Survival Items for Your Vehicle's Glove Box

Your glove box may be your first line of defense in a car related Emergency.

The Key is to plan ahead. I'll assume you already have a 72 Hour Survival Kit in your vehicle but you can't reach it yet.  Perhaps your belt won't release, or you are hanging upside down.

The first item is gloves. In a crisis, you want to protect to hands from the weather and cuts.  You may be about to use a knife to get free.
The Second Items is a knife or multifunction tool - IF you don't wear one or as a back up.

Emergency Survival Blankets are in my glove box for three reasons:
* If I'm unable to reach my 72 hour bag, I can reach the one in the glove box.
* If I'm sharing the car with a guest, we would each have a blanket.
* If there are people in front and back seats, each area would have a blanket to share.

Mylar blankets are light weight and inexpensive but they retain 90% of your body heat in a good situation.

BEWARE around fire.   This is for a last resort Survival Blanket, sun or rain protection, but mostly to save your heat.  Even Deserts are cold at night.

My Glove Box has a Survival Poncho for the same basic reasons as the Emergency Blanket thinking.  It's another layer capturing body heat or could be a personal tent to keep you less uncomfortable.

In an extreme, it could be Duct Taped over a window to keep out wind and rain.

There is an old Survival Saying: "You are Only as Sharp as Your Knife."

If you have no tool to cut your seat belt loose if it's jammed, --- You are not very sharp.

My car glove boxes (in front of passenger or between seats) has a Large Knife or Multi-function Tool.

I  carry an emergency whistle around my neck.  Survival Planning or Strategic Thinking helps me realize that a visitor in my vehicle might not know That, if I were unconscious.

There is An Extra Whistle in my glove box,  In a survival emergency, IF we were buried under rubble or if we're out of site of the road, a whistle could be the game changer as it can be heard further.  If your passenger can breath, they can ...?    - - - That's right! They can whistle.

A great glove box contains a Knife, Fork and Spoon.   <<**These might be part of your Multi-function Tool.>>

If you are trapped in your vehicle for hours, traditional tools can come in handy.  A can opener** and the big 3 could open groceries.

The mere fact you have these familiar tools can be a comfort - a reminder of better times and your pre-planning.

The photo shows a Scouting, almost-flat, knife, fork and spoon set.

Really!  A great glove box has an emergency sewing kit.   On the 'daily' end, I carry white and black shirt buttons plus a variety of colored thread, safety pins and needles.  While walking into make a presentation to strangers, my pant leg caught on s bit of metal and tore open from ankle to hip.  My sewing kit saved my day.

BUT, a sewing kit could save your life.   Long range, why I carry the kit is for emergency surgery.

The hand-held shaver has both uses too. I cut off hairs I missed while shaving - or I could prep an area for surgery.

No one likes to think about a crisis but imagine your child or best friend is bleeding. You should have the tools to help if possible.

In an emergency, I'd rather have too much than too little if an Survival Gear.  I keep an "Energy" bar in the glove box in case I can't reach my 72 hour bag.

While water is not directly in the glove box - unless you have the new refrigerator style model coolers - I suggest water in a couple of places in the main compartment.  I have a case within reach on the floor of the back seat.   My wife has a case in the back of her SUV.

There should also be an Envelope with your latest emergency contact info, auto registration and Proof of Insurance.  Make sure it's easy to find - top in the glove box.  Police like it better when you don't waste their time.

For more on Survival Checklist ideas, click "Free Survival Checklists".

Remember: Keep your life in balance.  Enjoy the Best, but Prepare for the Worst.