From flat tires to accidents, driving a car comes with some risks.
Being prepared for these risks can help you stay safe and get you back on the road fast. That’s where an emergency car kit comes in.
Packed with a few simple basics, this kit can help you tackle changing your tire or allow you to treat minor injuries on the road. Keep reading to learn five crucial items your car safety kit needs to have.
1. First Aid Kit
If you’re in a serious accident, a first aid kit might not do you much good.
But consider the many places that your car takes you. From hiking to day trips to longer road trips, you never know when you might find yourself needing bandaids, sterile wipes, or other basic first aid tools.
Everyone should have a first aid kit in their car. But just having that kit isn’t enough; it’s also a good idea to learn some basic first aid so that you’ll know what to do if something goes wrong.
2. Jumper Cables or Jump Box
If you drive an older vehicle, jumper cables or a jump box are must-haves, no matter how much time you spend on the road.
A jump box makes it easy for you to recharge your battery without any help. But a set of jumper cables is a good idea in any emergency car tool kit, even in newer vehicles. You never know when you might accidentally leave your interior lights on, killing your battery and leaving you stranded!
3. A Backup Battery
Most of us now have a phone charger stashed in our car.
But if you’re in an accident or your vehicle’s battery dies, you might not be able to plug in your phone when the battery runs dry.
That’s where a backup battery box comes in handy. You can use this to charge up your phone so that you can call for help from the police.
If you’re stuck waiting on a tow truck, you could even use it so that you can start searching for car accident doctors to get the right treatment following your accident.
While rechargeable battery boxes are a popular choice, keep in mind that these may slowly lose their charge over time. If you don’t think that you’ll remember to keep it charged, you might want to choose an option that runs off of traditional batteries instead and keep a set of extra batteries in your auto safety kit as well.
4. Flares or Reflectors
Getting a flat tire in the middle of the night is a scary experience.
Having a set of flare or reflectors can help make it a little safer. Set these up behind your vehicle so that oncoming traffic can see you on the side of the road.
5. Flashlight
Another essential tool you’ll be happy to have along if you’re stuck on the side of the road is a flashlight.
Like your backup battery box, make sure that you have extra batteries as well.
Building Your Own Emergency Car Kit
Depending on where you live and what kind of driving you do, what exactly you need to have in your emergency car kit will vary. Consider the weather in your region, whether you drive more at night, and the age and condition in your vehicle to make sure that you’re building the right kit for you.
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