Car emergency kit checklist: What you need to stay safe on the road

• Your car emergency kit checklist!
• These items should always travel with you.
• Keep your family safe on the road.

Any time you are on the road you must bring a car emergency kit to ensure you have everything you need to stay safe until help arrives if something goes wrong.

Traveling by car is an adventure that offers spectacular landscapes and unforgettable memories, but you always run the risk of unforeseen circumstances ruining your trip.

For this reason, the experts suggest there are certain items you should always have when you hit the road. Here is your ultimate car emergency kit checklist!

A car emergency kit should include a whistle and water

It does not matter if you travel alone or with others, remember to always carry a whistle with you and verify that it works properly, as it will help you communicate in the dark or over long distances.

Carrying a whistle in your car emergency kit will make you feel safer, especially if you are traveling at night or if your car breaks down in a secluded spot that is difficult to access.

In addition, many motorists have succumbed to exposure in adverse weather and it’s important to stay hydrated.

For this reason, experts recommend always carrying bottled water in plastic containers, since they won’t shatter in freezing temperatures.

First-aid kit, clothes and blankets

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It is always necessary to have a first-aid kit when you hit the road. This is because the risk of suffering a car mishap, even if it is minimal, is always a possibility.

This first-aid kit should contain items such as bandages, gauze, medication for dizziness or nausea, and a knife to cut things like seat belts in emergencies.

Something you should always keep in your car emergency kit, especially if you hit the road frequently, is a change of clothes that you can layer — as well as blankets that you can use in case your car breaks down when it’s cold.

This type of preparation could protect you from hypothermia and will help you get through the night even when it’s very cold out. It will also make it easier for you to go for help if you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Road flares, flashlight, batteries and a compass

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A car emergency kit list must include different kinds of light sources such as: flashlights, matches, candles, road flares and batteries. With the road flares, for example, you will be able to change tires and other road side maintenance safely and efficiently.

If you require professional help, you will avoid possible accidents by alerting motorists that there is a stranded car.

The risk of death increases significantly when people who have had an accident decide to seek help on their own, especially in unfamiliar places.

Venturing into unknown terrain could lead to severe disorientation. For this reason, it is recommended to always carry a compass that works properly in your car emergency kit.

Car emergency kit: Phone charger and snacks

A portable cell phone charger will be one of the most useful investments for your road trips, as it will prevent you from losing contact with the outside world and with the emergency services, in case you need them.

Keeping your cell phone charged is always recommended. That way you can keep up to date with all the information you need to drive safely no matter where you are.

In the event you are stranded for any length of time it’s important to keep your energy up.

Bring nutritious and filling snacks like nuts, trail mix or protein bars so you won’t go hungry while you wait for help.