Once, when I was dropping off my son at daycare I saw a fellow mom in the parking lot and something seemed off. I walked over to discover her three year old was locked inside the family car. Luckily, the situation was safely resolved within minutes with the help of the local fire department.
This made me wonder – What should we all keep in our family car emergency kit to prepare for various car related emergencies involving our loved ones?
In order to avoid adding emergency preparedness to a moms’ ever growing list of worries and or increase their mental load I create a basic family car emergency kit to help simplify the process.
All the items on this list are useful, easy to purchase online, and don’t require special skill or training to use.
What to skip right to list? Visit the car emergency kit.
Want to read which emergencies you can expect to tackle on your own until emergency services arrive? Read on.
In case of a car related emergency you might need to address the following emergencies:
While these emergencies may seem daunting, what it really comes down to is buying time and making the best of the situation while awaiting emergency services.
Here what’s in my family car emergency kit:
Front Seat Area
- Car safety hammer/Glass Breaker – car version
- Safety hammer/glass breaker – keyring version
- Clotting gauze – for packing deep wounds or gashes that can impair vision
MomTip#1: Make sure you can easily reach the first three items on this family care emergency list while seated and buckled in. Placing them in the driver’s side door or reachable when sending your hand back under the passenger’s seat will ensure you can reach them in any emergency situation.
Trunk Area
Car malfunction & tire changes:
- Jumper cables & Guide for jumpstarting a car – printed
- Telescoping Lug Wrench & Guide for changing a tire – printed
MomTips#2: Having car malfunction and tire change supplies and manuals handy will give you the flexibility of either doing it yourself or asking others to assist if roadside assistance isn’t available.
Driving or getting stranded in extreme weather:
- High quality dust masks with filter (in case of bad air quality)
- snow emergency kit, and burlap or sand for traction (if relevant in your area)
- Snow chains (if relevant in your area) – visit etrailer.com to search snow chains by make & model
Sustenance and Food Related emergencies:
- Water packets – not bottles, as they have a shorter shelf life
- Folding water jug – for transporting water back to the car
- Non perishable snacks such as crackers, nuts, and dehydrated foods.
- Dechoker – for potential blocked airways
Mom Tip #3: On a budget? A car safety hammer/glass breaker, a First Aid kit and pamphlet, snacks, water packets, and an emergency blanket will help care for passengers while awaiting emergency services.
The most important thing about this family car emergency kit? Don’t get overwhelmed by it. Build it over time and make it your own. Start with item you think you are most likely to use and know that every items you purchase is one step closer to peace of mind while driving.
Now that you know how to put together your family car emergency kit, it’s time to get your family ready with How to Prepare for Natural Disasters -The Family Guide.