Emergency Supplies Everyone Should Carry in Their Car
Ever look through your car and realise that you’d be in a bad position should something happen? If so, welcome to a club that has millions of members all over the country. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of drivers have adequate supplies for an emergency. Hopefully, guides like this one can change this fact.
Table of Contents
Spare Tyre and Jack
What happens if you’re on a road trip and a tyre blows? These days, modern cars don’t come with a spare tyre, so you’ll need to invest in one. With an affordable jack, you’ll have everything you need to avoid a disaster wherever you are in the country.
First Aid Kit
It’s important not to understate the importance of a first aid kit – what if you experience an injury while out and about? A simple sanitised wipe and plaster can prevent infection and bleeding. Furthermore, a car first aid kit should contain sterile dressings, bandages, safety pins, sterile gloves, and various other items.
While on this note, it’s also wise to have somebody with first aid training in the family. All professions have risks, and first aid training by Fluid First Aid helps people to feel confident not only in their roles but also while at home and in the car.
Jump Leads
Also called jump cables, these insignificant but very important leads will help to get your vehicle going after dying. As long as you find a donor car, you’ll connect the cables between the two vehicles and the donor vehicle will charge your flat battery. Although this isn’t a permanent fix, it helps to get you to a garage so that professionals can fix the problem.
Car Battery Charger
Alternatively, if you’re planning to go somewhere secluded, you might want to invest in a car battery charger. Rather than a donor car using its battery to charge yours, this is a small box with the power you need to restart your car.
Paper Maps
In a world reliant on technology, you might wonder why anybody would think about buying a paper map. However, what if you get lost? What if all the devices are out of battery? What if you just prefer to use a paper map to get around? It’s always good to have a backup way of reaching your destination just in case the worst happens.
Flashlight and Flares
If you break down in the dark, flares and a flashlight will help you to see while also making your presence very clear to all other vehicles on the road. Especially if you’ve been forced to stop in a precarious position, flares ensure that all passing vehicles know where you’re positioned and how to get around you. Meanwhile, a flashlight could be the difference between being able to work on your car and having to call somebody.
Winter Kit
For the colder months, it’s also sensible to carry chains for tyres, an ice scraper, food and drink, and an emergency blanket. This way, you stay warm after breaking down or getting caught in any other emergency.
Other Emergency Supplies
Depending on the situation, you should also think about carrying an old towel, a spare set of keys, extra sunglasses, copies of your registration and insurance, a membership card to your chosen recovery service, a car manual, and an emergency flat tyre repair kit. The more of these items you have in the car, the more likely you are to deal with emergencies properly. Whether it’s an injury, a breakdown, or perhaps even helping another driver in their emergency, you’re equipped for every scenario.