Auto-reliance

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As your YW are headed back to school and the days are still long, it's a good time to have a class on auto-safety.  These can be literally life-saving skills.  Make your YW aware of the dangers of the road and the lures of predators.  What do you do if someone bumps into your car and wants you to get out?  Where do you pull over on a busy freeway?  What do you do if you are stranded in a car in the cold?  What to do if there is an earthquake/tornado/etc.?  How do I jump start my car?  Do I even have jumper cables?  Where should I park when I get out of class late in the evening?  Teach them to trust their instincts and the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  (Better to be embarrassed than a victim.) Tell your girls to never let their gas tank get below 1/4 of a tank of gas!

For fun, have them bring a cute box, backpack, or old, favorite handbag that they no longer use and put together an emergency kit for the car with some basic tools and snacks.  Don't forget to add water!  As leaders, we can help them have a sense of self-reliance and help be prepared for unexpected circumstances.

Some basic ideas for your car kit:

Water
Granola bars/trail mix/dried fruit etc.
Basic first-aid kit
A couple of large trash bags
Flashlight (Batteries)
Pen/Paper
Kleenex/Paper towels
Wipes
Feminine items
Duct tape
Scissors
Whistle
Chapstick
Hand sanitizer


Also consider:

Pocket knife
Flares (and know how to use them)
A blanket
A fire extinguisher (and know how to use it)
Gloves/socks/hat
A small shovel
Matches or lighter
A disposable camera
Cash/coins
Sunblock
Bug Repellent
A book/cards
A small can and candle for melting snow
Cat litter for traction
An ice scraper
A map and compass (They learned how to use them at Girls' Camp-right?)
Extra clothing and shoes
A length of rope
A bar of soap
Tool kit