Are You Prepared for a Roadside Emergency?
Being a good driver means you should be prepared for
anything. A roadside emergency can happen at any time and having the necessary
equipment can make all the difference. While you can always call a roadside service
company, what happens if you don’t have cell service or your cell phone is
dead? At Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC,
the best car dealership in Lake of the
Ozarks, we want to make sure you are prepared for anything that may come
up. To be prepared, it’s important to have an emergency kit in your car. We
have put together a list of things to include in your car emergency kit.
Having a pre-made emergency kit is a great place to start.
However, putting together your own emergency kit has many benefits:
- Items specific to you and your family – you can
add things to your kit depending on your needs. If you have pets or kids, you
can add things like dog treats, a water bowl, diapers, etc.
- Tailored to your geographic location – depending
on where you live, you will need items different from someone who lives in a
different part of the country.
- Multiple kits – it’s easy to create a backup kit when creating the original kit. This option is usually cheaper than buying multiple pre-made kits
- You made it – you’ll know exactly what is inside of your emergency kit.
Helpful hint:
familiarize yourself with the products in your emergency kit before you are in
a situation where you have to use them.
Daily Car Safety Kit
List - Jumper cables
- Small lithium battery – can also be used to charge a phone or computer
- Flares or triangle reflectors
- Backup gasoline – at least a quart or more
- Fire extinguisher – preferably a small one that is easy to store
- Extra antifreeze and brake fluid
Helpful hint: if you
have an older car, I would recommend adding extra fluid to your kit. However,
if you have a newer car and you regularly check your fluids and get service,
you shouldn’t need these.
- First-aid kit – either a pre-made kit or if you want to put one together yourself, here’s a list of things to include:
o
Band-Aids
o Hand sanitizer
o
Antiseptic
o
Antibiotic ointment
o
Bug spray
o
Aspirin/Tylenol
o
Gauze pads
o
Tweezers
o
Bandana
o
Ace bandage
- Blanket
- Tire repair kit
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Pen and paper
- Nonperishable food – granola bars, peanut butter, etc.
- Bottled water
Helpful hint: When you
are putting together your emergency kit, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the
condition of your car, your driving patterns, and the weather conditions in
your area. If you live in an area that gets winter weather, you’re going to
have more in your emergency kit than people who don’t get winter weather.
Winter Additions:
- Ice scraper
- A bag of sand or kitty litter – to help with traction on icy roads
- A winter blanket
- Windshield fluid
- Extra winter clothes and shoes
Helpful hint: when
putting your emergency kit together, find a good way to keep the items together
so they don’t roll around while you’re driving. You can put the items in a
cardboard box, a soft tote bag, or even a backpack. Whatever you decide, make
sure it’s easily accessible in case you need it in a hurry.
It’s important to always be prepared for any situation that
may arise on the roadway. After reading this list, we hope you are more
prepared to put together your own car emergency kit. Besides having an
emergency kit in your car, you should stay up to date with any maintenance on your car.
Most calls for help are related to drivers skipping basic maintenance on their
cars. If you’re in need of vehicle maintenance in Lake of the Ozarks, our experienced staff at Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC can help you.
513 N. Business Route 5
Sales: 573.317.4191
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
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