It’s important to be prepared for car emergencies with basic items like water, high energy food bars, blankets, clothing, emergency flares, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and a shovel. Assess your needs based on weather and driving conditions.
Of course, we never want our car to break down, especially if it puts us in any kind of emergency situation. However, it is something that we should all be prepared for in case it happens. Although a cell phone and auto club membership are a good start, keeping a few basic items in the car for emergencies can often make a world of difference in surviving the emergency and maintaining at least some comfort during the ordeal.
WATER: It is extremely important to have potable water in the car for emergencies, especially in hot weather, but it is necessary at any time of the year. People can survive much longer without food than without water. Be sure to keep enough water for the whole family, as well as water to use if the motor overheats.
FOOD – The best emergency food to keep in the car at all times is high energy food bars. Look for those that provide an entire day’s calories in a single bar. These survival food bars are designed to fill you up and reduce thirst. The problem with keeping real food in vehicles is that food tends to spoil quickly when stored in cars. What you can do is keep a supply of food like canned beans and canned fruit, with a manual can opener and eating utensils, in the car for emergencies and keep replacing food before it goes bad or spoils.
BLANKETS – Two types of blankets should be kept in the car for emergencies. A foil energy blanket is typically packed to take up very little space and can offer much-needed warmth for those stranded in a cold car that won’t start, especially at night when the temperature can drop to dangerous levels. Look for emergency foil bags instead of blankets as they can really keep you warm! You should also have some wool blankets in your car as wool stays warm even when wet. Wool blankets can even be draped around the body and worn as clothing, if necessary.
CLOTHING: A few pairs of inexpensive gloves and some knit caps can be great to have in an emergency. A lot of body heat is lost through the head, and stretchy gloves can add an extra level of protection from the wind. A hooded rain poncho is a great item to keep in the car in case of an emergency, as it can be worn over clothing if you need to change a tire in the rain. A spare fleece jacket, and maybe sweatpants too, for every member of the family makes a nice addition to hats and gloves. You can wear soft, loose clothing to add extra layers of warmth, or use it as a makeshift pillow, if needed.
OTHER SUPPLIES: Emergency flares and a first aid kit are good items to have in the car in case of an emergency. A large flashlight and shovel are other great items to have. You should always think about the particular weather conditions and the areas in which you drive so that you can assess what your emergency needs would be.
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