Assembling A Roadside Emergency Kit

With modern cars with the latest technologies and warranties, driving has become so much smoother. That being said, things will happen.  And today, most if not all vehicles come with a basic car jack and spare tire, an emergency tire patch and an inflator kit to deal with the most common breakdown – flat tire. However, those breakdowns don’t necessarily happen at your driveways, in well-lit areas, and on cloudless days. There are fairly some remote, helpless and frustrating situations.

A roadside emergency kit can ease the pain and reduce the hassle of such breakdowns especially when traveling long distances. Being prepared can make a stressful or dangerous situation a lot more manageable; not to mention, safer and more efficient. That’s why it’s crucial to keep a car emergency kit in your car at all times.

What to Pack in Your Emergency Kit

There is a number of prepackaged roadside emergency kits in the market, varying in styles, varieties, and prices. Even with the prepackaged one, you can beef it with additional items or you can put together your own roadside emergency kit and save money. If you have the right items in your emergency roadside service you can safely deal with any problems that arise.

Decide on a prepackaged kit considering your vehicle’s specific needs, age and condition of your vehicle, your driving patterns and the weather.  Ask your local Tow cars company for advice about a roadside emergency kit that’s right for your vehicle and driving specifications.

Here are the basic emergency kit essentials:

• Jumper cables
• First aid kit

– that includes Band-Aids, adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, cotton balls, bug spray, ace bandage and anything particular to you or your family. No one expects you to turn into an instant medical hero at a crash site, but having a basic first aid kit in your vehicle can be a big help to yourself and others if there’s a problem.

• Flashlight with extra batteries

A flashlight is one of the most important items in any emergency kit. Always keep a decent torch in your car, along with some spare batteries. This can be handy at night if you get lost and need to stop and consult a map, or if you want to check under the bonnet in the dark or trying to flag down help.

• Carjack, Spare tire, tire gauge, pump, tire sealant

Always keep a properly inflated spare tire as well as jack and wheel lever. These are extremely useful in the event of a flat tire. If your vehicle has a spare, then you can use the wrench to remove the damaged tire so that it can be replaced. For those that don’t have a spare in the trunk, they can use the tire sealant to keep air from escaping the hole. Both solutions will shorten your time on the side of the road and could allow you to get to a nearby garage for quality tire service.

• Road flares, Hi-Vis safety vest

Your safety is of utmost importance and in highways, there are high chances of a collision. When your car breaks down and you need to for some reason get out of the vehicle, wear high visibility safety vest, put reflective triangles at successive distances behind your vehicle will help warn other drivers and create a buffer between your vehicle and oncoming traffic. Wear high visibility safety vest.

• Fire extinguisher

It’s a good idea to have a fire extinguisher since we are dealing with gasoline. After a car crash, a small fire can escalate into a much bigger problem in no time. It should be rated for Class B (involves flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline) and Class C fires (involves energized electrical components) by the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA.

• Rain ponchos – the breakdown is already bad enough, and if you have changed a tire roadside during rain is even more frustrating.
• Blanket, bottled water, non-perishable snacks
• Utility tool kit – includes multipurpose utility tools like Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman Tool, pair of gloves or two, Screwdriver with changeable bits, duct tape, rags, extra fluids, Socket, spanner and shifter set, etc.
• Tow straps if you ever get stuck due to inclement weather such as snowy conditions or muddy roads

Few other things to carry would be

• Cash for gas
• Cellphone car charger for keeping your phone charged up so that you can reach out for assistance in an emergency.

With these helpful utilities, you’ll be able to stay under pressure, even if you are a little overheated under the hood. This doesn’t mean you can’t still call for help.