How To Stock A Car Emergency Kit? Having an adequate car emergency kit is one of the most important things you can do as a driver. Luckily, we are giving you all the tips here for how to stock your car emergency kit!
It’s totally reasonable to assume that if something bad happens, you will want to be prepared. You would hope that people who read this article will actually take action by stocking their car emergency kits, but sadly, some won’t.
Why wouldn’t they? Perhaps because it costs money or taking time out to put together a good kit seems like too much effort. Or perhaps they don’t know what things go into a good car emergency kit and where to get them.
We are going to talk about everything in great detail here so that you understand not only what goes into a good car emergency kit, but also how to pick up the pieces once you have stocked yours.
Stocking Your Own Car Emergency Kit
There are three main components to consider when thinking about what items to include in your car emergency kit.
These are first aid supplies, safety equipment, and food/drink. First aid supplies should definitely be included in your car emergency kit, but unfortunately, some people skip this component completely.
First aid supplies can help save your life during times of an accident.
Decide what is in the kit
First, you will want to make sure your car emergency kit contains everything necessary for getting yourself back into action after a crash. This includes things like blankets, paper towels, first aid supplies, flares, flashlights, phone chargers, snacks, and of course, the all-important radio and chargers!
It’s also important to remember that although these items are helpful, they won’t necessarily help you feel better or keep you warm during winter weather conditions. So, even though it is nice to have those things, don’t get distracted by them!
Keep looking out for other ways to improve your safety and focus more on how to mitigate any potential damage done to you and your vehicle.
Buy the kit
Having an adequate car emergency preparedness kit is very important. You don’t want to buy one at the last minute as it will not help you then.
Most people start gathering their first car emergency kits years after they realized how crucial having one was. The reason this happens is that they do not know what items are needed until something actually happens.
When that happens, they either run out or don’t have enough room in their bag or backpack for all of these things.
So make sure to get your own basic car emergency kit up and running before buying additional supplies. This way, you’ll know what everything looks like!
What to Keep in Your Car in Case of an Emergency
You never know when an emergency will strike. Whether you’re stranded on the side of the road or caught in a severe weather event, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s a list of items to keep in your car in case of an emergency:
- Jumper Cables: You never know when your battery will die or when you’ll need to give someone a jump.
- First Aid Kit: A must-have for any situation, a first aid kit can help you treat minor injuries.
- Flashlight: A flashlight comes in handy for any number of emergencies, from changing a tire at night to signaling for help.
- Multi-Tool: A multi-tool can be a lifesaver in many situations. From cutting a seatbelt to opening a can of food, it’s always good to have one on hand.
- Blanket: A blanket can help keep you warm if you’re stranded in your car overnight or help you stay dry if you’re caught in a rainstorm.
- Non-Perishable Food: Keep some snacks and drinks in your car in case you’re ever stranded or stuck in traffic.
- Water: Always keep a supply of water in your car, especially in the summer months.
- Road Map: An old-fashioned road map can come in handy if you’re ever lost or need to take an alternate route.
By keeping these items in your car, you’ll be prepared for anything that comes your way.
What makes a good car emergency kit?
General guidelines: limit yourself to 1 small container per item (unless it says it comes in several). A general rule of thumb is to only add two extra rolls of tape to match the two rolls you already have.
Also, make sure each item in the kit has an appropriate use. For example, a paper plate does nothing but take up space so it is never really used. An empty box can be filled with water which also cuts down on the quality of sleep you enjoy.
Car emergency kits should include the following:
Store the kit
Stocking your car emergency kit is not something you should do once a year, or even every three months. You should constantly be re-packing and organizing your kits to ensure they are always accessible!
Luckily, we have some very helpful tips here for you. Starting with how to store your car emergency kit.
We recommend buying an empty plastic box and labeling it clearly. Make sure it’s easily visible and that everyone can access it. Then, depending on what kind of vehicle you have, determine where in the vehicle will make the most sense to keep this kit.
