I am driving down a long stretch of highway. The tempature outside is 30 degrees farenheit. It is about 12:30 at night. I get a call from my friend. I start talking and notice that the reception is bad (cingular network). I tell him that i will call him back as soon as the signal gets better. Then i feel the front in grab and pull to the right then to the left. I slow down. I hit a slick spot and careen out of control and go down the enmbankment and run throuh thicket and brush before coming to a abrupt halt on the edge of a tree. The air bag is deployed and I cannot see anyone or hear anyone. I had not seen anyone of this road for about an hour. It is cold and i have a bruised shoulder and cracked a few ribs, but other than that i seem ok. I have a flash light, a candybar, some water, a few shirts in a gym bag and cell phone was lost somewhere during the crash. when i find the phone there is no signal.

WHAT DID I DO WRONG AND WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

You thought you were Captain Kirk on a communicator and stuffed Enterprise into a galactic anomaly instead of pulling over by that big asteroid. And you wonder why Klingons hated his guts <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> You have a nice fat sunday edition of the Courier-Journal from Louisville under the seat and a roll of Duct tape you forgot about. You crumple newsheet and stuff it in your clothing and tape pant and shirt cuffs snug. Keep a shirt as a head cover and one for a hand muffler. Eat the candy bar to boost your internal furnace and drink enough water to maintain hydration. Keep flashlight use to a minimum. You are staying in the car until daylight. When you hear increased traffic try honking your horn. If you are mobile enough come morning SLOWLY make your way to the roadside and flag down help.

hehe....I have the monday issue of the paducah-sun. That means there are probablly a total of 20 full pages. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. The duct tape that i have was the cheap kind means the sticky side is now on both sides. It is a mess. The head cover and hand muffler is a nice idea. I would have used them both the wipe the excrement from my posterior during the abrupt halt.
Did i properly prepare?
Oh, BTW i brought along a 2-way radio. How do I tell someone where I am?

The first rule of any signalling or communication devise is to preserve power unless it is likely or known that somebody is listening or visible to you. It's a good idea to keep a running internal dialog of major cross streets, bridges and landmarks as you pass. example " we just left the original Col Sanders restaurant and the pecan pie is o.k. and I can see a split rail fence with Saddlebreds running along the ditch I'm in. You might consider one of the compressed gas boat horns popular at sporting events. If you have cracked ribs you won't be yelling for help and if your camoflaged by a big old shagbark it helps searchers. A fat newspaper truly is a cheap investment with multiple uses; insulation, tinder, splints, bandages.

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"A fat newspaper truly is a cheap investment with multiple uses; insulation, tinder, splints, bandages."
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never thought about that one Chris, and not expensive either, will start carrying a newspaper in the car pronto

thanks <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

If you had enough batteries for your torch you could also read the newspaper as you stuff it into your clothing to take your mind off things and relax.

If you were in the west/southwest part of the country, you could do like some and start a big signal fire that gets outta control and burns thousands of acres. That's sure to draw attention to your plight quick enough.

Just sit there and quietly mutter about UK football. Someone from Ole Miss will come along to argue with you, and you may be saved.

What did you do wrong?
1)Driving while not paying attention in perhapsone of the most dangerious weather conditions - daytime thaws put water on the road - night freeze = black ice
2)Not dressing for the weather - even if you are going to be in a vehicle
3)Not having some sort of kit in the car - heck, it's only October, and I'd be able to pull out some flares, a nice wool blanket, water, food, a stove, a flashlight, etc

AKA - have a basic kit, including some signalling "stuff" and a blanket in the car, along with a little water and food, and even with your cracked rib, you won't be too bad

1) You answered the cell phone while driving. You increase your chances of an accident by over 50% by using the cell phone while driving.
2) What are you doing on a long stretch of road when the weather is freezing without a coat? I don't even go out on a long stretch in the summer without a coat or jacket. Wind chill at 50 degrees can get you in trouble.
3) You are completely unprepared for even a flat tire much less an accident. GET PREPARED
4) You got yourself into a mess--better start thinking.

