Have an Emergency Car Kit
I recently had a family emergency and had to leave town to visits a family member in the hospital. Luckily, they were only 4 hours away. My wife told me she was worried because of the rain and snow that was on the road. I immediately went to my trunk to make sure that my emergency car kit had everything in case I was stuck in the snow.
Did you know that in 2003 the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ research showed that Americans drove 2.9 trillion miles on the highways alone? That was 9 years ago. I can’t imagine what that number is today. The likelihood that something bad could happen while in your car is very high. This could be due to severe weather conditions, accidents, car breakdowns, or even a major disaster. Making sure you are prepared for one of these is very important. You could be stranded and not be able to find help. You need to be confident that you can overcome that situation so as not to panic. Your emergency car kit will give you piece of mind that you will be able to handle an emergency before help arrives.
There are several good companies that produce emergency car kits. These will include basic items such as water, food, warmth, etc. If you purchase one or produce your own, it is most important for you to customize your kit according to your environment. I live where annual snowfall is 62.7 inches. I pay special attention to making sure that warmth and visibility are a high priority. I don’t want to be on the side of the road in a snowstorm and be cold.
Another important point is to make sure that each car has an emergency kit. It needs to be small enough that it can fit under a seat or in the trunk not taking up too much space. If it takes up too much space, you will most likely remove it from the car. Make sure never to take the emergency kit out to fit more stuff into your car.
I would think about your emergency car kit in two parts: roadside kit for the car and emergency kit for the occupants. I would recommend including the following items for each section. I would be cautious once again of adding too much stuff to your emergency car kit
Roadside Kit for the Car
• Jumper Cables
• Tools: multipurpose knife, duct tape, extra fuses, and shovel
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Flares
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
Emergency Kit for the Occupants
• Bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter.
• Warmth: emergency blanket, poncho gloves, hand warmers, water proof matches
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit and manual
• Battery powered radio and extra batteries
• List of emergency phone numbers
• Small amounts of cash and coins
• Additional supplies: toilet paper, plastic bags, whistle, and deck of cards to keep yourself entertained.
I already had the necessary items in my car kit and was able to leave without the worry of being stranded. We all face different situations so be prepared by having your emergency car kit.
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