Your vehicle is an extension of yourself, especially if you depend on it daily for your commute to work and to run errands. Therefore, you should value every inch of space and use it to serve a purpose. Depending on the model and quality, your car has a compact space, and storing many unnecessary items makes your load heavier and the vehicle disorganized and messier.
The last thing you want is frantically searching for your purse in the heap of items you’ve stored in your vehicle. That’s why it’s essential to maximize your car’s space by planning what needs to be stored in every available storage unit.
As a general thumb of rule, the items you store in your car should provide you with a sense of relief, comfort, and security during emergencies, including:
• Extreme weather conditions
• Accidents
• Flat tires
Remember, your vehicle can break down anywhere, and if you’re miles away from home or in a region with no telephone network, you should have some essentials that can help you.
Here are six essential things you should keep in your vehicle to combat any emergency while driving.
1. Emergency First Aid Kit
No one wants to get into an accident, but roads are unpredictable, and collisions happen, no matter how careful you are as a driver. This is where a first aid emergency kit comes into play, and it’s an item you should always have in your car.
This way, in case of an accident, you can stop any bleeding as you await medical attention. Some of the items to include in your emergency kit are gauze, pain killers, bandages, allergy medicine, antibiotic cream, and cotton swabs.
You can also add prescriptions or a regular dose of medicine if your family members have known illnesses.
2. Basic Car Tools
When driving, it’s normal to get a flat tire or run out of gas unexpectedly. Luckily, by having basic car tools, you can resolve minor road issues such as a dead battery when you’re miles away from an auto repair shop that can service and repair your car.
So, ensure you have a jack, pipe, wrench, screwdriver, brake fluid, duct tape, tire sealer, oil, and a pocket knife in the back of your trunk.
3. Battery Boosters
Car batteries die all the time, and having battery boosters such as jumper cables can help revive them. You don’t need any experience to use jumper cables. Simply attach them to the positive and negative battery terminals of another vehicle, and you’ll be back on the road before you know it.
4. Wipes, Tissues, or Paper Towels
Most vehicle problems involve oil, dirt, and getting messy. Hence, it’s a good idea to have some wipes or tissues to wipe off your hands and to clean up any spills.
5. Manuals and Identifications
Always have a copy of your vehicle’s registration, insurance, and manual in your dashboard. They can come in handy if your car breaks down, if you run into the police, or get involved in an accident.
6. Flashlight
A flashlight is a must-have as it ensures you can change a tire at night or maintain your vehicle when it’s dark.