Should your vehicle break down, you don’t want to be left in a dire situation. With a well-stocked emergency supply, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to navigate the situation without added risk. Read on for tips on what items to keep handy in your car, just in case you’re ever in need during an emergency situation.
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Take Food and Water
If you get stuck in a remote area because your car broke down, you’ll need food and hydration, so you should keep a case of six to eight water bottles in your car’s trunk. If you’re going to be traveling with more people during bad weather or to an isolated location, bring one or two more cases. For food, you can keep trail mix, protein bars, and other non-perishable items that will give you a burst of energy if you find yourself stuck someplace.
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Travel with Something to Keep You Warm
A wool blanket is an ideal choice because it can warm you up even if it gets wet. It’s also a good idea to store several hand-warming packets, the kind sold at sporting goods stores. To help you stay dry, buy a poncho that’s folded in a small plastic bag. It won’t take up space but will be invaluable if your car dies and you need to walk to a gas station in the rain. You may also want to keep an extra sweatshirt in your vehicle. Getting stranded in cold or damp weather puts you in a vulnerable situation if you have no way to stay warm.
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Keep Light Sources on Hand
Because you may get stranded in the dark or simply need better lighting to check under the hood, you need to carry a flashlight and extra batteries for it in your car. It’s also a good idea to have other light sources such as matches, candles, and glow sticks.
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Remember to Take a First Aid Kit
Any good emergency readiness kit for your car should include the basic components of a first aid kit. As for medical supplies, carry bandages of varying sizes, alcohol swabs, gauze pads, burn cream, nitrile gloves, scissors, an instant ice pack, and medical tape. You can augment these basics with supplies such as antibiotic cream, insect sting wipes, toilettes, and tweezers.
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Pack Emergency Equipment for Your Car
So far, this list has focused primarily on taking care of you. Don’t forget to travel with items that help you get your car up and running again. A spare tire, jumper cables, a fire extinguisher, and foam tire sealant are a few essential emergency items for your car. To help you address your car’s problem on the roadside, you should also think about packing a tire jack, tire iron, duct tape, a Swiss Army Knife, and a small tool kit. If you can get your car moving, you may not need some of the survival items included on this list.
Wherever you’re going, it’s always a smart idea to take along your cellphone and charger. They’re a critical component of being prepared for roadside emergencies.
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