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One of the worst nightmares any motorist can face is the possibility of breakdown. We all know it can happen to anyone, at anytime. Unfortunately, I do not have any advice for preventing the inevitable – other than taking proper care of your automobile. But, I can share with you some ideas on how to create your own emergency road kit to help keep you as safe and as comfortable as possible until help arrives.
One never knows when they’ll experience car problems. It can happen during the day or at night. During winter cold or summer heat. The best way to be prepared is to create your own kit and keep it in the car year round. Start by finding a strong, sturdy box that you can slide out of the way in the trunk of your car. Designate an area of the trunk for the box and the items you will be keeping there. A mild crate works well as the plastic will not bend or get crushed. Next, organize the items you will be storing in it as follows:
- One vinyl raincoat/slicker. These can be purchased for only a few dollars. They come neatly folded in their own reusable packaging and are usually one size fits all. If you frequently travel with others, keep two on hand.
- One warm blanket – large enough to cover you, the driver and a passenger if any.
- One pair of gloves to keep your hands warm.
- One hat – if it’s cold, the majority of heat is lost through the head.
- One scarf – to protect the face.
- An extra pair of shoes and socks in case your feet get wet. In the winter cold frostbite can set in very quickly. It is imperative to keep your feet as warm and dry as possible.
- One container antifreeze.
- One quart of oil.
- One gallon of water.
- At least one flashlight, but preferably two. Remember to check the batteries every couple of months. You might also consider purchasing an emergency flashlight. These give off a very bright light and often come with a blinking red light option on the back and normally run on six volt batteries.
- Extra batteries.
- Small tool kit – the repairs needed may be simple.
- Jumper cables.
- One umbrella.
Keep an envelope, preferably in the glove-box of your car for easy retrieval keep the following:
- Spare change and a prepaid calling card. If you do not have access to a cellular or wireless telephone, the last thing you want is to locate a pay phone only to discover you do not have any change to make a call.
- Any pertinent health information. In the event you are rendered unconscious keep vital health information such as allergies, any medications you might currently be taken, insurance information and any health conditions you may have.
Hopefully, you’ll never need to use these items but if the need arises it’ll be some comfort to know they’re there. May all your travels be safe and uneventful.
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