Five Items You Need in Your Car's Emergency Kit
Out of gas. Blown tire. Smoking engine. Disaster has struck, and now you're stuck on the side of the road! If you opened your trunk for your emergency kit, would you find everything you need to get out of a sticky situation?
You probably already have jumper cables and a flashlight, but is that enough to get you off the side of the road? Maybe not. Here are five, often forgotten items, that you need in your car's emergency kit.
A spare change of clothes: There are so many reasons to keep an extra set of clothes in your car. Whether you're changing a flat tire in the pouring rain, putting on an extra layer to stay warm in the winter, or using the extra shirt to apply pressure on a wound after an accident, keeping a full set of clothes (and shoes!) in your trunk can come in handy.
A portable cell phone charger: If your car won't start, you'll need a way to keep your cell phone charged in order to call for help. A portable battery-operated charger is an inexpensive purchase that can save you a lot of time and headache in an emergency. Make sure to keep the batteries separate from the charger and store everything in a plastic bag to keep dry.
Duct Tape: The holy grail of DIY, duct tape can tackle more emergency fixes than any other item. It's portable, inexpensive, and should always be in the back of your car!
A gallon of water: Sure, you'll probably need it to drink, but there's many other reasons for keeping a gallon of water in the car. Use it if your antifreeze is low, to clean grease off your hands after a road side maintenance, or to tackle cleaning up bodily fluid (in case you're driving with someone who has a tendency of getting motion sickness).
Foam tire sealant - I once had a boyfriend fix an oil leak with a package of fix-a-flat on the side of the road at 3:30 in the morning in rural South Carolina, because it was the only option available at the gas station we were stranded at. Never underestimate the power of ingenuity and Fix-a-Flat!
Author Bio:
Jenn Leisey is a freelance writer by day and retail worker by night who rocks harder than she rolls. Read more of her stories about finding the balance in a life on wheels on her blog,�Doing Wheelies.