Advice On Being Prepared For Auto Emergencies

by hanamigo

posted on 10/02/2009

Any number of things can happen to us while we're out on the road. While we can't always prevent them from happening, we can do something about it to help make the situation better. Here are a few things to have that can help if you encounter an emergency on the road. It always helps to be prepared.

Spare Tire
Flat tires are a common problem for drivers. You don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire. Try to keep a spare tire with you, especially if you drive long distances alone. Store it in your cargo area or in your trunk.

Changing a tire can be a difficult task if you're by yourself, so make sure that you know what to do and have a tire jack handy. You will want to do this as quickly as possible so you can get on your way.

Gas Container
If you suddenly run out of gas on the road, you'll need to go out and get more. In order to do that, you'll need something to carry the gas back to your car in. Make sure that your container is one that can hold at least one gallon of gas, enough that will get you to a gas station so you can fill up your tank properly.

You may want to have a funnel on hand to make pouring the gas from the container to your vehicle easier and decrease the likelihood of you spilling.

First Aid Kit
Not everything that happens in your vehicle affects your vehicle. It could be a situation that affects you. Suppose you scrape your hand changing a tire or burn yourself on your overheated vehicle while lifting the hood. You'll need something immediate to relieve the pain.

Having a first aid kit in your backseat or the glove compartment can help you deal with a minor injury immediately and can keep something small from turning into a big problem later.

Jumper Cables
Try to have your own set of jumper cables with you. You don't want to have to rely on the kindness of strangers to help you get your car started. If you don't feel comfortable relying on other people, there are alternatives to getting your vehicle started without having to bother anyone.

Money
It makes sense to carry cash on you at all times, but automobiles won't always be as reliable as we want them to be. Make sure that you set aside some money in the glove compartment or in another area of your vehicle that you won't ever spend. This money should be used explicitly for emergencies like paying for gas when you run out or to pay for emergency auto repair. How much you decide to keep in an emergency fund is up to you.

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