Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business when you hit a sudden traffic jam? Maybe you have had car trouble as you are cruising down the freeway, but you are miles from an exit? Perhaps a severe storm hits and all the major routes to your destination are closed. These are scenarios that don't happen frequently, but they do happen. If something like this happens to you will you be prepared?
Emergency preparedness for travel was weighing heavy on my mind as we sat in our car, stuck in major road construction on sweltering afternoon in the desert southwest. All traffic was at a standstill for well over an hour. We didn't want to run the car for several reasons - wasting fuel and overheating the engine were two of them. Yet it was very hot and dry without a spot of shade or any options for choosing a different route. Fortunately we were on vacation so we had just got the car serviced, the tank was full of gas, and we had plenty of cold water and snacks in the cooler. But what if this had been a quick trip just to run errands or commute to work? You should be prepared at all times for emergencies, just in case.
So what should you carry in your car at all times? The list is very basic and shouldn't take up too much room. You can easily store these items in your trunk or make a small emergency kit to keep in the back seat for quick access.
Always have these items in your car:
Water - I carry a 24 pack of bottled water that I picked up at the store for less than . It is always in my car, just in case. It may not be cold, but it is still water than can be used for drinking or any other use. Blankets - Now you don't need a down filled blanket, just something simple and easy to carry. I keep two small fleece blankets in my car that I picked up for around at a discount store. They are the perfect size to keep in your car because they take up very little room. The low price makes them easy to part with if I need to use them to help at an accident scene. Flashlight and flares - Make sure you have a working flashlight in your car at all times. You never know when you might need to check under the hood at night. Flares are helpful if you are broken down on the side of the road. Putting out flares will help other cars to see you and alert them to your problem. First Aid Kit - Assemble a basic first aid kit with bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain reliever, disinfecting wipes, etc. Snacks - Keep a few non-perishable snacks in your car as well. Things like nuts, granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. Rotate them often so you will always have fresh snacks with you. Note - If you have a problem with mice getting into your car, don't keep snacks. Instead, make sure you have a small bag of snacks you can put in the car each time you leave.
In addition to keeping these items in your car, you should always make sure your car is in good working order. Make sure you have a good spare tire that is full of air in your car in addition to a jack and lug wrench. Stay on top of the maintenance schedule and always make sure you have a full tank of fuel. A wise man once told me it is just as easy to keep the tank a little above half full as it is to keep it a little above empty!
An emergency becomes far more stressful when you aren't prepared. Carrying emergency essentials in your car will give you peace of mind when you are on the road.
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