What You Should Keep In Your Car: Roadway Emergency Preparation

Always make sure that you have a spare tire in your car that is in good enough condition to be used temporarily. You should also have a jack and anything else you need to change a tire. Of course, you should know how to change a tire should the need arise.

Flares are very handy to have in your car. If your car becomes disabled, you are involved in an accident or you come across a vehicular accident, setting up flares can alert other motorists to the hazard, making it less likely that there will be a secondary accident.

You should also carry jumper cables or a battery charger in your car. It is all too easy to leave the headlights on in your car on a dreary day, only to find that your battery is dead upon your return. Having a battery charger or jumper cables will allow you to charge the battery or jump start the engine, so that you can get back on the road as soon as possible.

Stow a first-aid kit and blanket in your trunk, too. A first-aid kit should include bandages, antibiotic ointment, smelling salts and pain medications like ibuprofen. You never know when you or someone else may need emergency first aid, and having a kit available is common sense. The blanket can be used to keep the occupants of the car warm, especially if the car breaks down or is stranded somewhere. The blanket can also be used to keep accident victims warm until an ambulance arrives and can be used as a makeshift stretcher, if necessary. It can even be used to smother a fire.

Always be sure to have your license, registration and insurance cards in your vehicle. If you are pulled over, you will have to show the officer these items, and if you are involved in an accident, you will need them then, too. In addition, keep a notebook and pencil in your glove box. These come in handy for many purposes, but especially when you are involved in a wreck and must exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Having a small camera on hand is not a bad idea either. That allows you to photograph an accident scene, should the need arise.

A cell phone is an important piece of safety equipment these days. You should not chat on the phone or text while you drive, but having a phone allows you to call for help in any emergency. Make sure that you have your insurance company's phone number stored on your phone or written on a piece of paper in the glove box in case you need to contact them. If you belong to a roadside assistance organization, you should also have that phone number stored on your phone and written down somewhere.

Emergencies occur when we least expect them. Be prepared for any event by keeping the aforementioned articles in your car at all times.