Do You Really Need Survival Gear in Your Trunk?

Okay, admittedly, the term ‘survival gear’ gives off a Bear Gryll’s vibe nowadays.

You drive a Toyota, which is perhaps the best decision you could make regarding your safety. While you’re travelling around Kansas City, you can be rest assured that your car is going to keep you secure no matter what life or Mother Nature throws at you.

You’ve got a full complement of safety features including Toyota Safety Sense P, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and a slew of active and passive safety restraints in the event of a collision.

What happens when that’s not enough? What if you need to provide emergency assistance to someone else, or you get lost in the backwoods and run out of gas? What do you do if you are out of cell phone range when a zombie apocalypse occurs?

That’s why you need survival gear. It’s just a small pack you can keep in your Toyota that simply means you are prepared for whatever comes your way.

Here are some survival gear essentials you should have in your kit:

1. Food and water. Keep a few non-perishable food items in your kit that can sustain you for a few days off the grid. Pack a few bottles of water and at least one refillable container should you come across a fresh water source.
2. Tools. A couple essentials like a multi-tool screwdriver, pliers, and a small hammer can come in handy in a pinch.
3. Change of clothes. Keep a fresh pair of warm socks, a shirt and long pants in your vehicle. In the winter, it can add an extra layer of warmth or it can be a clean change of clothes for an accident victim.
4. Heat source. Store a blanket in your survival gear. The best kind is the metallic emergency blankets because they can be used to attract attention from passersby and air traffic as well as reflect your body heat back to you to keep you warm. A few candles and a couple books of matches are a great idea too.
5. First aid supplies. You don’t need a full kit like an ambulance would have, but a few different sizes of bandaids, a tensor bandage, gauze, scissors, and tape can be life or death in an emergency.

Pack it all in a small backpack or reuseable bag and store it in your trunk. You may want to replace the food stores annually just to keep them fresh…

Your Toyota does everything to keep you safe while you’re on the road. For those situations that are off the beaten path, show up prepared with the right survival gear essentials.