Unfortunately, when you become a driver and have your own car you never know when an emergency could happen, and when it does you need to know how to be prepared as possible. Imagine driving late at night trying to get home and you realize that you suddenly have a flat tire. In that instance, if you are not prepared with an emergency roadside kit, then it can turn into a worse, and even a dangerous situation very quickly.
Having a roadside emergency kit and being educated in what to do in every scenario can be the difference in being stranded and seriously injured and being able to handle the situation and get everything under control until you can get to a professional and get help. Below is a guide to six things you need to have and be educated on when you are a driver so that you can ensure that you are as safe as possible on the road and as prepared as you can be for any eventuality.
1.) Always make sure you have your insurance card
It is illegal to drive without insurance, but it is just not smart to drive without your insurance card. As mentioned before, you never know when you might have an accident and should this happen, car insurance cards with other drivers or show it to the first responders when they get on the scene. To avoid any unnecessary headaches, it is smart to just leave your insurance cards either in your glove box or in your wallet that you have with you at all times.
2.) Consider getting flares or triangle reflectors
If you do end up on the side of the road due to something happening to your car, your safety is them a top priority. In order for you to be as safe as possible, you need cars to be able to see you whether you are broken down in the daytime, at night, or even in bad weather. Having flares or triangle reflectors to set up around your car when you are on the side of the road will give oncoming traffic a signal that you are there and they need to watch for you.
3.) Don’t ever leave the house without a first-aid kit
If you do find yourself in a roadside emergency where you have had an accident with another car or perhaps just lost control of the car and you or your passengers need medical attention as quickly as possible, then having a first aid kit in the car could be the difference between the situation is bad but stable, and the situation being dire and people getting worse by the minute. You should never leave to go anywhere without checking that you have a first aid kit that is in your car just in case you, or even someone else on the road, is hurt and needs quick medical attention until the EMTs arrive on the scene.
4.) Always have jumper cables
Batteries are one of the most common things to die in a car, and if it is not your car that is dead then you can use your jumper cables to help someone else out and be a good Samaritan. It is wise to always have your jumper cables or a small lithium-ion battery in your car so that if your car ever dies or won’t turn on, you will be able to get it jumped and make it home or at least to an auto parts store where you can buy a new battery.
5.) Keep a blanket in the trunk
If you get stranded on the side of the road and your car will not turn on, you will need to have things in your car that will keep you safe and warm until help arrives. It is wise to keep a blanket in the car just in case your car should die in the winter and you have no heat. This will keep you warm and save you from experiencing any possible health emergencies due to cold.
6.) Have important spare liquids in stock
Part of owning and driving a car is making sure that you keep up with its maintenance, things like regular oil changes, changing washer fluid, etc. But what you don’t always plan for is the fact that your car can spring leaks without you even knowing and cause your car to get overheated or stop working altogether.
In case of an emergency like this, you want to always have a quart of motor oil and a gallon of coolant stored in the car which will be enough to cool the car down, get it running, and get you on the road until you can get it fixed.
Once you have gotten all of these items assembled into a roadside emergency kit, store them in a safe place in your trunk so they are secure and don’t fly all over the car. Make sure it is in a place that you can get too quickly and that everything in there is properly put away so that in case of an emergency, you are prepared.