If you spend any time traveling in your car, either commuting to work and school or heading out on road trips, it is important to always have a vehicle emergency pack stowed in your car. This pack will prepare you for a variety of different vehicle or weather related emergencies. Here is a list of items you should include in your vehicle emergency pack.
Winter Essentials– Unexpected winter weather can lead to a number of different vehicles emergencies. Including an ice scraper, flashlight and extra gloves in your emergency vehicle pack will help ensure you stay safe in case of emergency winter weather.
Car Cell Phone Charger– In an emergency you’ll want to make sure you have a way to charge your cell phone in your car so you’re able to call for help if needed. Being able to recharge your phone gives you a way to connect with emergency assistance and this can be crucial in an emergency situation.
Jumper Cables – To avoid being stranded with a dead battery while out running errands, be sure to include a set of jumper cables in your vehicle emergency pack. Additionally, it can also be helpful to have jumper cables in the event you come across another driver who may need assistance.
Flares or reflective triangle – If you are stranded in your car it is important to ensure your car is clearly visible to other drivers to avoid being struck by another vehicle. Setting out flares or reflective triangles alerts other drivers to your presence.
Food and Water – Depending on the type of emergency you could be stranded in your car for more than a few hours. Including shelf stable food and bottled water in your vehicle emergency pack is helpful if you are stranded for several hours.
Blanket – If you are stranded in the winter, you’ll want to make sure you are able to stay warm while in your car. Having a blanket on hand in your vehicle emergency pack will help you stay warm enough while waiting for emergency assistance arrives to help.
Map – While many cars come equipped with GPS and phones have a variety of map apps, if you lose your wi-fi connection, it can be difficult to access these digital maps. Keeping a physical map in your vehicle emergency pack helps you to navigate in these unexpected situations and avoid being lost.
Taking time to stock your car with a vehicle emergency pack can prove useful in a number of different potential emergencies.