Many people also claim that DE kills spiders, though it didn’t seem to kill them when I tried it. It worked extremely well on everything else though!

You can get DE from stores that have garden centers, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth to Control Pests

You can use DE to control pests inside and outside your house.

For use inside your house, you should identify the source of the insect infestation.  Then put small piles of DE near those areas.

Examples would be near windowsills or by cracks in the wall. As insects crawl over it, they’ll get cut and die.

For use outside your house, sprinkle a perimeter around your house.  This creates a barrier that bugs can’t get through alive.

Just be aware that DE will kill all insects…even the good ones that you actually want, such as ladybugs and earthworms.

Also, DE doesn’t work after it gets wet. So, if you’re using it outside, you’ll need to reapply it every time it rains.

And don’t worry about using DE if you have pets. DE is safe for humans and animals if you get the food-grade version, not the pool-grade version.

In fact, some people even consume food-grade DE because they think it’s healthy. There’s no proof that eating DE has any health benefits, but the fact that people can eat it without being harmed proves that it’s safe.

Stock These Over-the-Counter Medications Before SHTF

One of the first things to get sold out in stores during a crisis are over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

These medications have a wide range of uses and are generally safe for most people to use, which is why they’re available without a prescription.

You might take these OTC medications for granted now, but when SHTF they could be the one thing that saves you and your family.

That’s why you need to stock up on them now while they’re still readily available.

Here are the top 5 OTC medications that every prepper should stockpile just in case a crisis happens.

Painkiller/Fever Reducer

A painkiller/fever reducer is one of the most useful over-the-counter medications you can pack.

If you injure yourself during the chaos of a crisis, the anti-inflammatory properties of these painkillers could tide you over until you get medical attention.

And if you’re suffering from an illness, the fever-reducing properties will keep you comfortable while you overcome your illness.

Aspirin or ibuprofen will ease aches and pains that will definitely intensify during a crisis. Taking aspirin can also prevent heart attacks and maintain good heart health.

If you think there might be children in your group when SHTF, make sure to pack the child-friendly version as well because the adult version is toxic to them.

Sleep Aid

You can’t make good survival decisions if you’re sleep deprived, and that’s why you should pack a sleep aid.

When SHTF, your veins will be flooded with adrenaline, making insomnia a real survival threat. Combine that with the fear and stress of an unknown situation and you’ll be lucky to catch a few hours of sleep.

With the help of a sleep aid, you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep and restore your energy for the everyday demands of survival.

Laxative

Some preppers might laugh at the idea of packing laxatives for survival, but don’t be surprised if the sudden stress, and especially chronic stress over the days, weeks, or months following a crisis, leads to constipation.

Even if you’ve never experienced constipation before, you’ll want to pack laxatives anyway because constipation is often caused by sudden dietary changes in addition to extreme stress, both of which you’ll face when SHTF.

Constipation is more than just uncomfortable, it can even be fatal if it continues for too long.

Multi-Vitamin

During a crisis, your diet will change. You’ll probably be taking in a lot fewer calories and with a lot less nutritional value. Even if you’ve done your best to pack the best-tasting, healthiest survival food, chances are it will still be a change from your regular daily diet, and you may need to account for any nutritional gaps.

If your body doesn’t get the vital nutrients it needs, it could start to break down, leaving you vulnerable to illness and injury, and that’s the last thing you want during a crisis.

Once a crisis happens, take a good daily multi-vitamin to make sure your body has everything it needs to function properly.

Anti-Allergen

Most people have mildly annoying allergies. But what happens if you have a severe allergic reaction and you can’t get proper medical help?

That’s why you should pack anti-allergy medications just in case.

Plus, you can take them to ease the effects of a bee sting even if you aren’t allergic to bees.

Do you pack any other over-the-counter medications that you think I missed? Let me know in the comments section below…your knowledge could save a fellow prepper!

How to Protect Yourself Against Ticks

The great outdoors is home to some pretty creepy creatures, and ticks are particularly nasty.

Ticks are arachnids just like spiders…but instead of minding their own business they jump onto you, burrow into your skin, and feast on your blood.

Ticks are a very real survival threat. Many of them carry Lyme disease, which is a serious condition when left untreated and can even be fatal.

I wrote this post to show you a few tricks for protecting yourself against these blood-sucking parasites.

Why is the Tick Population Growing?

The tick population is exploding at an alarming rate, and as a result more people are getting bitten…but why?

There are many potential reasons why the tick population is growing, but scientists have a few theories.

