Buying Guide for an emergency kit

Whether it is long distance or local driving, you are in a vulnerable place while you are on the road driving anywhere. As well as thinking about what others are doing around you in their cars, you have to concentrate on your own driving and any mechanical problems. This leaves you vulnerable to human error and unforeseen issues that may lead to you being stuck or injured in an accident on the side of the road.

Getting a car emergency kit in every vehicle you own is one of the best things you can do to be ready for the unexpected. Many people even use these kits for boats and RVs, and some are also small enough to carry on a motorcycle or while riding horses on trails in a saddle bag.

There are some items you would want to take into account when selecting the best emergency kit for your vehicle to ensure that you choose the one that suits the season, weather, condition of your vehicle and your driving habits. If there is no freezing rain or snow in the area you live in, there are certain things you won’t need to worry about.

Be well prepared for an emergency

Personal

In order to keep your passengers and yourself fed, cared for in the event of an accident, and hydrated, it is very important to keep supplies available if there is ever a scenario that results in you being stranded for some cause in your vehicle.

You know that you and your passengers, particularly if they are children, will be okay before help arrives by preparing them with drinkable water, a first aid kit, and snacks. In your emergency kit, the treats you have on hand in the car should be kept separately and used for this purpose only not just for a bored child or a day of misbehavior.

Holding food for emergencies just means that when you really need it, you will have the resources you need. Healthy snacks to have on hand for emergencies include foods that are high in calories, have a long shelf life so that you don’t have to worry and are easy to store about the food going bad. Getting food and water for emergencies in your vehicle may sound unnecessary until you are stuck with little ones who are hungry, exhausted, and upset in your vehicle.

Another vital supply to hold in your car is water. For everyone, particularly small children, staying hydrated is crucial. Even during emergency situations, being adequately hydrated will help you to deal with the situation at hand much more clearly and calmly. Look for water pouches that have a shelf life that is 3 years longer than bottled water and take up far less space.

The first aid kit that needs to be filled with antibiotic cream, bandages, pain relievers, and other supplies that are usually needed to deal with normal, minor injuries is last but not least. Bear in mind that this is only the beginning when it comes to the reasons why it is so helpful to have a car emergency kit.

Automotive

Now that you have read about the personal reasons that emergency kits are so important and have an understanding of the stuff you need to take care of you and any passengers you have with you, let’s go through the advantages of getting emergency car supplies on hand.

The primary aim of getting the right automotive supplies in your kit is to have the car running again as easily and safely as possible. Basics include things such as jumper cables or whether you have a battery jump starter in the room, all the equipment you need to change a tire, and other versatile supplies such as multi-function instruments, rope, duct tape, bungee cords, cable ties, and other similar supplies that will help you get your vehicle up and running again.

Don’t forget things like pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches and other important tools that you may need to work on your vehicle. And at all hours of the day or night you may be working on your car on the side of the road, you would also need to worry about safety equipment. There would be things such as light sticks, reflective vests, reflective alarm triangles, and flares.

Communication

It is extremely important to be able to contact anyone if you break down on the side of the road or have a minor accident, especially if you can’t get your vehicle started on your own again.

It is not always a choice to walk to the nearest gas station, particularly if you have kids with you in the car or you have an accident. Consider getting an extra emergency battery on hand in your emergency kit or a charger that doesn’t need an urgent power source if you have your own cell phone.

Another choice is to get an emergency mobile phone that is placed in the kit and is used for emergencies only if the battery of your own phone dies. Another great thing to have on hand is an emergency radio that, such as a hand crank radio, does not require power from your car. In severe weather conditions, where you may be trapped in unsafe weather conditions, this can be very helpful.

Relevant Information

If you don’t know how to change your tire or jump start your car, even with all of these stuff in place, those emergency products won’t do you any good until someone stops to help. Make a point of learning basic emergency skills like these and how to handle basic first aid, and you will be prepared to take care of your family, friends, yourself, or even a stranger in need.

