Even if your car is brand new and you can’t imagine anything going wrong, it’s crucially important that you have a car emergency kit with you at all times. Imagine driving on your own late at night, its dark, cold, and your power steering begins to tug or you notice your tyre is going flat and you don’t have a spare. Its situations like this you want to prepare for, so having a well-stocked emergency kit is essential. Although it’s not fun to think about packing an emergency kit, you’ll be glad you did as one day. The chances are you’re going to need it, and you’ll wish you had one when that time comes.
Here are some top tips on how to build an epic car emergency kit:
1. DUFFLE BAG
First thing first, before you can start gathering items for your emergency kit, you’ll need some sort of bag or box and one that’s big enough to keep all of your supplies. A duffle bag to store all of your supplies in is perfect and is a great way to keep all of your items organised and it’s small enough so that you can store it in your boot.
2. JUMP CABLES
Jump cables are very handy all year round, and they are most certainly not just for the winter. Our top tip is to make sure that they are at least 10 foot and coated with at least 8-gauge rubber. However, before using jump cables, make sure that you know how to use them safely and if you’re driving around without jump cables, then you’re doing it wrong as they are very useful if you should ever become stranded.
3. SPARE TYRE
Cars these days usually come with a spare tyre, which can be typically located beneath the panel in the boot. Before going on any long journeys, you should check that your spare tyre is properly inflated as two flat tyres would be a nightmare and are likely to cause you to become a little stuck.
4. TYRE JACK
Having a tyre jack in your car is so important and although some cars sometimes come with a jack to lift the car, not all cars do so it’s a good idea to check. If you happen to get a flat tyre while out and about and you’re capable of changing it, then your well prepared if you have a good jack in your car. It’s also worth it if you pay a little extra and get yourself a quality jack as this will help to ensure that it doesn’t collapse on you and potentially cause you an injury.
5. SHOVEL
This is something that many people don’t consider storing in their car, but it can prove to be very useful when you need it. For example, how many times have you found yourself stuck in the mud or the snow and found it difficult to get out? Well, you can avoid becoming stranded by preparing and adding a shovel to your emergency kit. If you ever find yourself stuck, grab your shovel and you’ll be able to dig out from around your tyres and set yourself free again.
6. WARNING TRIANGLES
If you’re broken down at the side of the road then reflective warning triangles are great. As always when on the road, safety should be your paramount consideration and warning triangles can help with this. You should try and place these triangles on the road at least 45 metres away from your car and never use them on motorways, according to the Highway Code. In doing this, you’re able to alert other drivers that there is a hazard, which should cause them to slow down.
7. FOOD AND WATER
It may sound a bit draft, but if you want to build the ultimate car emergency kit then having some nonperishable snacks in there is a must. If you ever become involved in an incident where you have to wait things out for a lengthy period of time, having some snacks can be very handy. Although snacks may not be at the top of list, you’ll be glad you packed them should you ever become stuck on the M1. Water is also a great idea, not only for you to drink, but if you ever you need to top up you screen wash.
8. FIRST AID KIT
When you’re on a road trip you never know if your adventure could take a slight turn for the worst or you perhaps need to help a fellow member of the public in an incident. You can prepare yourself for anything like this by ensuring that your emergency kit is stocked with a first aid kit. First aid kits are generally small and very handy as they are equipped with plasters, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads and bandages so, be smart and stay well-stocked.
Just make sure that when you sell your car, you take all of this out and put in in your new vehicle!
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