Starter pack
At a bare minimum, keep a basic emergency kit in your car. Its contents can help you if you get stuck or need to wait for assistance. This includes:
- Kitty litter, sand or other material that provides traction
- Windshield ice scraper
- Flares or reflective emergency markers
- Jumper cables
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Bottles or jugs of drinking water
- Nonperishable foods, such as protein bars and granola
- First-aid kit with items like aspirin and adhesive bandages
- Moist handwipes and plastic bags for sanitary purposes
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Paper map
Bringing pets, young children or other passengers with you? Make sure you have the food and other special necessities (such as baby diapers and wipes) they’d need, too.
When you head out, be sure you have at least a half tank of gas, a fully charged cellphone and the phone’s portable charger. Even if you’re not going far, it could take longer than it should (like if traffic comes to a standstill). Destination not a routine one like work or school? “Tell someone where you’re going and when you should get there,” Dr. Elliot says. “That way, if you run into trouble, they’ll know where to look for you.”