How to Customize Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit
No one knows when he or she will encounter a roadside emergency and every car needs a roadside emergency kit. Often you can purchase car emergency kits that come with many items -- things like jumper cables, flares, an emergency antenna sign and flashlight are pretty standard. More extensive kits will include small items commonly found in a home first aid kit as well. But, knowing your personal needs should compel you to customize your own roadside emergency kit in case the improbable happens.
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Things You'll Need
- Medicines such as aspirin, antihistamines, 3-4 day supply of chronic meds
- Hand crank radio
- Food rations like protein bars
- Cold weather gear like aluminum blankets
Instructions
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Expand your first aid kit's ability by adding medicines you may need. The first aid kit that comes standard in most emergency roadside kits will contain band-aids, wound gauze, tape and antiseptic. These are useful if the need for first aid is relatively minor. However, in a true emergency, there may be need for more life-saving items to have on hand such as aspirin for both pain and in case someone suffers a heart attack. Allergy medicines might also prove helpful if someone is stung by a bee. In areas where there is the risk of poisonous snake bites like the southwestern U.S., anti-venom medicine may need to be included in an emergency kit. Also, if someone in the family has specific medications for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, bring along an extra 3-4 day supply of those medications if portable.
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Anticipate poor weather conditions. Nothing tests the preparedness of a driver during an emergency like cold weather or snowy conditions. Having to sit in a car for hours during a fierce blizzard, passengers would wish for additional warmth and coverage more than anything else. A blanket works fine but even better is a lightweight, compact all-weather insulated aluminum blanket. If someone has to walk to a distant gasoline station or to make a phone call, having disposable hand and boot warmers in an emergency roadside kit would be a welcome sight as well.
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Bring along food stores. We often hear stories of survival where someone stranded for days subsisted off cough drops and rain water. Adding food rations as part of the emergency kit is a good idea. You'll want include long-life, shelf-stable items like protein bars that satiate and keep energy and spirits high.
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Lessen the sense of isolation and provide access to information by carrying an emergency radio. Their relatively low cost makes them an affordable addition to a roadside car kit. The radio's hand-crank generator powers the unit's AM/FM/TV/weather reception. Other radio options might include a built-in LED flashlight, cell phone charger and even an emergency siren.
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References
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