Emergency Essentials You Need to Have in Your Car

We spend a significant amount of time in our cars, and with summer looming around the corner, that means some much needed road trips. Anything can happen at any given time, which is why it’s crucial to have an emergency kit readily available. Most of you already have one, but for those of you who don’t, it’s time to start prepping one.

Don’t worry about the expenses just yet, as you may have most of these items laying around in your home already. You can slowly create your kit by adding items as you go and replenish and replace items that may have expired. Here’s a basic list (minus the spare tire and tools, assuming those are already in your car) to get you started on creating your emergency kit. 

1) Container You’ll need some sort of container or basket to store your emergency essentials. This can be a laundry basket, a clear bin from the dollar store, or you can even reuse a cardboard box from your last delivery. Although you can use multiple bins or shopping totes to carry your essentials, the idea is to keep everything together for easy access and to save space in your car.

2) First Aid Kit You can find a good full-sized first aid kit from your local drugstore or Amazon. You can also create your own by using online kits as a reference, and purchase those items individually to fit your specific needs and save money.

3) Blanket It’s always a good idea to keep a blanket in your car. If you’re trying to save space, Mylar emergency blankets are perfect. They are individually folded, sealed, and fit in the palm of your hand. They’re great at conserving body heat, and most importantly, they’re reusable. 

4) Flashlight & Batteries Although our smart phones are equipped with one, it’s a good idea to have a flashlight handy in case you are trying to conserve your phone’s battery. Hand held flashlights are much brighter and powerful than the ones we have on our phones. 

5) Jumper Cables/Portable Jump Starter Every vehicle should have a pair of jumper cables and a portable car jump starter handy. These devices can be purchased for as low as $100. If your battery dies, you won’t have to rely on finding another vehicle for a boost. This is important if you take road trips often and find yourself in low traffic areas. 

6) Paper Map Up to date physical paper maps are crucial to have. If you can’t rely on your phone or on your car’s GPS, you’ll be able to rely on your map and find your way to safety. 

7) Clothing Always carry an extra change of clothes, this includes a t-shirt, sweater, pants, undergarments, and socks. If you live in a cold climate, it’s a good idea to have an extra coat, gloves, beanie, and scarf handy. If you live somewhere warmer, a light jacket or sweater will suffice. 

8) Non-Perishable Foods and Water Last but not least, food and water. I always keep water in my car regardless, as well as granola bars in my purse. When it comes to your emergency kit, I like to keep enough food and water for 48 hours. You can choose to carry more or less depending on your travel situation. Some examples of non-perishable foods to keep in your car include crackers, dried fruit/nuts, and jerky.

I hope this post encourages you to create or replenish an emergency essentials kit for your vehicle. It’s always a good idea to be prepared and to expect the unexpected. What are some must-have essentials that you keep in your car? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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