For example, if you happen to have space under the seat, put the kit there. Or perhaps there’s a compartment in the back of the driver’s side door.
Know your location
It’s not enough to have some supplies ready in case of an emergency, you need to know where those supplies are located. Knowing where your car is parked is the first step toward having a well-rounded vehicle emergency kit.
If possible, pick a space with good visibility so that you can easily see outside the area. This way, you will be more likely to notice if someone breaks into your car or takes something.
It’s also helpful to know what street you are on, since it may be easier to run down the block and get home than try finding a nearby hotel or restaurant at night.
In addition to knowing where your car is, know which areas of the car are accessible and how to access them quickly in case of an accident. For example, if there has been an earthquake, turn off the engine immediately!
Does this look like a familiar situation? Unfortunately, too many people do not take prepping seriously and cannot seem to make time for it.
Know your route
Even if you never expect an emergency, it is still important to know how to navigate safely in case one happens. Knowing where the nearest hospitals are, what areas have good and bad cell phone coverage, and knowing some basic first aid can help save your life or at least keep you alive until someone comes to check up on you!
It’s also very helpful to be familiar with routes around town so that you don’t waste time trying to find something if there’s no way to get back home.
Planning ahead will make sure you aren’t wasting time looking for things when there isn’t much hope of finding anything either.
Practice car kit assembly
In addition to having an adequate amount of food and water, knowing how to assemble your car emergency kit is very important. Unfortunately, many people forget this step completely!
Just because you have everything in the world does not mean that you know how to use it effectively. Being familiar with your kit will help you use it more efficiently when there actually is an accident or crisis.
Also, being able to put together a simple meal or bottle of liquid can save your life in times of need. Even if you are well prepared, you should still be able to do so if needed.
Make a plan in an emergency
In the case of a car accident, a situation can quickly get out of hand with all sorts of people involved and questions to be answered. What cars are they? Who is at fault? Is there anyone hurt?
Fortunately, having an adequate car emergency kit means that you will have some resources at your disposal to help you deal with the situation!
You may also want to check out our article about how to prepare for an earthquake.
Tell your family
When putting together an emergency kit, one of the first things you should do is tell your loved ones about it. This will help them know what items they need to pick up, and how to use some of the supplies in the kit.
It also helps them feel more prepared in case of an accident or natural disaster that requires someone else’s assistance.
Some things that can be included in this are snacks, blankets, extra clothes, medications, the car key (with copies), and the phone numbers of important people like relatives and work.
You may want to write down these item names and numbers so everyone has a chance to refer back to them later.
General tips: remember, when buying new items, buy from sellers with high reviews before buying from sites that advertise low prices but have no reputation.
Winter car emergency kit list
If you’re like most people, you don’t think much about your car emergency kit until you actually need it. And then, it’s usually too late. That’s why we’ve put together this list of essential items to keep in your car during the winter months, just in case you find yourself stranded on the side of the road.
1. A shovel. You never know when you might need to dig your car out of a snowbank.
2. A bag of sand or cat litter. This can help provide traction if your tires get stuck in the snow.
3. A flashlight. If you have to change a tire in the dark, a flashlight will come in handy.
4. Jumper cables. If your battery dies, jumper cables can help you get it started again.
5. A first-aid kit. This is always a good idea to have on hand, no matter what time of year it is.
6. A blanket. A warm blanket can help keep you warm if you have to wait for a tow truck in the cold.
7. A cell phone charger. A dead cell phone is useless, so make sure you have a charger with you.
8. A list of emergency numbers. Keep a list of numbers for local tow trucks, police, and the like in case you need them.
9. A full tank of gas. This one is self-explanatory. You don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
10. snacks and water. If you’re stranded for a while, you’ll want to have some food and water to tide you over.
Keep all of these items in your car during the winter, and you’ll be prepared for anything.