What Every Car Needs in an Emergency Kit

Maybe it's because I grew up in a family with three girls. But my Dad insisted we all know the basics of taking care of a car. It may have been the fact he had a hard enough time remembering our boyfriend's names, and so just didn't want to worry or wonder about us being stranded in the car. From the time I got my driver's license there was an emergency kit in the trunk of the car.

Back then the emergency kit was basic. It included jumper cables, a flashlight, spare tire, jack, cement block, snow shovel, ice scraper, dry gas, windshield washer fluid, kitty litter or sand and a sleeping bag. I grew up in New England where winters can be snowy and cold.

The cement block could be used for blocking a tire when being changed and it also offered extra weight in the trunk for car traction. The kitty litter or sand was used for putting underneath wheels when caught on a patch of ice. The snow shovel got me out of many a driveway or parking spot after I had been plowed in.

When you live in a cold area often moisture gets into the gas tank. By adding dry gas, it saved us from water freezing in the gas line.

Today I'd include the same things in my trunk, but I'd also include tire sealant and an air compressor. My mechanic recommended a product by a company called Slime. For real, the sealant is green and the kit includes an air compressor.

My mechanic suggested the compressor by the Slime Company as it includes a built in light. With the built in light you can see what you are doing; you don't have to juggle a flashlight while inflating the tire. The light also makes you visible to approaching cars. The total cost for the sealant and tire inflation pump is under $30.

One of my girlfriends also includes a fire extinguisher in her emergency kit. Other friends have included bottled water for use either for drinking or for replacing in an overheated radiator.

Belonging to an automobile service club is also a good idea. Don't discount the need for the other items in a kit. You can only get a call to an automobile service club if you have cell phone or other phone service available. That's why it's important to have a car emergency kit.

Your emergency kit should include items you need to keep you safe in case of a flat tire or other minor car emergency. Check your emergency kit periodically to make sure your flashlight batteries work and other supplies are still there. Hopefully you'll never have a breakdown when driving, but with an emergency car kit you'll be prepared and can stay safe.