Most people spend considerable time driving their cars for commutes, errands, and trips; therefore, car safety supplies must be readily available in case of emergencies. bugout bags
A comprehensive car survival kit contains everything needed to stay safe on the road until help arrives, including 12-foot jumper cables, a tow strap, a flashlight, and first aid supplies.
Table of Contents
Water
Water is an indispensable element in any car survival kit, with humans only being able to go three days without drinking liquid. Carrying clean drinking water in your vehicle will allow you to stay hydrated should emergency services take longer than anticipated to arrive and help restore service.
One advantage of having water in your car is being able to use it for cleaning off-road debris, cleaning up food and beverage spills, or melting ice in colder climates.
Car survival kits should contain more than just water supplies – they should also have blankets and a simple tool kit containing tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and an adjustable wrench, which could come in handy on the roadside. A fire starter such as lighter or waterproof matches is also essential – along with having some cash handy to cover costs related to being stranded.
Food
An essential tool for every driver, car survival kits are an indispensable resource should their vehicle ever become stuck or break down unexpectedly. Alongside jumper cables and flares, an emergency go bag should contain food, water, blankets, first aid items as well as essential tools.
Bottled water should be the centerpiece of your car survival kit, as humans only last several days without it before becoming dehydrated and succumbing to dehydration. Be sure to pack some snacks as well, in case an unexpected roadside emergency arises.
Granola bars, nuts, beef jerky, and trail mix are great non-perishable food items to have on hand in an emergency vehicle. Not only do these foods take up minimal space, but you can also purchase emergency food kits with convenient, more astonishing storage solutions to extend shelf life further.
Blankets
An essential component of any car survival kit, blankets are indispensable in protecting body heat loss when you are stranded for extended periods. They also serve as signals to signal other drivers and rescue personnel of your location and request help.
A blanket can offer protection from rain, snow, and wind – elements that contribute to heat loss – as well as serve as an emergency sling or compression bandage. Some blankets are even explicitly designed to assist first responders at accident scenes by protecting victims from sharp debris that might interfere with safe extraction from an accident scene.
Finally, blankets can also be used to add weight to the trunk of your vehicle and improve traction on winter roads – this can be especially helpful when caught in a snowbank or icy slick. A bag of non-clumping cat litter is another valuable addition to winter emergency kits, as it will assist your tires in gaining grip in inclement conditions.
Tools
An essential car survival kit should include tools to address minor roadside issues. A small tool set that provides pliers, screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench will make repairing minor problems much simpler; flashlights will allow other motorists to see your work and warn of your presence if needed.
Many kits include a first aid kit to treat injuries or illnesses that might arise while driving, such as bandages, tweezers, antiseptic wipes, and cotton balls for antiseptic wiping, as well as antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, and allergy medicine.
Emergency car kits designed specifically for winter may include foldable shovels to quickly dig cars out of snow drifts, ice scrapers, and chemical hand warmers to keep fingers from freezing. Safety absorbent sold at auto parts stores is another effective solution to help increase traction on slippery surfaces and provide better traction control during icy conditions.
Emergency Signals
When you become stuck along the side of the road, having signaling tools will ensure other drivers see your vehicle. Your kit should include flares and reflective triangles as well as a flashlight with flashing capability.
Glow sticks are another essential item for your car survival kit as they illuminate your vehicle in low-light environments – beneficial if you become stranded at night on the side of the road.
An essential car survival kit consists of jumper cables, a flashlight, and first aid supplies to assist in an emergency on the road. Prepacked survival kits may be purchased, or you can create one tailored to your family’s specific needs – ensure it can easily be located when an incident arises and be stored somewhere that allows easy access in an emergency. It may also be wise to include personal documents and contact info that might prove valuable during an unexpected breakdown.
First Aid Kit
As part of your car survival essentials, it’s also advisable to maintain a first aid kit – mainly if there are young children present. Such kits provide quick solutions to injuries sustained during roadside accidents – including sprains, cuts, and fractures.
There is an assortment of car emergency kits on the market, from essential to premium versions. Some come in convenient backpack form, while others should be kept in your trunk, depending on what kind of car you own. Such kits should contain jumper cables in case your battery dies unexpectedly, reflective safety triangles to help other drivers notice your presence on the side of the road, and headlamps to use hands-free when changing a flat tire.
These kits provide an effective way to be prepared in case of an unexpected breakdown on the side of the road, instrumental in rural areas with lower population densities where emergency services may take longer to arrive.
