Being in a car accident is terrifying. You never expect an accident to happen so it’s smart to be prepared before an accident occurs. We compiled a list of 7 items that you should always keep in your car. This way, if you do find yourself being involved in an accident, you can be prepared. These items may be helpful if you’ve been involved in a car accident, or, they may just be useful to have in case of emergency.
First Aid Kit
This should be a no-brainer, but we suggest always keeping a first aid kit in the car. Keeping it underneath the passenger seat allows for easy access, and that way, you won’t have to dig through your trunk or backseat to find it. Make sure your first aid kit is stocked with Bandaids, Aspirin, antiseptic wipes or ointment, sterile gauze pads, non-latex gloves, tweezers, scissors, a cold compress, a flashlight, and adhesive cloth tape. Of course, you can always put more in the kit, depending on what you think you could use.
Space Blanket / Blanket
Even if you don’t live in a particularly cold area, you should always keep a blanket in your car. Whether you decide to keep a regular blanket or a space blanket, these will help keep you warm in the event that you’re stuck in the cold. You can find plenty on Amazon, and they are relatively inexpensive.
Extra Food and Water
If you have trouble while you’re in the car, you may be in a spot where there is no cell service to call for help. It’s possible that you could spend hours waiting for someone to reach you, in which case you would need food and water. Keep a case of water in your trunk for emergencies, and non-perishable food like crackers, nuts, dried fruit, etc. These items stay good for a long time so you won’t need to replace them, periodically.
Jumper Cables
Whether your car won’t start or someone else’s, it’s a great idea to keep jumper cables in your car. You can save yourself, or someone else, a lot of trouble by safely jumping the car in need. Of course, make sure there are no children near the cables, as they can be dangerous if used improperly. Always follow instructions when jumping a car, to ensure safety.
Flares or Emergency Lights
Having car trouble or an accident in the dark makes it even more difficult because it’s harder to see. You want to make sure that other people and vehicles on the road are able to easily avoid you – and another accident. Keep either road flares or emergency lights in your car that you can strategically place near your vehicle to avoid another accident.
Spare Tire
While this is an expensive precaution, we would suggest keeping a spare tire in your car at all times, if it does not already come with a spare tire. Tires are unpredictable, even if the pressure is good because they can pop or lose air without notice. You don’t want to be stuck, waiting for someone to come help. First, make sure your car has a spare tire, or buy one. Then, you need to make sure you know how to change a tire. You can learn how to change a tire in less than 7 minutes here.
Duct Tape
Duct Tape can be a beautiful, temporary fix for many issues you may have with your vehicle. Perhaps, pieces of your car are becoming unattached, but you aren’t quite at the repair shop, yet. You can use duct tape, in many cases, but not all, to temporarily repair these issues when you’re en route to get them repaired.
Making sure your vehicle is ready for anything does not take long, and many of the items on this list will not cost you too much. We suggest keeping these items in your car to better prepare you for the unexpected.