What's in your car for a winter emergency? - Page 2

[Tigerchild]

I didn't notice before, but..if you are planning to burn a candle in a car please be sure to remember that you MUST ventilate. It's not a generator or a camp stove--but a car is still an enclosed space, and of course there are many flammable surfaces there, as well as a risk of fumes (esp. if the car has been crashed into).  I would feel pretty unsafe with candles as a heat source inside a car.  I think if you can put candles in there, it's probably just as easy to put a cheap kinetic flashlight or regular flashlight (or some light sticks) and some chemical handwarmers.

Hey, if it's what you've got, it's what you've got--but...it's not the safest thing I don't think.

[ollyoxenfree]

Candles are pretty standard items on lists for winter emergency kits for cars: eg. Wisconsin and Minnesota state transportation departments both advise including candles in your kit. I tried to find information about which (candles or chemical handwarmers) is more effective in preventing hypothermia and frostbite if you are stranded in freezing temperatures, but didn't find anything. 

I agree that they should be used carefully, with attention to ventilation and prevention of burns. That's true anytime you use a candle though. You can include a small can or something similar in your kit to hold the candle. 

Chemical handwarmers may cause burns, so they are also a risk, particularly for babies, elderly persons, diabetics and anyone else with impaired circulation or diminished sensation. I also find performance is quite variable. Some give off heat for several hours, others are duds and stop working in 30 minutes. There's no way to tell prior to use if you have one that is good or a dud. 

Just curious - how many chemical handwarmers do people include in their kits? I imagine at least 1 or 2 per person are required, so for a typical family of 4 or 5, that's anywhere between 4 and 10. A dozen sounds like it might be a good number. 

[firefrenzy]

in my general kit-

extra washer fluid, anti-freeze, oil, jumper cables, first aid kit , water, granola bars, flashlight

in the winter I add-

blanket, candles, hand warmers, extra clothing

A couple Christmas' ago, I got stuck on the highway due to a snow/ice storm that caused several accidents.  It turned a 2 hour trip into an 8 hour trip.  The summer before that I was on my way to a job interview 4 hours away from my house and got stuck on the highway when it was shut down do to an accident resulting in a death.   I finally learned that my car needs to be stocked with emergency supplies no matter what the season.