The Well Stocked Emergency Kit for Car

During an emergency or breakdown, many of the car emergency kits that are sold with products already stocked have looked at the most widely needed stuff and added them to the kits. All of the things that are most frequently needed plus more are the three top rated kits we studied and discovered to be superior to other pre-made kits. The only thing that is not included in these pre-made packages is food and water and a few other things that you can buy on your own.

Make sure that you have a good location for your emergency kit to be kept. The ones we reviewed above have cases in which the goods are placed, but if you prefer, you can also select tubs, totes, or containers. We’ve mentioned everything that should be in a well-stocked car emergency kit below.

You can add yourself to everything the pre-made kits don’t have and be completely prepared for any emergency that comes along. In order to understand how to use them and what circumstances determine using them, each section will include things that function with particular circumstances.

First Aid Kit – A first aid kit is required for any vehicle. When you may have a need for these supplies, you never know. It will prevent anxiety from slipping away by always keeping them on hand. The items your first aid kit needs to have are below. If any of these things are not in the first aid kit that was pre-made, add them yourself.

  1. Band-Aids – These are particularly helpful if you have kids. When you’re a mom, it is normal to have a need for band-aids. Invest in some fun Band-Aids that will take the sting out of their injuries if you do have children. Also, don’t forget to pick several different sizes.
  1. Gauze and medical tape – Gauze and medical tape can come in handy if you are dealing with a bigger wound or just want to keep it protected before professional help arrives.
  1. Cleansing wipes & Antibiotic cream – If there is a cut or scrape, it is very important to avoid infection. Before they are bandaged, using the washing wipes and then applying antibiotic cream to any scratches, scrapes, or cuts can prevent infection from starting.emergency kit
  1. Pain relievers: For pain relief, keep a bottle of ibuprofen and a bottle of acetaminophen in your first aid bag. Some pre-made kits have small pain relief envelopes that are very handy, but the larger bottles still work.
  1. Ace Bandage – Ace bandages are very effective for sprains to deal with. They can stabilize the area before you can get professional treatment.
  1. Tweezers -These handy first aid devices are just what you need to retrieve splinters or remove some other kind of tiny item that fingertips can not catch, such as removing ticks while camping out.

General Supplies – In your emergency kit, there are several things you can have to help you get through being stuck or dealing with an accident. To see what things you will need to add, if any, check your pre-made package that you have chosen.

  1. Flashlight -This is a very significant item that if you are ever lost or trapped at night, would be a lifesaver. Look for self-powered flashlights so you don’t have to think about storing loads of batteries, but having at least one battery-powered flashlight in the package along with other non-battery-powered devices is not a bad idea.
  1. Weatherproof radio – If you’re ever stuck on the side of the road, especially if it’s during bad weather and your battery is dead, it can be pretty vital to have the means to hear updates. A good hand-powered radio is a perfect addition to any emergency kit that keeps you up to date with what’s happening.
  1. Work gloves – To cover yourself or a passenger who might have to change a tire or clear debris out of the way, this is a very good idea to have on hand. Having a good pair of protective gloves in your kit can prevent the occurrence of cuts and scrapes.
  1. Disposable Rain Poncho – It is very convenient to have a rain poncho on hand if you are ever caught out for any length of time in poor weather. Look for one that has a hood and if you have to be out in the rain at night due to a break down or flat tire, it is always a good idea to have reflective properties.
  1. Blankets – For your emergency kit, you should look at a few different kinds of blankets. One is an emergency blanket, usually made of Mylar, that keeps the heat in your body if you are ever stranded in a remote area in cold weather. You can only use standard camping blankets as well. If you travel with your children regularly and live in a snowy or cold area, have a few blankets, because if they need to stay warm, more than one person will have one.
  1. Scissors – In your emergency kit, scissors will still be a handy thing to have. They might be useful for removing bandages or other items that may need to be cut.
  1. Hand warmers – These amazing products can be a big aid in preventing frostbite from hand warmers. Having many of these in your emergency kit, especially if you live in a colder area where there could be ice storms and snow. It is easy and quick to use hand warmers.
  1. Batteries – For a variety of things in your pack, batteries are very important. You want to make sure you’ve got the batteries for your starter flashlight. If your radio is not hand cranked or if, in addition to being hand cranked, it has a battery capability, you would need to have a set of such batteries on hand.
  1. Cable Ties –  You never know what these great little things can be used for, but it can be very helpful to hold things together before you can get to safety with cable ties, also known as zip ties.
  1. Children’s products – If you have kids, in the event of a breakdown such as coloring supplies, travel games, and books, you might consider adding a few things to keep them busy. It doesn’t have to be a lot of things, but it can help ease their worries or frustration if you can give them something to keep their minds away from being trapped in the car.

