You should always have a well-stocked emergency kit in your vehicle for your usage, or to be able to help a fellow motorist in their time of need. First and foremost, with any emergency it goes without saying that you should be very careful and use common sense when troubleshooting. If you find yourself broke down, obviously if you can, pull over to the side of the road, put on your hazard lights and if you’ve got reflective triangles, place those about half a kilometre away (about 200 feet) from where you’re located. If you have roadside assistance, call and be patient.

Here are a few suggestions for items you may want in your vehicle emergency kit:

Hungry Anyone: Energy bars are a great source of nourishment if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t know when your next meal will be. They don’t take up a lot of space and are a quick meal replacement full of vitamins and nutrients. Remember to change-out these bars prior to expiration dates. A bottle of water is also a necessity, and make sure it’s in a plastic container so as not to shatter or freeze. The old saying 3 – 3 – 3 holds true: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food is a simple guideline to follow when making sure you have what you need to survive an emergency. If you travel with your pet(s) often, then a supply for them as well should be on your list.

Warm Fuzzy Feeling: I always keep a blanket or two in my vehicles year-round…you never know when a freak storm will hit, or if your passengers just want to snuggle up on a longer journey. They’ve also come in handy to offer to a victim when I’ve come across a motor vehicle accident. It’s amazing what comfort a warm blanket can provide.

You light up my life: There are vehicles now with built-in flashlights (the Dodge Caliber, for instance), which sit in their cradle until needed, constantly charging. If you don’t have such an option, make sure you have a flashlight and plenty of fresh batteries. An emergency candle and waterproof matches are also a good idea. Not only will these light sources allow you to make repairs in the dark or administer first aid, but also can alert passersby to your predicament.

Speaking of First Aid: Everyone should take a basic first aid course; for the amount of time and money it will cost you, it could be worth its’ weight in gold if you ever need to use it. As far as a first aid kit, you can find good basic kits at local home improvement or department stores. Bandages, antiseptic, tape, tweezers, scissors, wet wipes, cotton swabs, gloves, aspirin and a first aid guide are essentials. Of course you can always add to this kit with more specific items, such as burn treatment creams, splints or CPR masks. You can always visit the Canadian Red Cross website for more ideas, kits and course information at www.redcross.ca

When I say Jump: Carrying jumper cables is really a necessity, rather than just a good idea. If you’re ever in need of a jump, or someone else is, then at least you know you’ll have the equipment required to get you back on the road again.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland: I know what you’re thinking – it’s still summer for goodness sake! But, it’s not too early about thinking of items to add to your emergency kit to beef it up for the colder weather. Items such as a small shovel (even a folding camping style would work), ice scraper, extra antifreeze and washer fluid, salt or non-clumping cat litter and an extra pair of gloves are all imperatives for snowy drives. Again, depending on where you may be traveling, you might want to add these things now. I lived in Calgary for 7 ½ years, and my first year there; I experienced snow in every single month – even the summer months! So, keep it in mind for those out-of-town drives.

Where in the World are You: It’s always a good idea to map out your route, stick to it and let someone know where you’ll be. This way, if something out of your control were to happen, someone would know where to send help.

The Games People Play: The other things I have in my vehicles are a few travel games, some cards, a portable crib board and paper and pens. I know this really isn’t imperative, however, if you’ve ever spent any amount of time broke down (especially with kids); you will thank me when you have these items. Even more importantly if your vehicle has a DVD player – then the kids are more dependent upon entertainment of some sort, and hours can seem like days when you don’t have what you’re used to normally. Again, if you have pets traveling with you, a few treats and toys and a blanket for them is always a great idea. There’s nothing worse than trying to troubleshoot with a barking dog, a crying child and a cranky significant other complaining about why you didn’t pack the vehicle emergency kit…yikes!

I hope none of you will ever have to use your kits, but if you take a bit of time and effort now to get one together, then if you ever do spend down-time, at least you’ll be as comfortable as possible.

Happy trails!

Karen J. Williams is a Sales and Leasing Consultant with Okanagan Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can reach her at (250) 861-1040 or email at karenw@okanagandodge.com

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