What to Include in your Vehicle Emergency Kit
A vehicle emergency kit can protect you in the case of an emergency. It is important to always keep one with you since you never know when you could break down or have a different emergency. You want to fill it with a variety of helpful items, which may include the following.
First aid kit
If someone gets injured in the car, you should have some very basic medical supplies with you. They sell many kits that are premade with a variety of products. Some you might want to include bandages, antibiotic cream, rubbing alcohol, any necessary medications such as allergy pills, and more.
Flashlight
If you have an emergency in your vehicle at night then you will definitely want a flashlight. It can get very dark on many roads and seeing may be vital.
Fire extinguisher
In general if there is a fire you might want to get as far away from the car as you can. However there are times when you might want to have one such as if a small fire starts and you can't get a passenger out of the car.
Food/water
Sometimes vehicle emergencies are where people get stuck for a period of time such as during a snowstorm. A little food and drink may be useful. You can keep some bottled water in the car. You can also keep something small with a lot of calories like an energy bar.
Oil/antifreeze
If you start to get a leak with your oil, then you will definitely find extra oil to be useful. You could carry a quart or two.
Cell phone
Many people carry this on their person, and then you do not have to worry. If you don't, however, you might want to keep one with its charger in the vehicle emergency kit to call 911 if the need arises.
Tools
There are different tools that can help you change a spare tire or deal with other vehicle emergencies. You might want a wrench, for instance. You can also have jumper cables or a device that allows you to jump your car without a second one. There are also products that let you temporarily plug a flat tire. They make little tool sets specifically for cars. You might want to bring spare fuses.
There are many other miscellaneous items you can keep. A blanket can help you keep warm if it is cold. A help sign can call attention to others. Road flares can help protect you while you are in your car. You also might want to keep a little money in case the need arises.
Certain items listed above like the bottled water and medications may have expiration dates so be sure to change them out. You also might want to inspect your first aid supplies on a regular basis to make sure that everything is in good working order. By being properly prepared, you can give yourself the best outcome in a vehicle emergency.
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