Automotive Supplies – The automotive supplies that must be in your emergency kit are the last, but not least. There are things that have to do with your car in particular.

  1. Jumper cables – You or someone else is struggling with a basic dead battery, jumper cables can come in handy. Even if the battery is bad, it will help you get your vehicle started so that you can get it to a garage if you can try to jump start it with any strangers that might happen along your route.
  1. Tire Sealant – It is often helpful to have a can of tire sealant on hand in the case of a flat tire. Even if you have a decent replacement, changing the tire isn’t always healthy or necessary. If the issue is not too bad, the use of tire sealant will allow you to get to safety and a garage where you can change the tire if necessary or plug it.
  1. Fire Extinguisher – In the case of an engine fire, this very necessary tool can be small enough to bring in your car and is very useful. Make sure that it is rated to be used on cars for electrical fires, whatever kind of fire extinguisher you have.
  1. Ice Scraper – This is an essential tool to have if emergency assistance is required to clear ice and/or snow off your windshield and keep it clean.
  1. Snow Shovel – Cold winter conditions often make it possible to keep a snow shovel in the trunk. At some point, it is a very useful and beneficial tool to have.
  1. Alert reflectors or flares – If on the side of the road or in the middle of the road you are broken down and can not get the car to safety, it is very important that you ensure you can see other vehicles and oncoming traffic. Have ample reflective warning triangles or flares around the vehicle to set up. They can be set up in the following way: one 15 feet in front of the vehicle, one 15 feet in front of the vehicle, and the rest can be set up in increments of 30 feet behind the vehicle each. Alerting traffic where you are and that you are slowed down can help avoid an extra accident or emergency that can arise if anyone crashes into you because they don’t see you stopped.
  1. Tow rope or chain – keep a rope in the vehicle with a pulling power of 6000 pounds or more in case you should need to tow or tow anyone else.
  1. Tool box – Keep a small tool box with many essential tools in it that if your car breaks down, you can need. These include a wrench, hammer, screwdrivers (flat and Phillips), pliers, bolt cutters, seat cutters, window breakers, and a decent ratchet kit on hand if you want to spend a little more.
  1. Portable air compressor – You might want to seriously consider having a portable air compressor if you have anything extra to invest. If you have a flat as you drive, this handy piece of equipment will inflate your tires. The combination of the tire sealant and the air compressor will get you back home or to the garage safely if you do not know how to change a tire. These air compressors are not very costly, and having the ability to inflate your own tires is well worth their expense.

Conclusion

Pre-made car emergency kits, such as the three top rated options above, give you a simple, convenient way to supply your vehicle with the things you may need during an emergency or breakdown. The only way to safely manage these unforeseen circumstances is to be ready.

The information in this guide gives you a rundown on what a well-stocked emergency kit can contain, so that you can use the helpful list we have given you to add to the pre-made kit until you have picked one of the premade kits on the market, so that you are fully protected for any unexpected situation.

The pre-made emergency kits for cars will save you a lot of cash and include much of what you need. Your preference is the things you may add that may not be in your kits, but will ready you for breakdowns, flat tires, injuries, and situations caused by bad weather. You’ll be able to take care of your children, relatives, and yourself without panic or anxiety when you are fully prepared for an emergency.