Car Emergency Kit / Vehicle Survival Kit - What do I need and Why?
What should a Car Emergency Kit Contain and why do I need one?
It is essential to plan ahead for what to do if you find yourself stranded in your car during an emergency. You may ended up stranded for a considerable period of time. New Zealand's Geographical location makes it subject to rapidly changing weather conditions as well as putting the population at risk of any number of natural disasters. As weather conditions continue to change around the world, and become more unpredictable, people are finding themselves caught out more and more often. Only a couple of days ago, multiple people found themselves stranded in Arthurs Pass as the roads became impassable from snow falls. As such, having an emergency kit in your car is essential for anyone who owns or drives a car. Having the right supplies and tools on hand during such an event can help make a big difference in staying safe and potentially surviving such an event.
What are the must have items in your car emergency kit?
The most essential items to include in your Vehicle or Car Emergency kit are a spare tyre, which is properly inflated, a car jack and the tools needed to unbolt the wheels and reattach them. As well as these items, you should consider the following items also.
First Aid Kit: A basic First Aid Kit is essential to any good emergency kit. If you already have a dedicated First Aid Kit in your vehicle, then that should be the first thing you should look into. Bring able to deal with any first aid emergencies on the run reduce the reliance on emergency services who may be over run, and if you are caught out in a remote location, being able to render assistance urgently may help save a life or preserve live until more advanced help is available.
Jumper Leads / Cables: While they should, not everyone carries Jumper Leads / Cables, they should. Having your battery go flat at the wrong time, in the wrong place, could spell disaster. Having some jumper cables will ensure you are able to get your vehicle jump started from a passing motorist or perhaps allow you to jump someone else when they are in need, While there are other services available, such as emergency roadside assistance or road side rescue, which are good options, they can be a long time coming and that depends on their availability. Ensure you know how to use them before the time comes, so you can avoid causing damage to your car or that of someone else.
Torch and Spare Batteries: A quality torch is an essential part of any emergency kit. Not only will it allow you to be able to see in the low light or dark, you can also use it to signal for help to passing motorists or rescuers. When you find yourself in the dark, alone, a quality torch will also provide you with some peace of mind. Ensure you have a spare batteries or if it is a rechargeable torch then consider adding a portable power bank to your kit. There are some good options available on the market these days that don't cost the earth.
Water: Water is one of the essentials to life, and as such is vital to any good emergency kits or survival kits. During periods of high stress you can often find yourself drinking more than usual. Ensure you have a good supply of bottled water in your vehicle and don't forget if you have children or pets that you travel with, then ensure you take them into account also. Don't forget to check your water supplies on a regular basis, at least once every six months, and swap it out if needed.
Emergency Food / Long Life Snacks : Having a supply of long life foods or emergency food in your Car Emergency Kit is essential. Make sure that what ever food you stock is something you actually like and will be happy to eat, trying foods for the first time during an emergency and finding out you don't it is not ideal. You can check out our 20 Year Shelf-Life Emergency Food Rations here if you are looking for something that is tasty, long lasting and full of energy,
Portable Phone Charger / Power Bank: With technology increasing so rapidly these days, we have become heavily reliant on our cell phones or mobile phones. One of the major issues with our phones is that they are power hungry and given our reliance on them and their use in being able to call for assistance or emergency help, having a way to charge them is essential. Ideally you would change them with a vehicle charger but in the event your battery goes flat, then having a power bank available will be invaluable. This could also be used as noted above for your torch if it ha USB charging etc.
Fuel: It is not always possible to carry spare fuel with you, keeping an eye on your fuel levels is important. Running out of fuel in a remote location could lead to a disaster. One of the things I like to do is consider the half way mark on the fuel tank as being empty. It may cost more in the short run to fill the tank and lead to more frequent fuel stops, it means you will always have at least a half a tank of fuel, Knowing the range of your vehicle and how many kms you will get from a tank will also allow you to plan how far you could travel in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Gloves: Good Quality gloves are essential to any good emergency car kit or vehicle survival kit, the will help protect your hands from any damage while working on a vehicle, or working outside of a vehicle. While gardening style gloves will work, they offer minimal protections and will not stand up to as much wear and tear. A good quality pair of gloves is essential. Check out these gloves we have in stock from Lynn River, they are incredible and offer exceptional protection.
Portable AM/FM Radio and Spare Batteries: Being able to keep up to date with what is happening around you is essential. During major events or disasters updates will be broadcast via your local radio stations. Having an AM/FM Radio on hand is a great way to keep up to date with what is happening, where you should go and what you should do.
If you live in areas where you are subject to extreme weather such as snow, heavy rain falls or areas subject to high winds and slips, then keeping items such as a small shovel, an ice scraper, basic car tools, a fire extinguisher or fire blankets, warm clothing, spare blanket and an car owner's manual should be considered.
While this is not an exhaustive list, it is a very good place to start. Your needs will depend on your location your needs. You can make changes to the above as you see fit and as your needs change. Ensure you check your kit often and restock it if you use anything from it. This will ensure your emergency kit is ready to go if and when you need it.