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Essential Things to Keep in Your Vehicle’s Emergency Kit

Vehicle emergencies are unprecedented events. Even with the assurance of roadside assistance, all vehicles are prone to various kinds of threats. While some of these may result from accidents, some can be caused due to adverse weather conditions and so on.

Vehicle breakdowns can occur anywhere, thus leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere for hours. Regardless of whether you are traveling long distances or commuting to and from work, it is important to assemble and keep a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle.

In this article, we have listed the essential things that you should include in your emergency vehicle kit.

Jumper Cables

Be it a reliable car or a truck, dead batteries can be a major problem. Therefore, carrying a good jumper cable is important. You should have an idea about your vehicle’s engine and how to jump start it. The jump start cable should be at least 12 feet long and coated with a gauge rubber.

It is wise to invest in a good jumper cable and be extremely cautious while buying it.

Fire Extinguisher

Vehicular fires are not uncommon. Such incidents can be caused by overheating, accidents, fluid leakages and so on. The worst part is, these can quickly escalate into major disasters. Depending on the size of the vehicles, the impact increases. For example, if you live in Texas, you are already aware of the consequences of the major Texas truck fire incidents.

If the fire is detected early, it is possible to prevent it from becoming a catastrophe if you have the right equipment handy. This is where a fire extinguisher becomes relevant.

There are various kinds of fire extinguishers available for vehicles. Check the classifications and choose the one best suited to your vehicle.

First Aid Kit

A first aid box is an essential element of your emergency kit. When you are on the road, it can be quite difficult to locate a medical facility to tend to minor cuts and emergencies. Some of the things that the first aid kit should comprise are:

  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Burn ointment
  • Absorbent cloth for bleeding
  • Scissors
  • Aspirin

In addition to these, you should also include elements that are particular you and your family.

Spare Tire

A flat tire can turn out to be a major problem while on the road. Therefore, keeping a spare tire in your vehicle is vital. Along with it, you would also need to keep a tire iron and a tire jack. That being said, you should know how to change the tires of your vehicle by yourself.

However, a spare tire can only be a life saver if it is in a properly inflated condition during its usage. You should check the condition of the spare tire from time to time to ensure that it is functional.

Tool Kit

Keeping a simple tool kit will come in handy when you need to change the tires or the battery of your vehicle. This toolkit can contain a screwdriver, a duct tape, a pair of pliers, spare fuses, socket set, a flashlight etc.

Reflective Triangles or Flares

For certain problems pertaining to your vehicle, you might need to pull over. However, this can turn out to be a risk when it is dark since oncoming traffic might not be able to see your vehicle, thus increasing the chances of collisions. Therefore, it is important to keep flares or reflective triangles handy.

Most emergency kits that can be purchased in the stores contain a reflective triangle. However, it is wise to carry multiple ones as a preventive measure.

Water and Food

Owing to a sudden breakdown of your vehicle, you might get stranded in a place where there isn’t a supermarket or an eatery nearby. In that case, the food and water that you store in your vehicle will come in handy. Non-perishable snacks are best options.

Snow Scraper

During the winter, a snow scraper is an essential tool to carry to clean the snow from the windshield. In addition to that, a snow shovel to clean the road can also come in handy during heavy snowfall. There are those types that are great during travels. Seek out reviews like those you can find on Best Of Machinery for your buying guide on the best snow shovels in the market this winter.

These tools are must-haves in your vehicle’s emergency kit. It is advisable to check the condition of these tools from time to time to ensure that they are in properly working conditions during emergency situations.

This blog has been written by Katie Smith for Auto Fire & Safety Consultants

Written By

Katie Smith is a fire expert and her areas of interests and expertise include forensic science and accident or crime scene investigation related matters. She often conducts fire investigation in Houston. Blogging is her hobby and she is also a consultant blogger, having well-accepted write-ups on a wide range of topics, such as general safety, security and safety equipment.

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