How to Make an Emergency Kit for Your Car

You will never realize how much you need an emergency kit for your car until you find yourself stranded somewhere with nothing to help you get going again. This can be especially bad if there is inclement weather such as snow or heavy rain. With only a few items that you can usually find around your home, you can make an emergency kit of your own to keep in your trunk.

I used an old cardboard box for my emergency kit. If you have a nice plastic container, you may want to use that instead as it will last longer in your trunk if it gets bumped around. A medium sized box or a small box should be enough to fit all of your supplies.

It is important to have something in your car that will make you visible if you break down at night. I used to keep a neon orange plastic inflatable pool raft in my trunk. It was waterproof and if I broke down at night, I could hang it out the back of my trunk to keep people from hitting my car while parked on the side of the road or I could wave it to attract attention. You can also find folding triangular reflectors at hardware stores for one or two dollars. These reflectors should be positioned a few feet behind your car when used.

You will find an old plastic shower curtain very useful for many things. You can use it like a poncho if it is raining or use it to cover the back seat when transporting pets or wet children from the pool. You can also lay it down in the back of your trunk to keep the bed of the trunk clean. If it is cold, a plastic shower curtain will help to keep you warm.

Keep a multi-tipped screwdriver in your trunk just in case you need to repair something under the hood. A pair of pliers and a small crowbar may also be useful. Other tools you may need are at least one good flashlight or small lantern with fresh batteries, a set of jumper cables, and a pocket knife. I also keep a tire repair kit in my trunk if my car does not have a spare tire, jack, and tire iron.

With a few emergency supplies, you'll be ready to hit the road.

Credit: £ukasz Grzyb

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