Everything you need in your car emergency kit

You’re ready to help yourself (or others), right?

It’s getting late and you know you should head to bed, but your bestie just called and invited you over to watch the next episode of your latest streaming obsession. It’s a stormy night, and they live all the way across town—but the episode is calling. So you pull on your rain boots, get in your car and head over. You’re three songs into your favorite playlist when you hear a pop and realize your tire is losing air. Oh great. A flat. Is your

roadside emergency kit ready to go?

If so, no need to panic, you got this.

And being prepared won’t just benefit you. We know HiRoaders would jump at the chance to lend a tire pressure gauge or an ice scraper to a fellow driver—just because you can and you want to. 

Here are the items (some expected and some not-so-expected) you might consider when building your emergency roadside kit. And, even if you never need it, someone else might.

Flashlight with extra batteries

The sturdier the flashlight the better.

Jumper cables

Standard is fine but they won’t do you much good if you can’t find another car to give you a jump. But, if you have them you can always help another motorist in need of a quick jump.

Tool kit

A tool kit can be a great resource to have when you need and are able to fix or replace something under the hood.

Tire inflator with sealant

No one likes to admit they’ve never actually changed a tire, but when the time comes, you’ll need these to help patch up the damaged tire.

Tire jack and lug wrench

You’re going to need something to lift that flat tire off of the ground and remove the bolts in order to change it.

First aid kit

Some bandages, ointment and tweezers go a long way in a pinch.

LED flares

It’s dangerous to fix your car on the side of the road at night, especially if no one can see you. Use flares to alert others to your presence or to hail down some help.

Cat litter

Don’t laugh. Nothing helps tires gain traction more than putting a little cat litter if you’re spinning on ice or stuck in the mud.

A coat and an extra set of clothing

If you have to hike to the nearest town or gas station, you’ll thank yourself in the morning. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a second set of clothing in the car for the unexpected.

Blanket or a small sleeping bag

Can do wonders to stave off hypothermia.

Ice scraper

If you’ve ever spent the morning trying to clear ice off your windshield with your gloves on, you know why.

Food & bottled water

Enough to last 2-4 days, especially if you’retaking a road trip.

Duct tape

When is duct tape not considered essential?

Whether you’re building a car emergency kit for yourself, creating one for a family member or just preparing yourself to be able to help another motorist in need, with a little organization and planning you can make the road a safer place to drive.