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The ultimate emergency kit is
to tow a second car, while being simultaneously shadowed by a
fully equipped team of paramedics in an ambulance. But
unless you are the President of the United States, you probably
can't justify such an approach.
However, with some careful
selections, you can create a practical emergency kit for your car
that will contain sufficient items for most problems you are
likely to encounter - and some you're less likely to encounter too.
In this second part of our
series, please now read through the four checklists of almost 60
different categories of items to keep in your car.
The Checklists
Here's a series of comprehensive
checklists, suggesting many reasonable things that you may or may not choose
to keep in your car with you.
Please
let us know if you
have other suggestions for things to keep in a car emergency kit
too.
We have provided three columns
for you to mark items off in, one each for Summer, Winter, and for
Special Needs/Travels.
Because there is a large
number of items listed, we have split them into four different
checklists. You should work through each of them to create
your own personal list.
Emergency Checklist 1 : Items for the Car
| Item |
Smr |
Wtr |
Spcl |
Comments |
| Spare Gas |
|
|
|
Or maybe just an empty container
and a siphon tube. |
| Antifreeze |
|
|
|
If you've ever had radiator
issues, you'll need to keep some anti-freeze. |
| Windshield
washer fluid |
|
|
|
Something we take for granted -
until we run out! |
| Other Fluids |
|
|
|
If your car consumes some fluids
(such oil, brake fluid, or transmission fluid),
maybe you need to keep some in the car. |
| Hoses and
Belts |
|
|
|
Useful if you know how to replace
them and if your car is getting on in years and
miles. |
| Other Spares |
|
|
|
Ask your dealer if there are any
user-replaceable spare parts you should keep in an
emergency kit. |
| Fuses |
|
|
|
Keep at least two of each fuse
type your car uses. |
| Jumper
Cables |
|
|
|
And/or an emergency starting
battery (but these require ongoing maintenance). |
| Tire
Pressure Gauge |
|
|
|
|
| Tire
changing tools |
|
|
|
Your car should come with a jack
and tools for tire changing. But it pays to
check they are all there. |
| Foam tire
sealant |
|
|
|
Good in an emergency. |
| Towing strap |
|
|
|
Make sure it is strong enough for
your car, and also make sure you know how to
attach it to your car (both front and back) for recovery. |
| Fire
Extinguisher |
|
|
|
Readily accessible. 1A10BC
or better, or a 5lb or larger ABC type. |
|
Multi-tipped screwdriver |
|
|
|
With a selection of tips
for different types of screws. |
| Pliers with
side cutter built in |
|
|
|
Long nosed. |
| Adjustable
spanner |
|
|
|
Better still - a complete set of
sockets in metric or US sizes (whichever your car
needs). |
| Knife |
|
|
|
|
| Duct Tape |
|
|
|
Maybe electrical tape too, but if
you're limiting yourself to the bare essentials,
duct tape will do in almost every case. |
| Protective
gloves |
|
|
|
Keeps your hands clean. |
| Liquid
cleaner |
|
|
|
For when your hands aren't kept
clean! |
| Towel(s) |
|
|
|
For cleaning engine parts and for
cleaning you. |
| Owner's
manuals |
|
|
|
Make sure the manual(s) that came
with the car are still with the car, consider
getting extra workshop manuals too (helpful if you
have an unusual car that needs repairs away from a
dealership. |
|
Emergency Checklist
2 : Items for Your Safety and Comfort
| Item |
Smr |
Wtr |
Spcl |
Comments |
| Traffic
Cones or triangles or flares |
|
|
|
Roadside workers are killed way
too many times each year by cars hitting them.
