The Ultimate Car Emergency Kit Checklist
If you drive too often or go on frequent long trips, it’s a good idea to carry a roadside emergency kit. When your car breaks down unexpectedly or another emergency happens, a properly equipped car emergency kit can help you get back on the road without hassle. A car emergency kit checklist helps you inventory and maintain the essential components of a good roadside emergency kit.
What Should Be in a Car Emergency Kit List
Every car should always have a car emergency kit in its trunk. Hence, keep a car emergency kit checklist because you never know when you will need it.
Emergency Tool Kit For Car
Basic tools for your roadside emergency car kit can help fix minor mechanical problems and get you back on the road.
- Spare tyre: A spare tyre as well as a good crankshaft, because without these tyre changing kits you can’t change the wheel. Here’s how to change a car tyre. Also, if your wheels are equipped with anti-theft bolts, make sure that the appropriate key is always in the car.
- Jumper starter: It is needed because you can end up with a dead battery anytime unexpectedly. Hence, learn how to jump-start a car with a dead battery. Besides, you must also know how to deal with a dead car battery to avoid any uncertain situation during a roadside emergency.
- Car Jack: Always carry a car jack and iron wheel to remove and replace flat tyres.
- Screwdriver: Keep a flat head and a screwdriver to remove small parts.
- Air pump: Consider purchasing a portable air pump that runs on DC power to inflate leaky tyres.
- Tyre Gauge: Keep a tyre gauge to check the air pressure in the tyres.
Other Basic Car Emergency Kit
The basic emergency tool kit for a car can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but here are some essentials it should contain:
- A shovel
- A tow rope or chain
- Booster cables
- Fuel line coolant
- A small tool kit
- A fire extinguisher
Tools for Night Time Emergencies
Emergencies can happen at any time of the day or night. If you are going on a long journey, keep yourself ready for night-time troubles by packing and lighting equipment. Also, if you are the victim of an accident or get stuck somewhere, you must have tools to attract the attention of possible rescuers. To do this, remember to keep the following items in your car:
- Pack a flashlight and check the batteries regularly to ensure proper functioning.
- Chemical glow sticks, available at most home improvement stores, provide soft light for up to 12 hours each.
- Ultralight keyrings are a good backup and are always available on the road.
- Pack reflective triangles to be placed around your stationary vehicle to alert other drivers to your position.
- Reflective help signs are a good way to signal that you need help. Road flares perform the same function and are visible at night.
Also, it’s always a good idea to have a fully charged cell phone in your car at all times. So if something goes wrong, you can easily call for help.
Food, Water, and First Aid
It can sometimes be a long wait before help arrives in an emergency. Plan: get a first aid kit and take the time to put together an emergency kit. These kits could include non-perishable food, such as granola bars, water bottles, an emergency blanket, a portable recharging battery for your cell phone, etc.
To treat minor roadside medical problems, they include a small first-aid kit, which includes bandages, aspirin, and any medication you may need. Frequently check expiration dates on any type of medical supplies in your roadside emergency kit.
For Your Comfort and Well-being
Besides all these essentials, you can also keep the following things in your car:
- Paper towels or cleaning wipes
- Paper tissues or a roll of toilet paper
- Pen and paper
- Cash, in case of emergency
- Solar charger with USB ports to charge your phone
Frequently Check and Update Your Kit
It is important to check your first aid kits at least once a year to see if any items need to be replaced. By listing the expiration dates of food, water, and medical supplies, you can easily keep track of the items in your kit.
With this, we conclude our car emergency kit checklist. Now you know what things you should always keep in the car. Our suggested DIY car emergency kit checklist of essential accessories is not exhaustive, and you can adapt it according to your needs. However, all these things take up much less space and are useful in case of an emergency.
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To learn more about how you can prepare for emergencies, visit the UAE’s leading auto blog.