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My Winter Car Kit: What I Keep in My Truck

By Ryan Fields-Spack · former fire captain, 20+ years as a paramedic, dad of three ·

Open SUV trunk in light snow with a bin of blankets, hats and gloves, a small shovel, water, snacks and a red first aid bag.

Video coming soon.

Picture this. Snow is coming down. Traffic has stopped. Your kids are in the back seat. You are not moving for a long time.

What is in your car right now?

I'm Ryan. I'm a former fire captain, with more than 20 years as a paramedic, and a dad of three. This is the winter kit I keep in my truck. Nothing fancy. Just the stuff that matters when it's cold and you're stuck.

The full free printable checklist is at /winter. Print it and keep it in the glove box.

Two bags, one job each

I keep my first aid kit and my winter bin apart. Two bags. One job each.

The first aid kit is for cuts, scrapes, and bleeding. The winter bin is for staying warm, getting seen, and getting out. When they're mixed up, you dig for the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Stay warm

My rule is simple. One warm layer or one blanket for every person who rides in my truck. Not one blanket for the whole family. One for each of us.

  • A warm layer or a blanket
  • Spare gloves. Kids lose gloves. Mine do.
  • Hand warmers. They're cheap. I get them at Sam's or Costco.

Small kids get cold faster than we do, so I pack for them first.

Folded fleece blankets, knit hats and gloves, hand warmers, a headlamp, a battery pack and a charging cord on a wooden table.

About 7 years ago, I-70 closed. We went around on 285 toward Breckenridge in our BMW X5, and then both directions closed. No hotels. My wife got us a conference room to sleep in.

A light, a shovel, and a way out

  • A flashlight with spare batteries. Or a headlamp with a red light. A headlamp leaves your hands free.
  • A small retractable shovel and a snow brush.
  • Traction. I use kitty litter, traction mats, or dirt from under the snow.
  • A charging cord and a battery pack. A dead phone does you no good.

iPhone satellite texting may not work under heavy overcast. So I also think about Starlink. I have a video on it on my channel.

A small snow shovel, traction mats and a bag of sand next to a truck tire on a snowy road.

Food and water

Keep water and snacks that won't go bad, like granola bars and crackers. A hungry kid in a cold car is a hard day. A snack helps everyone stay calm.

If you get stuck

  • If someone is hurt, call 911.
  • Stay with the car. Your car is shelter. It is much easier to find than a person walking in the snow.
  • If you run the engine for heat, run it about 10 minutes an hour. Crack a window. Keep the tailpipe clear of snow. Snow can block it, and then fumes can come into the car. Check it and clear it.

Check it at the first snow

Batteries die. Snacks get eaten. Kids borrow the gloves and never bring them back. When you see the first flakes, go through the bin. Test the light. Swap old batteries. Put the gloves back. It takes 5 minutes.

The short version

  • Keep the first aid kit and the winter bin apart. Two bags, one job each.
  • One warm layer or blanket per person, spare gloves, and cheap hand warmers.
  • Pack for the small kids first.
  • A flashlight with spare batteries, or a headlamp with a red light.
  • A small retractable shovel and a snow brush.
  • Traction: kitty litter, traction mats, or dirt from under the snow.
  • A charging cord and a battery pack.
  • Water and snacks that won't go bad.
  • Call 911 if someone is hurt, and stay with the car.
  • Run the engine about 10 minutes an hour, crack a window, and keep the tailpipe clear.
  • Check it at the first snow. It takes 5 minutes.

The full free printable checklist is at /winter.

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