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Vehicle emergencies can happen anywhere and to anyone. It may be something as simple as a flat tire, or it may be something as serious as a broken axle, but regardless of severity, it’s important to be prepared for a vehicle emergency. In order to ensure your safety, and the safety of your vehicle, here’s a list of some important emergency preparedness items you should keep with you while driving.
Flashlight – A flashlight can be a life saver if your vehicle has problems at night. This is especially true if you live and drive in rural areas that do not provide street lights. Flashlights are also very handy during the day, as they allow you to add lighting to your vehicle’s interior spaces and undercarriage. You can also use a flashlight to flag down passing vehicles or emergency responders for help during the night. It’s a good idea to keep a few spare flashlight batteries in your vehicle to ensure your flashlight will work properly.
Jumper Cables and Battery Starter – Since your vehicle’s battery is a crucial component to keeping you on the road, you need to have items on hand to keep your battery powered up. If your battery dies, jumper cables can typically get it powered back up long enough to get someplace safe. If you aren’t in an area where you can use someone else’s vehicle to jump your battery, you may also want to have a battery starter on hand. A battery starter is a portable device which can deliver enough power to jump a standard vehicle battery, allowing you to start your vehicle in remote areas.
Tire Inflator, Tire Inflation Chemicals and Patch Kit – Your tires are an equally important element to your vehicle, but unfortunately, they are also some of the most often damaged elements. There are a number of hazards on most roads, including nails, which can put a hole in your tire, making it impossible to drive your vehicle. While you should always have a spare tire and a jack with you, it’s also important to have a tire inflator and a patch kit. You can also purchase small cans of tire inflator chemicals which will allow you to quickly repair a hole in your tire to get you back on the road. If the hole is too large to use a can of tire inflation chemicals, you can also try using a patch kit to temporarily repair the hole.