You need to make your car as visible as possible
to protect it and you from being hit by passing
traffic and inattentive drivers. |
| Hi-viz
jacket |
|
|
|
One of those safety jackets or
vests that
you see people wearing. Preferably
waterproof. |
| Blankets |
|
|
|
Thermal 'space' blankets take up
very little space/weight; regular blankets are
nicer. Enough for everyone who may be in
your car. |
| Walking
Shoes |
|
|
|
Not such an issue for men, but if
you're a woman in high heels and need to leave a
stalled vehicle, you might appreciate having a
pair of sneakers in the trunk. |
| Ponchos |
|
|
|
Or other rain protection gear if
you need to leave the car. An umbrella (the
bigger the better) can also be very appreciated
if, eg, changing a tire in the rain. |
|
Flashlight(s) and batteries |
|
|
|
You should have at least
two flashlights, and they should use LED bulbs not
regular bulbs (longer life and less likely to
break, plus they use less battery power). Keep spare batteries for
them, too. |
| Car charger
for your cell phone |
|
|
|
Keep chargers for your cell phone
and those of other family members. |
| CB radio and
external antenna |
|
|
|
If you're going somewhere with
unreliable cell phone signal, consider taking a CB
radio with you too. Most truckers still use
CB radios so you should be able to reach someone
for help sooner or later. Keep spare
batteries too, and hopefully also a car power
adapter. |
| Battery
powered AM/FM/Weather radio |
|
|
|
In case your car's radio is
inoperative. Also spare batteries for this. |
| Pen and
Paper |
|
|
|
And/or a pencil - pencils never dry
out. |
| Swiss Army
Knife |
|
|
|
One with a bunch of different
tools on it. |
| Paracord |
|
|
|
100 ft or more of 550 Paracord
takes up little space and can be useful many
different ways. |
| List of
emergency contacts, details, numbers |
|
|
|
In case your cell phone is dead,
you'll have a hard copy of essential names,
numbers, accounts, etc. |
| Whistle |
|
|
|
|
|
Self Defense Items |
|
|
|
You are not in a time,
place, or circumstance of your choosing.
Many stranded motorists have been attacked because
of their vulnerability. Include whatever
you legally can - pepper spray or a pistol. |
|
Emergency Checklist
3 : Items for You
| Item |
Smr |
Wtr |
Spcl |
Comments |
| Water |
|
|
|
Ideally in protected glass
bottles, else in plastic. Replace regularly
to keep fresh and free of plastic contaminants. |
| Food |
|
|
|
Some long life shelf stable foods
such as energy bars or nuts - and of course, this
is your excuse for some chocolate too. |
| Toilet Paper |
|
|
|
Tissues of any kind may come in
handy. |
| Book, Cards,
Games |
|
|
|
Something to do if you're
stranded for many hours. That lengthy
non-fiction book that you keep meaning to read and
never do - maybe keep it in your emergency kit. |
| Emergency
Cash |
|
|
|
Keep some dollar bills and some
$20s too. It has happened to me - getting to
a gas station, nearly empty, only to find I had
the wrong trousers on, and neither cash nor credit
cards with me. |
| First Aid
Kit |
|
|
|
A topic in and of itself - see
the third part of this series for a discussion on
what to include in your
first aid kit. |
|
Emergency Checklist
4 : Extra Items for Winter
| Item |
Smr |
Wtr |
Spcl |
Comments |
| Boots or
galoshes or overshoes |
|
|
|
If there's any chance of ending
up walking in snow, you'll want something more
than loafers. |
| Chains |
|
|
|
Yuck. No-one likes putting
on chains, but sometimes there's no alternative.
It is best to practice putting them on in warm dry
daylight, too. |
| Tarpaulin |
|
|
|
Some sort of ground sheet so if
you are putting on chains or otherwise
kneeling/lying on the ground, you'll not get too
wet/cold/dirty (everything being relative!). |
| Shovel |
|
|
|
Useful for digging yourself out
of the snow. A reasonable handle length will
help getting snow away from under the car if you
bottom out. |
| Cat litter |
|
|
|
Sprinkling this on an icy surface
can help with traction. Sand works well too,
but is much heavier to carry. |
| Ice Scraper |
|
|
|
|
| Warm
clothing |
|
|
|
Coats, hats, gloves, hand
warmers, maybe more blankets too. |
|
What to Keep in Your First Aid
Kit
The biggest unexplained item
above is your first aid kit.
Whether you need to treat a
trivial cut or scrape, or a life threatening injury, and whether
you merely seek something to stop blood from dripping on the seats
and upholstery, or if you need to staunch a river of blood from an
artery, we've put together a comprehensive list of suggested
items, in part three of this series.
Please click on now for
how to design and create your
emergency first aid kit.
Part of a three-part series
This is part two of a three
part series on creating an in-car emergency kit. Please also visit
1.
How to Decide What to Include in Your Emergency Kit
2.
Four Emergency Kit Checklists
3. Your First Aid Kit
and Other Considerations
Related Articles, etc
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Originally published
27 April 2012, last update
30 May 2021
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
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