Have you ever found yourself sputtering down a desolate road, panic in your heart, wondering “Can I make it to the nearest gas station, wherever that may be?”, only to stall out ten feet later. In an age of cell phones and OnStar, one may not consider keeping a car emergency kit on hand, but life is unpredictable and you never know when one of these technologies will fail you.
We spend so much of our lives preparing ourselves for something – the presentation at work tomorrow, getting an education to obtain a good career, purchasing life insurance, reading relationship advice on how to find “Mister or Miss Right.” So why not be on the safe side and be prepared for an unexpected situation you may find yourself while traveling?
The content of your car emergency kit can vary depending on climate and circumstances, but at the bare minimum, all drivers should keep water, food and warmth stored within their vehicle. The following items are also important for any smart driver to have on hand in case of emergency:
Water – Be sure to always have at least a few bottles of clean drinking water on hand.
Food – Bring some snacks to keep your energy levels up. Some ideas for snacks are almonds, dried fruit, and granola or energy bars.
Warmth – Wool is one of nature’s warmest fibers, so consider keeping a wool blanket in your emergency kit. You can also purchase warm packs or emergency blankets.
First aid kit – Including bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and aspirin.
Equipment to change a tire – Including a working jack, lug nut wrench, pipe for leverage and a spare tire, of course! Most cars already come equipped with these supplies stored in the trunk.
Light – Keep flashlights with fresh batteries and road flares (for warning signals, not light) in your emergency kit.
Necessary fluids – Including oil, water, antifreeze, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Bring along funnels and rags also to help out with repairs.
Jumper cables – These should be at least eight feet long, preferably 12.
Tools – A multi-purpose tool is great to keep in the car, as it is compact but has most of the basic tools you may need in an emergency situation.
Miscellaneous – Other supplies that are a good idea to keep on hand are extra fuses, ice scraper, paper and pen, duct tape, a pair of gloves, and a can of Fix-a-Flat.
Carol Leginus is responsible for the administration/maintenance of Uni-Select public websites. She supports e-commerce, e-business and data warehouse initiatives.
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