Here are some scenarios that we don’t expect, but when they happen it’s best to be prepared AHEAD of time.
While a emergency car bag/kit cannot magically fix everything, a pre prepared kit might save your life. Car bag kits tend to include first aid equipment and tools to escape your vehicle. Not having some of these essential items puts people at a greater risk of suffering worse injuries or death. Emergency services can only arrive on the scene so fast.
Here are some very real scenarios:
- A traffic jam lasting four or more hours happens on the interstate. What are you carrying to help yourself?
- You get a flat tire or have engine problems in a sketchy or remote area. What are you carrying to help yourself?
- You’re in your car and come upon an accident and 911 isn’t there. What are you carrying to help yourself?
- You get lost or run out of gas or your engine stalls on the side of the road. What are you carrying to help yourself?
- A tornado, fire, earthquake, storm or other unforeseen circumstance happens while you are in your car. What are you carrying to help yourself?
Put these items in a backpack or clear plastic bin you have laying around.
- Water – 4 bottles
- Food – food that will not be affected by the heat or cold while it just sits in your car for months. Either nuts, chips, 5 self-opening cans ( heavy bean, heavy pasta, heavy soup, tuna, heavy veggie ( remember to rotate these cans out every year ) ) Preferably anything DENSE and HIGH CALORIE. Even syrup honey packs from any fast food retailer can provide much needed sugar calories. It’s not the greatest but…
- Plastic fork, spoon, knife ( from fast food place ) Roll of Tissue/napkins
- Jumper Cables & Spare tire and jack, flat head screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, hammer, plier
- Fire extinguisher
- Fix A Flat
- First aid kit – to help on the side of the road ( you are not a medical professional, understand the repercussions before you help anyone with a medical condition. You are liable and can be held accountable )
- Flashlight or Headlamp ( headlamp is better – you dont have to use your hands ) Get both.
- 2 heavy duty garbage bags
- Window mount triangle with DOT reflectability
- reflective jacket
- Knife – decent size
- Lighter
- Rag, sponge or bandana
- Wet Wipes & Mouth Wash
- blanket & tarp from any big box store
- duct tape – a few meters wrapped around a gift card or sharpy
- Sharpie
- Pair of Durable Work Gloves
- 50 meters of paracord
- Handheld Radio – Family Radio Service( FRS ), General Mobile Radio Service ( GMRS ) FRS and GMRS are basically average walky talky bands that everyone can use. Preferably solar with weather bands
- playing cards