Emergency items you should always have in the car
Being a car owner comes with great responsibility and if you encounter an emergency such as a breakdown, it’s important to be well prepared.
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Car emergencies often happen when we least expect them. You could be faced with a quick tyre change on the side of a busy highway or an engine breakdown in a remote area on a rainy night.
Having the right items on hand can help you deal with these emergencies when they occur.
Your car manual is the handbook for everything you need to know about your car and is specific to its make, model, and age.
Familiarise yourself with its contents and keep it in the glovebox always. Along with helping in emergencies, your manual also provides information on vehicle features you may not be using or even know about such as cruise control, voice recognition, or Bluetooth pairing.
It’s worthwhile investing in a basic tool kit, which you can pick up from any automotive parts store. Ensure you have jumper leads, a spare tyre, and a jack. Keep containers of spare oil, water, and coolant as well as a couple of old rags or wipes.
Other handy maintenance items include a tyre pressure gauge, wheel lever, and window cleaner. Make sure you’re well versed in how to use each of these so that you’re not caught out at the worst possible time.
Top tip
Mobile phones have torch lights built into them but can also drain the phone’s battery life faster than you may think.
Using a torch instead means you can reserve your phone battery in case you need to make emergency calls or use navigation.
Keeping a small, handheld torch or headtorch in the car has more value than it sounds. Not only can you use it to search for misplaced items in the boot or under seats, but it can also help identify car trouble under the hood and in the dark.
A torch can also be used to signal oncoming motorists in the dark. Be sure to invest in a rechargeable or solar-powered torch with batteries built to handle extreme heat and cold.
Your safety comes first and if you are ever outside your vehicle after an accident or breakdown, ensure that you have a hi-vis vest you can put on so you can be seen.
These can be easily stored in the side door, glovebox, back pocket of your seat, or under it.
Keep a set of reflective hazard cones or triangles that you can place on the side of the road before and after your car. These are ideal for dark or low visibility conditions so other motorists can see you when they approach.
You can buy these pre-made or make one up yourself. Accidents can happen and having a first aid kit is valuable if you or someone else needs basic medical attention.
A kit can include bandages and band-aids, gauze, scissors, gloves, tweezers, tape, antiseptic cream, paracetamol, and other required medications.
It may pay to invest in a fire extinguisher that is suitable for cars in case you ever need to put out or manage a small fire. Make sure the extinguisher is mounted and secured in a safe place such as the boot to avoid it being knocked or rolling around.
Not all fire extinguishers are best suited to the types of fires you may experience in a car. According to Fire Extinguisher Online, dry chemical powder extinguishers are recommended for handling common causes of car fires including Class A Flammable Materials (e.g. paper and wood), Class B Flammable Liquids (e.g. paint and petrol), and Class E Electrical Equipment (e.g. computers and generators).
Keep a spare charger and make a habit of putting your phone on charge while you are driving.
This ensures your battery remains full in case you are in an emergency where you need to contact others or use navigation tools.
A fully charged power bank is also encouraged as this can be used to charge other necessities such as a rechargeable torch.
There are a range of other items that you can keep in your car that may prove effective during an emergency.
Being prepared for the elements is helpful and some items to consider are a blanket, hat, sunscreen, and rain poncho. Stashing a small amount of cash may come in handy in case you need it for a purchase, and it wouldn’t hurt to keep some drinkable water stored in a BPA-free container, non-perishable food items, and even toilet paper.
Ensure you take time to set up your car with items that you may need in an emergency. The best-case scenario is that you never have to use any of them but in the unlikely event that you have an emergency, you will be well prepared.
National Seniors Australia members receive 10% off Roadside Assistance.
When you experience car trouble, be prepared and know you will be assisted with National Seniors Australia Roadside Assistance.
Roadside Assistance includes 24/7 call centre and emergency support, as well as callouts, emergency fuel, batteries, and help with lost or locked keys. With National Seniors Australia Roadside Assistance, you’ll know that if your car breaks down, we can assist you.