One possible explanation is that the growing tick population is caused by a growing deer population. Deer are one of the most popular hosts for ticks, so it makes sense that more deer means more ticks.

Another explanation is that ticks have been enjoying shorter seasons of freezing temperatures which usually kills them off.

Also, new suburbs have been built in areas that used to be wilderness. The ticks who continue to live there call it home.

Protecting Yourself From Ticks Before They Bite

The best way to deal with ticks is to not get bitten in the first place, but that’s easier said than done.

When working in your yard or going for a hike in the woods, try to wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. This will prevent the ticks from getting on your skin.

However, the ticks will still be on your clothes, and if you don’t pick them off you’ll bring them inside your house with you.

Wearing light colored clothes can help you spot the reddish-brown ticks easier so you can pick them off before bringing them indoors.

Also, you should have a bottle of insect repellent that works against ticks. This will help keep ticks from burrowing.

How to Safely Remove a Tick If You’ve Been Bit

With the growing tick population, the odds are that you’ll have a tick on you at some point. Knowing how to safely remove the tick will keep you safe and prevent you from making the situation worse.

All you need to remove a tick is a pair of tweezers.

Grab the tick on its head as close to the skin as possible. Using steady gentle pressure, gradually lift straight up without twisting. Twisting will snap its head off and make it hard to remove.

Never grab the body of the tick because this will force it to regurgitate onto your skin and could lead to an infection.

There are other methods of removing ticks, such as cotton swabs with liquid soap or by burning it with an extinguished match…but these don’t work as well as tweezers.

The match and soap methods will make the tick panic, which will cause it to vomit onto your skin so it can quickly escape.

By using tweezers and squeezing the head, you’re preventing the tick from regurgitating.

Have you ever had any run-ins with ticks? If so, how did you remove it? Share your story with us in the comments section below!

What to Pack in Your Car Survival Kit

Being stranded in your car is one of the most likely survival scenarios you’ll face.

Despite the technological advances in new cars, breakdowns are actually becoming more common.

Today’s cars have a lot more features than older cars, so more things can go wrong with them.

As a prepper, you need to realize that being stranded in your car is a real threat and take simple steps to prepare for it.

I wrote a list of several survival tools and supplies that you should keep in your car to be prepared in case it breaks down and leaves you stranded.

Car Battery Jumper:

Did you know the biggest cause of car breakdowns is caused by battery failures? That’s why it’s so important to have a tool that can jump-start your battery. A car jumper is better than jumper cables because you can jump-start your battery yourself without the help of another vehicle.

Flashlight:

It could take a while before you’re able to fix your car or help arrives, which means you might need to spend the night in your car. Having a flashlight can provide a little light during the night and make your overnight stay much more comfortable.

Spare Tire:

A flat tire is another common reason cars break down.  That’s why you should always keep a spare tire in your trunk.

Jack & Tire Iron:

Of course, that spare tire isn’t going to install itself.  You need special tools to change your tire, such as a jack to lift the car up and a tire iron to take the tire off.

Tool Kit:

It’s a good idea to keep a basic tool kit in your car just in case. Make sure it has all the essentials, such as pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, ratchet, and sockets.

Food & Water:

Since you don’t know how long you’ll be waiting, you should make sure you have enough food and water to last at least a day or two. Snack bars should be good enough, along with a case of bottled water.

Emergency Blanket:

If you’re stranded during cold weather, hypothermia is a serious threat.  You could stock lots of blankets and extra clothes, but those take up a lot of space. Emergency blankets are really warm and don’t take up much space.

Glass Breaker:

Imagine being trapped in a car as it slowly sinks under water with a door that won’t open. That sounds terrible, which is exactly why I always keep a glass breaker in my car with me.

Power Bank:

Your #1 survival tool in this type of situation is your smartphone…but it’s worthless if the battery’s dead. A power bank will give your phone’s battery an extra charge to make that important life-saving phone call.

Gas Siphon:

Gas siphons are thought to be a thief’s tool, but you should also have one just in case you run out of gas. You could flag down a helpful passerby and pay him for a couple gallons of gas from his tank fair and square. You wouldn’t be able to do that without a siphon.

First Aid Kit:

Having a first aid kit on hand is always a good idea. Being stranded in your car is a bad time to be hurt because there’s no way to get quick medical attention. If you’re hurt, you need to take care of it on your own with the help of a basic first aid kit.

Do you keep any other survival tools or supplies in your car that you think should be on this list? Tell me in the comments section below!