If your air bags deployed, then pray you had OnStar and it sent a "air bags deployed" signal to the central comm station. (I have no idea, how does OnStar communicate--on cellular frequencies?) Hopefully, you can speak to an OnStar agent directly. The conversation might end up on one of those OnStar TV commercials to boot. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's not apparent how seriously injured you are, but sounds like you could make it back to the road. Hopefully, you'll get a cellular signal near the road. If not, you could walk a bit since you know that you could get a weak one just before you crashed. If you can't keep a connection to 911, pray that the jurisdiction you're in has e911 and that someone was dispatched to your location. You can try sending your friend a text message. A text message is more likely to get through intact if the reception is spotty and you know that he's expecting to hear back from you soon. Then again, if, like many Americans, he's never received a text message before and has no idea what that never-before-seen icon on his cell phone means...

If you've already been stuck for an hour and your friend hasn't heard back from you that late at night, then hopefully he'll contact the authorities and the cell company can figure out the cell tower you were last connected to. But if he's like me, your friend would've gone to bed and just thought that you were blowing him off and making some lame excuse about poor reception. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't know how long it would take for a bottle of water and a candy bar to freeze (or get very, very cold) in 30 degree weather, so you may want to ingest them sooner, rather than later. You could probably use the calories to stay warm and the last thing you need is to gulp down very cold food or liquid later on to lower your core temperature.

Lastly, buy one of those cool new video iPods with all the episodes of Lost loaded on it so you have something to keep you occupied while you wait for help. Compared to your situation, those poor suckers on Lost are REALLY screwed. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For another "Not Usually Thought of" application of the commomplace to Survival, -How bout Styrofoam and the like?!

I'm collecting bunches of it!, -as much as I can!

Styrofoam and etc = GREAT INSULATION !!!

It's so commonplace, -often being thrown away, or already lying about somewhere, -and so cheap, -like Free in these instances, -that it's sorta a Manna from Heavan.

Sheets used for packing, Packing Peanuts, Fast Food Styrofoam cups and plates, Picnic Coolers, Toy "Noodles", and at least several other means, -are Major, Commonplace Sources.

Some Great Advantages, -besides it's Prime One of Excellent INSULATION, -would include it's Great Lightweightedness, -in it's own right, -and for it's often considerable Bulk. (This latter of which can be a Disadvantage.).

Another Disadvantage, that you've got to Watch For!, -is it's Proneness to Breakage and Crumbling! Especially, -though not limited to, -occassions when there is a Breeze and Wind!
(They actually can Fly with some "Beautiful Aerodynamicity"!, -even a somewhat Big, Clumbsy, Squarish peice!).

Also, -for Better Insulating Value, -I'd advise that one keeps their Styrofoam Clean!

As to Fast Food Cups, -These can be Crumbled up, -for use as a Fill type Insulation. While the Flatter, inch or two thick Panels, -can be tacked up for a more Standard type of wall Insulation.

(Construction and Homebuilding / Renovation sites, -are Great Sources for Standard Insulation, Rocklath, Nails, Plywood, 2 x 4s, and other such scrappage.). (I understand in some States, -such as Florida though, -trespassing upon a construction site, is a Felony. I do any and all of my such Gathering as I've described, -totally on the Up and Up! Asking First, Scraps Only, etc.). [color:"black"] [/color] [email]7k7k99[/email]

SUnday paper stays in my car all week- I read the comics and the front part, and then nibble at the rest for a few days. :P

Be very carefull where you use foam insulation. The main disadvantage being that when heated or burning it releases some very nasty fumes. For this reason it is generally not used in air plenum or interior applications where it can be a danger. For exterior shielding and fill in cinder block walls it provides limited insulation values. It's main insulation value being that it is unaffected by water so does not lose insulation value when wet.

Ah!, -Is it ever a Great Hand Warmer though!!! Just experienced this just the other day!! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]wildman[/email]