posted
The bag for cleaning out the car would also come in handy when friends call you at 11 pm to say that their car died three miles out of town with the whole family in it and could you please come fetch them. Also you should clean out your trunk before leaving, otherwise someone will have to hold the 50 lb bag of dog food on their lap.
posted
A gallon jug of water, food (like energy bars or the like), a blanket, a hat, kleenex and flares. If you live in a snowy state, in the winter, chains, snow boots, and sand or salt. If you have small children, a box of graham crackers, and a comfort item like a binky or stuffed animal. And an umbrella stroller just in case you have to walk a distance.
Sorry...I remember my dad's instructions when I was learning to drive in Alaska. I ended up using a lot of what he made me carry in my car at one time or another.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
I prefer the reflective stand-up triangles to flares because:
1) If there's a gas spill you can't use the flares safely,
2) Flares eventually burn out whereas the triangles remain visible as long as you leave them out there.
3) Flares can light a grass fire if used improperly and burn down a whole forest through carelessness. The worst thing that might happen with a reflective triangle is someone might run over it.
#1 safety tip -- pull as far off the roadway onto the shoulder as you safely can. Be careful not to park over dry brush, especially if it hasn't been mowed close to the ground. The catalytic converter can also start a fire if it touches anything combustible.
If this happens late at night be mindful of the fact that drowsy drivers are out on the road and they are likely to drive right up the back-end of your car in their zombie-like state. If possible, it is not a bad idea to move away from the vehicle entirely while you wait for a tow truck or police officer.
Of all the police officers killed in the line of duty last year, more than half were killed while stopped on the side of the road dealing with a citation or a disabled vehicle. It has been the leading cause of on-duty deaths for decades.
A basic first aid kit. A spare tire. Working jack. Warm clothing in winter months. Definitely a cell phone. Even one that you don't contract with a service provider for will work if there's power and you dial 911. Cool system really.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Medical people feel free to correct me, but if I remember correctly, the big things are:
Short of a life threatening emergency which must be taken care of, call 911 the first thing you do, before you do anything else.
If someone is injured, do not move them short of dire need.
Do not attempt to take anyone to the hospital. An ambulance/fire truck can almost certainly make it to you long before you can make it to a hospital.
If someone has a foreign object sticking in them and they are bleeding, don't take it out. Bandage around it.
Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
A disposable camera is always good to have in your car. That's not really a safety tip, but still.
I also carry bungee cord in my trunk. I don't know if it would help during an emergency, but it's come in very handy for me several times.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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And since we have an infant, we keep an emergency diaper bag in the trunk, containing a thermometer, infant tylenol, diapers, band-aids, wipes, a mini bar of soap, a changing pad, a washcloth, alcohol wipes, and a towel. We also keep a waterproof nylon/fleece blanket in the trunk, along with items already mentioned by others, and a pair of coveralls and a pair of old sneakers for each of us (it's no fun trying to push a car in your church clothes and shoes), plus a freezer bag containing a sleep and play, two onesies, a sweater, a hat (warm enough for winter, but with a brim to keep sun off a face), socks, a bib, and a jean jumper that is decent enough for a dressy situation and can be worn over any of the onesies or the sleep and play in case the baby manages to throw up or soil everything we have brought for her to wear. We've used most of that, especially the baby clothes.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Dang, KQ, you must have a big 'granny car' like I do.
I keep a flashlight in my car, along with a map, but I have requested a road safety kit for Christmas (mostly because I couldn't think of anything else when Mom and Dad asked).
Also, in reference to the first post, my mother was in a serious car accident when I was in third grade, and when the airbag deployed, she did think the car was on fire. Her arm was broken, and the door later could barely open an inch with all of my father and my brother's srength combined, so we suspect she panicked, thinking the car was on fire and jumped out the window, since she was later covered in glass but only the driver's window was broken out.
Also, thanks for getting out, Trevor. Car wrecks can be a scary thing, and I'm sure a calm mind was just what those folks needed.
Posts: 873 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Since we're talking about safety, I thought I'd post gun safety rules. As the owner of a firearm, I am very passionate about safety.
1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
4. Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
5. Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
Be sure the gun is safe to operate. Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun. Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
I have a personal addendum - Don't assume that you know how to operate a gun because you've seen people do so in movies and on television. YOU DON'T and neither do they. Those are prop guns and 99% of the actors are not using them safely or correctly.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Hey Farm - don't blame me. That's just the short list.
Mrs. M - good addendum. It's amazing how many people use Hollywood standards for evaluating such things.
"Safe direction" translated roughly as "pointed away from anything or anyone you are not prepared to kill or destroy."
-Trevor
Edit: Not a problem Mayday - I blame the Boy Scouts for the occasional bout of civic-mindedness.
And ladies - if you're in a richer subdivision, don't sit on the grass. The lawn people may spray it with a "green-esque" chemical to enhance the natural coloring.
Which then stains the living hell out of anything you happen to be wearing.
The one woman who injured her hand was wearing a beige ensemble - when she stood up, it looked like her entire leg was one massive bruise. Which turned out to be the green stuff staining her formerly beige skirt/leggings.
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