Car emergency kit: build it from the official checklists
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Quick answer
Ready.gov and NHTSA agree on the core of a car emergency kit: jumper cables, warning devices (flares or reflective triangles), an ice scraper, a phone charger, blankets, sand or cat litter for traction, a flashlight, first aid, water, food and any medicine you need. A roadside kit such as Everlit's Road Guardian covers the tools in one 8 lb bag. A compact survival pack such as Ready America's 70180 adds food, water pouches and a blanket. Check what each kit leaves out against the lists below.
The checklist, side by side
| Item | Ready.gov | NHTSA (winter) |
|---|---|---|
| Jumper cables | Yes | Yes |
| Flares, reflective triangle or emergency markers | Yes | Yes |
| Ice scraper | Yes | Yes, plus snow shovel and broom |
| Sand or cat litter for traction | Yes | Yes |
| Phone charger | Yes | Yes, with the phone |
| Blanket | Yes | Yes |
| Map | Yes | Not listed |
| Flashlight | Not listed | Yes |
| First aid kit | Not listed | Yes, including a tourniquet |
| Water, food, medicine | Not listed on the car page | Yes |
Combining both lists gives the full kit. The Ready.gov car page focuses on vehicle extras; NHTSA adds the supplies you would need if you had to wait in the car.
Layer 1: roadside tools
Everlit's Road Guardian puts many of the tool items in one 17 x 7 x 7 in bag weighing 8 lb:
- 12 ft jumper cables and a tow strap
- A digital tire inflator with automatic shutoff
- A reflective warning triangle
- A glass breaker with seatbelt cutter
- A 108-piece first aid kit, hand-crank flashlight, emergency blanket and rain poncho
Against the official lists, it still needs an ice scraper, traction sand or litter, a phone charger, a map, water, food and your medicines.
Layer 2: supplies for waiting it out
Ready America's 70180 1-Person Emergency Kit is a compact 13 x 9 x 6 in backpack. It holds:
- A 2,400-calorie food bar and six 4.25 oz water pouches, each with a 5-year shelf life
- An emergency blanket, poncho, whistle and 12-hour lightstick
- An 18-piece first aid kit, nitrile gloves and a dust mask
Be realistic about the water. Six pouches total 25.5 oz (6 x 4.25), about 0.2 gallon. CDC's emergency guideline is at least 1 gallon per person per day, or 3 gallons for 3 days, so the kit's water is about 7% of that (25.5 of 384 oz). Add bottled water for each person who rides with you, and one kit per person.
Layer 3: warning devices and winter extras
- Warning devices: both agencies list flares or reflective triangles so other drivers see a stopped car. A reflective triangle needs no flame; Ready America describes its own triangle as DOT approved.
- Winter: NHTSA adds a snow shovel and broom, and Ready.gov suggests cat litter or sand for traction.
- Fuel: Ready.gov advises keeping the tank full, which also keeps the fuel line from freezing; NHTSA says to keep it close to full, and to keep an electric vehicle charged and plugged in at night in freezing weather.
- Before the season: Ready.gov suggests having a mechanic check the battery, brakes, exhaust system, heater and defroster, lights, antifreeze, oil and wipers.
If you are stranded
NHTSA's advice for a car stuck in snow:
- Stay with your car and do not overexert yourself.
- Be mindful of carbon monoxide: make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow, and run the engine only sporadically, just long enough to stay warm.
Ready.gov adds two hazards to avoid: do not drive through flooded areas, since 6 inches of water can cause a loss of control or a stall and a foot of water will float many cars; and if a power line falls on your car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
What to look for when you buy
Roadside tools example: Everlit Road Guardian
Best for: Drivers who want jumper cables, an inflator, a triangle and first aid in one bag
Everlit lists 12 ft jumper cables, a tow strap, a digital tire inflator with auto shutoff, a reflective triangle, a glass breaker with seatbelt cutter and a 108-piece first aid kit in a 17 x 7 x 7 in, 8 lb bag.
Watch out: No ice scraper, traction material, food or water; add those from the official lists.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Wait-it-out supplies example: Ready America 70180 1-Person Emergency Kit
Best for: Food, water and a blanket that stay in the car year-round
Ready America lists a 2,400-calorie food bar, six 4.25 oz water pouches with 5-year shelf lives, an emergency blanket, poncho, whistle, lightstick and 18-piece first aid kit in a 13 x 9 x 6 in pack.
Watch out: About 0.2 gallon of water in total, far below CDC's 1 gallon per person per day; add bottled water.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Warning devices: DOT reflective triangles
Best for: Marking a stopped car at night or in bad weather
Ready.gov lists flares or a reflective triangle and NHTSA lists warning devices; reflective triangles need no flame.
Watch out: Check the listing says DOT compliant and that the set includes a case and weighted bases.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- What should be in a car emergency kit?
- Per Ready.gov and NHTSA: jumper cables, warning devices, ice scraper, shovel, sand or litter, phone charger, flashlight, blankets, first aid, water, food and medicine.
- Is a prebuilt car emergency kit enough?
- Usually not on its own. Everlit's Road Guardian covers tools but not food, water or an ice scraper; check any kit against the official lists.
- How much water should I keep in the car?
- CDC's emergency guideline is at least 1 gallon per person per day. Ready America 70180's six pouches total about 0.2 gallon.
- What should I do if I get stuck in snow?
- NHTSA says stay with the car, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only sporadically to stay warm.
Sources
- Car safety, Ready.gov (FEMA)
- Winter weather driving tips: prepare your vehicle, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Road Guardian, Everlit Survival
- 1 Person Emergency Kit (3 Day Backpack), SKU 70180, Ready America
- Reflecting triangle with stand, Ready America
- Cistern safety and disasters (emergency water amount), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention