Emergency Readiness

Posted on November 4, 2016 in Car Care Tips

You never know what may happen to you or someone else around you. Whether you commute daily or are going on a road trip, you need to be prepared for an emergency. You could get a flat tire, have an accident, or run out of gas. Maybe your friend’s car won’t start. Since you never know what will happen, it’s smart to be prepared and have an emergency kit ready and available.

Basic items to include are a first aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, and flares or reflective triangles. Other important items to include are the equipment needed to change a tire such as a lug nut wrench, working jack, and a spare tire. Having road side assistance is important and helpful, but not always the fastest way to handle a minor problem. These basic supplies can mean the difference between a half-hour delay and a four-hour delay.

“You Can Never Be Too Prepared”

Have you ever heard the saying “You Can Never Be Too Prepared”? Making an emergency kit is easy – all you need are the supplies we listed above and a few extra items. There are also many pre-packed emergency kits available for sale. Below we included a list of optional items that are a good idea to pack in your emergency kit. Simply put these items in a backpack or bag and store in an easily accessible area of your trunk.

Hopefully you never need to use your emergency kit, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Here are a few other tips to follow if you ever end up on the side of the road:

• Move your car as far off the road as you safely can.
• Avoid standing or working near the edge of the road.
• If stranded at night, use your emergency flashers, flares, and/or reflective triangles.
• If you cannot fix the problem yourself, call roadside assistance and stay in your vehicle with the doors locked.

You can never be too careful, and it’s always better to be over prepared than not prepared at all. Safe travels, and if we have left anything off this list – let us know in the comment box below!