8 Things You Need To Have In Case Of A Car Breakdown
If you know how to prepare for a car breakdown, you won’t panic when your car engine starts smoking on the highway; you will have all the supplies needed to call for help and stay warm, safe and dry until assistance arrives. Keep the following items on hand in case of emergency:
1. Mobile Phone
Ensuring phone access is the most important preparatory step. Carry a spare vehicle phone charger at all times. Better yet, keep an old cell phone in your glove box. The Federal Communications Commission requires all phone service providers to transmit distress calls even if the service plan is expired.
2. Auto Escape Tool
If you are in a serious accident involving fire or submersion, you might have to force open the window to quickly exit your vehicle to avoid death. Water can cut power to today’s automatic windows, and, unlike the old roll-down versions, they will not work underwater. Keep a compact escape tool in the glove box that has a knife component that can cut through your seatbelt and a hammer than can swiftly shatter passenger windows.
3. Road Flares
Buy at least four road flares and store them in your trunk — they not only protect you from the flow of traffic and alert police and tow truck drivers of your location, but they can also be used to start fires or defend against wild animals.
4. Tire Change Kit
Keep your spare tire fully inflated and check that all necessary tools are stored with it: tire jack, lug wrench, wheel lock, tire iron and tire blocks. Always keep a flashlight with fully charged batteries with your spare tire for nighttime breakdowns.
5. Bottled Water
In extreme circumstances, help might not arrive for hours or longer. Store bottled water in your trunk for desperate situations. Humans can only survive three days without water.
6. Protein Snacks
Protein-rich energy bars can ward off disorienting hunger pangs and provide sustenance while waiting for assistance. This item is especially important for drivers with children or those traveling in remote areas.
7. Blanket and Poncho
When the temperature drops below freezing and you must turn off your engine to conserve fuel, you will be pleased that you packed a survival blanket in your vehicle emergency kit. Include a poncho in case you must step outside your car in bad weather. These items will prevent frostbite and hypothermia – two real threats for motorists stranded in subzero or wet climates.
8. Snow-Removal Tools
Keep a foldable snow shovel in your trunk during winter months. If you try to make it home from work in a snowstorm and get stuck on the highway, keeping your car’s exhaust pipe free of ice and snow can mean the difference between life and death. An ice scraper and some sand for traction are also a handy additions to your snow-removal tool kit.
To aid against car breakdowns of any kind, schedule regular tuneups and repairs. Before venturing on a lengthy trip, store the contact information of a reliable towing company like Stauffer’s Towing in your cell phone. Be proactive and prepare for a car breakdown now, and you will thank yourself down the road.