We all hear about car accidents and breakdowns and think that it would never happen to us. However, what if it did and you weren’t prepared? It is always better to be safe than sorry so making sure you have an emergency kit in your car is advisable as you never know what might happen and when.
Emergency kits have helped millions of people over the years and at the same time millions have wished they’d had one. If you break down in a remote place where there is nobody to come and assist you quickly or where it would take the emergency services a long time to reach you, then you will benefit from carrying an emergency kit and being prepared.
The first thing to have on board is a first-aid box; these can be brought from most pharmacies or large supermarkets. Some are more comprehensive than others but you should make sure that the kit has at least painkillers, bandages and plasters, wet wipes and any medication you need to take regularly.
In the event you are unable to drive your car you should have the necessary tools in the boot to help you fix it. Typically the tools you should have with you are a tyre iron, car jack and possibly screwdrivers for electrical faults, although this is best left for roadside recovery or breakdown services to deal with. Having jump leads on board is essential should your battery go flat.
All of these items are useful should you be unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident. Duct tape is also brilliant to have as it serves many purposes such as makeshift repairs of bodywork or bumpers. If you can get hold of a high-visibility jacket then do so as they are very useful if your car breaks down at night. In poor visibility or at night it’s important that you make your presence known to other motorists to avoid any accidents.
Other items you should consider having are blankets in case you break down in colder weather, drinking water to keep you hydrated (or to fill washers should you run dry). A flashlight or torch is handy so you can see what you are doing if you break down at night.
The best thing to do with emergency kits is to leave them underneath the passenger seat, in the glove compartment, in the boot or with the spare wheel so that it is out of the way but easily accessible should you need it. Try and stay calm and remain in your car if possible and wait for help to arrive.
If you need to venture outside then make sure you are careful and be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially at the road side or on a hard shoulder. Finally, it’s advisable to carry a mobile phone with you when on any journey and to make sure that your phone has plenty of charge in case of an emergency.
Phil Adams-Wright writes for a variety of used cars related subjects, other sucjects Phil writes on are Car finance and cheap car loans.
