As a driver, you should prepare yourself and your car for roadside emergencies. This means you should have things such as a first aid kit and a tool kit in your car. Unfortunately, a recent study by MFASCO Health & Safety found that around 90% of vehicles in the US have no first aid supplies, jumper cables, or help signs, among other vital items. In essence, the list of items to keep in car will depend on various factors including, where you live, how frequently you drive, and whether or not you usually have passengers. With this in mind, here are some of the key items to keep in car for emergency.
Roadside Assistance Kit
Whether your car is new or old, it can break down unexpectedly. In general, the causes of car breakdowns range from minor to major. According to auto experts, the main causes of car breakdowns in the US include:
Flat tire
Brake trouble
Running out of gas
Low or dead battery
Engine problems
Transmission trouble
Some of the abovementioned
car problems are relatively easy to fix, especially if you are a DIY enthusiast with basic mechanic knowledge. However, irrespective or the nature of the problem, you need the right tools to fix it, making a roadside assistance kit a must-have item in your car. Remember, your car can break down far from a repair shop or a gas station. As a tip, consider customizing your standard emergency tool kit to suit the level of your mechanic knowledge and climate needs.
First Aid Kit
Every year, car crashes cause about 3 million nonfatal injuries in the US, per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is worth noting that nonfatal injuries range from minor burns and cuts to life-threatening injuries including, spinal cord injuries and traumatic injuries. Keeping this in mind, you should also have a first aid kit in your car. The good news is that you don't necessarily even have to pack your own first aid kit. Instead, you can buy a pre-packaged one. Whichever option you choose, ensure your first aid kit contains cotton swabs, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, over-the-counter pain relievers, gauze, and bandages in multiple sizes. For long road trips, you can include items such as allergy medicine, heating pad, and antibiotic cream, among others.
COVID-19 Protective Items
With the current threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, you should take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. When it comes to your car, you need more than just face masks. In addition to extra face masks, some of other key COVID-19 protective items you should in your car include:
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 70% isopropyl alcohol
Disposable gloves
Disinfectant wipes
Thermometer
These are some of the important items to keep in car for emergency. For extra peace of mind, carry the right auto insurance coverage. To learn more about
auto insurance coverage , call
CF&P Insurance Brokers today at (925) 956-7700.
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