Winter emergency kits for your car are well known, but what about summer kits? Here are some things everyone should include in their summer car emergency kit.
11 Things to Have in Your Car’s Emergency Kit for Summer Road Trips
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Visibility Equipment
Keep visibility equipment, such as flares or reflective hazard triangles, in your vehicle in case of roadside trouble. Consider an LED flameless flare that will last longer than its traditional counterpart.
“Anytime you’re pulled over on the side of the road, there’s the danger that another driver may not see you or your vehicle,” says Wakelin. “You should have visibility gear to wear so they can see you, whether you’re just standing off to the side waiting for a tow, looking under the hood or changing a tire.”
Visibility equipment is also essential so you can make yourself visible to emergency responders, says Watson. “At night or in extreme weather, it can be especially hard to see, so you’ll want something bright or reflective to alert others that there is an incapacitated vehicle and/or people along the roadside.”
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Water
Hydration is key when it comes to summer safety, so be sure to keep water in your vehicle at all times.
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Blanket
You may not need the blanket to stay warm, but you can use a reflective emergency blanket for shade. If you don’t have a reflective blanket, the blanket from your winter car survival kit will work to shade you from the blistering sun.
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A Small Tool Kit
It would be nice to have every automotive tool on hand in case of a breakdown, however, this is not realistic. Even so, you should always carry a small toolkit in your car that includes an adjustable wrench, duct tape, a couple of screwdrivers, a utility knife and pliers. In many cases, a simple fix may be all you need to get you back on the road.
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First Aid Kit
A first aid kit should be part of every car emergency kit. Include some ointment, gauze, bandages, adhesive tape and tweezers. For those with life-threatening allergies, include an EpiPen.
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Sunscreen
Purchase a couple of sunscreen sticks to keep in your glove compartment or your first aid kit for times you’re stuck in the sun. When they’re empty, you can use them as a clever way to store cash in your car.
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Flashlight
Flashlights are one thing every DIYer should own, and it’s smart to keep one in your car. An LED flashlight is a good option since the batteries and the bulb will last a long time.
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Phone Charger
The last thing you need when stranded is for your phone to die. Keep a spare charger in the car, but don’t use it to charge your phone regularly.
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Tire Sealant and Gauge
You can stop a flat tire before it happens with tire sealant, which can quickly repair the punctures up to 1/4-inch in diameter in the tire’s tread area. Make sure it’s an item on your car emergency kit list. Additionally, make sure that you keep a tire pressure gauge on hand and check your tire pressure on a regular basis.
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Jumper Cables
Jumper cables can come in handy throughout the year, not just during the winter months, and should be part of any vehicle emergency kit. If you are going to jump-start a car, be sure to know how to do it safely before attempting to do so.
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Snacks
Keep some snacks, that won’t melt, such as granola, dried fruit and nuts in your car emergency kit. Use a recycled container for storage.
FAQ
What should I do if I break down far from help?
The most important first step is not to panic. If you have cell service, call for roadside assistance. If there’s no service, many smart phones still have emergency satellite reception. Or, if your car is equipped, you can also just push the button to call for roadside assistance.
Also, anytime you’re driving through a remote location, note the locations of emergency call boxes on the side of the road. And if all of that fails, “If you know you can make the walk and it’s safe, set out reflective triangles and carefully flag down help, or put on that snazzy reflective vest and seek out help on foot,” says Wakelin.
What if I lose GPS or cell service?
Even if your phone can’t connect, your in-vehicle system may still work. Also, your cell phone may still be able to call 911, too, even if it’s displaying “no service.”
However, “Because you don’t have service, the 911 operator might not be able to see your location clearly, so if you’re going somewhere remote, have a map in your car to be able to help them pinpoint where you’re stuck at,” says Watson.
About the Experts
Nicole Wakelin is an automotive expert at Car Talk and co-hosts the Fast Women podcast for Newsweek. She is also a juror for the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards, World Car Awards and Women’s World Car of the Year awards.
Duane “Doc” Watson is a technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. He has more than 45 years of experience in automotive repair, has trained thousands of technicians and earned many industry awards, including Chevrolet Technician of the Year and Buick Service Master of the Year.
