What to Pack in an Emergency Roadside Kit

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August 11, 2018
Edward Smith

What to Pack in an Emergency Roadside Kit

What to Pack in an Emergency Roadside Kit

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. An emergency roadside kit is crucial to have in your vehicle whenever taking summer road trips, commuting to work, or venturing out on spontaneous excursions with friends and family. These kits can be extremely useful. They can be easily stowed away in your trunk and accessed whenever you find yourself in need. Knowing what essentials to pack in an emergency roadside kit is vital to securing the well-being of yourself and your loved ones.

Basic Emergency Roadside Kit

Motor vehicles are susceptible to extensive damage during the summer due to the scorching sun and heat. Having a well-prepared kit can help you beat the heat by getting back on the highway or making your time more comfortable and safe when waiting for assistance.  These kits should include the following:

  • Basic or multipurpose toolkit
  • Duct tape
  • Flashlight and backup batteries
  • Gloves
  • Jack, wheel wrench and spare tire
  • Jumper cables to recharge a dead battery or help another motorist stranded on the road with a dead battery
  • Roadside triangles, flares, and reflective safety vests to indicate your presence to oncoming vehicles
  • Small empty gas can if your car runs out of fuel
  • Tire pressure gauge and portable air compressor, which can be plugged into your cigarette lighter port to fill an underinflated tire
  • Fire extinguishers that are intended for automobile use to put out small fires
  • First aid kit
  • Drinking water and nonperishable foods such as dried fruits or protein bars
  • Blankets
  • Vehicle cellphone charger
  • Roadmaps in case your cell phone or vehicle navigation system are without power

Emergency Sanitation Supplies

A basic sanitation supply kit is practical to have in your vehicle whenever you find yourself stranded on the road. Consider adding these products to your supply kit:

  • Disinfectant wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Headache medicine
  • Paper towels to clean up unexpected spills
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Plastic bags to store wet items and trash
  • Toilet paper

Pet Care Supplies

If you frequently take to the roads with your furry friend, you should stow these supplies in your vehicle:

  • Pet food and water
  • Bowls for watering and feeding
  • Leash
  • Toys for chewing or other stress-relieving items

Weather Protection Items

When faced with the summer heat while waiting for the arrival of a professional to repair your car or tow your disabled vehicle from the scene of an auto accident, having the following supplies can be handy:

  • Battery-operated fan to keep yourself cool
  • Insect repellant to prevent bug bites
  • Sun hat to protect the face and shoulders from the harmful sun rays
  • Sunblock to protect yourself against sunburns

Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. Auto accidents caused by negligent motorists often result in serious injuries to those involved. If a driver’s negligence has caused severe harm to you or your loved one, I can offer you free, friendly legal advice on your situation. Please feel free to give me a call any time at (916) 921-6400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400.

To read what my former clients and peers have said about my practice, please visit the following sites:

As a member of the Million Dollar Advocates, I have won settlements or trial verdicts worth at least $1 million for prior clients.

My Verdicts and Settlements page includes summaries of my past cases and their outcomes.

Image Source: By “Rico_Loeb” via Pixabay

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