What Should Be in My Summer Emergency Kit?

Posted on July 15, 2016

What do you have in your emergency kit right now? The most common answer you’ll hear is, “nothing”. Nine out of ten drivers on the road today don’t have safety supplies in their vehicle at all! You might think, “I drive an Acura. My vehicle won’t break down. Why do I need an emergency kit?” As true as that might be, you aren’t always preparing for a breakdown. It could be something else that happens such as a collision with another vehicle, an injured pedestrian, or a medical emergency you just happen to come across. An emergency kit isn’t something you have on hand because you expect to use it. You keep it with you in the event you MUST use it. That’s also a good reason to make sure everything in your kit is  non-perishable and long-lasting. So what should you have in your emergency kit?

First Aid kit

It’s for emergencies, so it stands to reason that a first aid kit is on the list. When you select a first aid kit for your vehicle, make sure it’s stocked with a selection of bandage sizes, gauze, medical tape, scissors, tweezers, and alcohol swabs. The bigger the kit, the better, but make sure the essentials are all present. Use high-quality bandages so they don’t dry out from lack of use.

Survival supplies

If you get lost in the wilderness with your Acura (although it’s hard to do if you have navigation), there are a few key things you’ll want on hand. Pack yourself some wooden waterproof matches, a candle, a blanket (the silvery emergency blanket will do), a pocketknife, and a spare set of clothes. These items will never go bad, so they can stored in your kit for years.

Food and water

In an emergency, response times can vary from minutes to days. Keep a few nonperishable snacks in your vehicle along with a couple bottles of water. You’ll want to change these items out when you switch to your winter emergency supplies to keep them fresh.

A small toolkit

Sometimes all you need is a screwdriver or a pair of pliers for minor repairs that can be critical in the wrong situation. A compact toolkit with an assortment commonly used tools is all you need. Keep it all bundled together in the corner of your trunk in a bag or crate. You hope you never have to use your emergency kit but if you do, you’ll be the one in ten that’s prepared.