Having a car emergency kit is critical for any driver. Even if you make minimal trips in your vehicle, you just never know when you’ll run into an emergency. If you commute to work or drive long distances, having an emergency kit is even more important, because your chances of a disaster happening is much higher. As winter gets closer, it is a good time to start putting together your emergency kit. The next time you become stranded or drive off the road – or see another driver in need – you can pull out your kit and have the tools you need to survive, or help someone else survive. Here is how to assemble an emergency kit for your car.
First, you want to have one vessel or compartment that you keep everything in. In most cases, you want to keep everything in one duffel bag. You can then keep the duffel bag in your trunk at all times. If you have any medications that need to be stored in a cool, dry place – you may want to have a Styrofoam container where you can keep medications, like insulin. The last thing you want is for your medications to become damaged by the heat or extreme cold of your trunk.
After you have your container or vessel to keep your kit in, you want to start assembling the kit. In most cases, you want to start with first aid equipment, because this stuff will be the most important. When it comes to first aid equipment, you want to have items like gauze, medical tape, scissors, antiseptic, painkillers and gloves. If you start bleeding or have an open wound after becoming stranded, it is imperative that you treat the injury right away – waiting could cause an infection, which will undoubtedly make your situation much worse.
Next, you want to put together any tools that you may need in the event of an emergency. For instance, you want the classic staples, like a hammer, screwdriver and some kind of knife. You never know when you have to break open a window or slice off a seatbelt. You also want to have a flashlight and perhaps some emergency LED lights. For emergency lighting, you can head over to LED Outfitters, which has a large selection of these types of lights. When it comes to getting rescued, having lights to alert other drivers and emergency responders is incredibly important.
Lastly, you want to include all the extras in your emergency kit. These extras include a battery-powered radio, flares, car jack and any other items that may help get you out of a jam. Moreover, one of the most important things you want to keep in your emergency kit is fresh water. Typically, three or four gallon jugs will do the trick. You will need to hydrate yourself, especially if it is particularly cold or hot outside. In the end, survival is really a matter of preparedness, so you may want to think about creating your emergency kit today.
