How to Put Together a Car Safety Kit
What kind of stuff do you keep in your car? A collection of music CDs or books on tape? An umbrella in case of rain? A power bar in case you get hungry? As the Boy Scouts can tell us, it's always good to be prepared. And preparation means making plans for worst-case scenarios as well, which is why it's important to pack a car safety kit.
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Things You'll Need
- Bright-colored rain poncho
- Flashlight (crank or shake)
- Emergency hammer
- Car organizer
- Toolkit
Instructions
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Keep a brightly colored rain poncho in your car at all times. If you need to get out of the car in the rain to do any roadside repairs or signal for help, you want to make sure you not only stay dry but, also are visible to other drivers.
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Make sure to have a flashlight in your glove compartment. If you want to avoid the frustration of turning on the light only to find that the batteries are low or dead, you can purchase a crank- or shake-operated flashlight, or even the type of flashlight that works on batteries but can be cranked as a backup power source.
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Purchase an emergency hammer. Such a tool may be necessary should you ever find yourself trapped under water and needing to escape from your car. If your car has the type of windows that you roll down by hand, you may still be able to operate these under water. But if you have power windows, forget it. You'll need to smash your way through, and you want to be sure you have a tool on hand that can do the job,
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Stash all your "junk" in a car organizer. That way, should you ever get in a crash, you won't be beaned by a flying water bottle, coffee cup, book map, iPod, or any of the other things floating around your front seat on your daily commute.
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Look for a good tool kit that contains all of the essentials for any roadside repairs you may need to make. Special car kits are available that contain not only the basic screwdrivers, wrenches and other tools, but also such items as road flares and emergency warning triangles.
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Tips & Warnings
A roll of reflective tape stashed in the glove compartment will add instant visibility to any outfit should you find yourself stranded alongside the road at night.
Membership in AAA or another roadside assistance organization can save you from any number of unpleasant roadside situations.
