8 Items That Can Save Your Life: Making a Car an Emergency Kit

The simplest everyday items are designed for our safety: knife handles, seatbelts, crosswalk buttons. We often don’t even think about them while we use them, so they’re easy to overlook-but anyone who has experienced a car accident can tell you that one or two crucial items packed ahead of time can save your life. By packing a well-stocked emergency kit and keeping it in your car at all times, you have a much better chance of surviving a Jupiter car crash.

What kinds of things should you include?

• Spares, tools and paperwork. You should already have a well-inflated spare tire and a basic tool kit in your vehicle. In the glove box, keep an up-to-date copy of your insurance policy and a current proof of insurance with your maps, as well as pens, markers and blank paper.
• First-aid kit. Whether you’re tending a headache or waiting for an ambulance, a first-aid kit can be invaluable. Include pain-reliever, band-aids, burn cream, gauze, medical tape and scissors, as well as any special medications your family may need in an emergency.
• Light sources. A good-sized flashlight can help immensely in night accidents: changing a flat tire, inspecting damage, or alert other drivers to your distress. Store batteries separately to avoid draining them when not in use. Surround the area around your car with flare sticks so that other drivers can avoid your vehicle.
• Bungee cords and battery cables. These can be helpful in minor accidents, or even to help out a fellow stranded motorist.
• Bottled water isn’t just for drinking-it can be poured on an overheated engine, wash wounds before dressing, or put out low-level fires.
• Disposable camera. It is important to take pictures of the damage after an accident, no matter who was at fault. You can also use a cell phone, if the built-in camera has a high resolution.
• Car fluids. If your car is leaking or overheated, a bottle of antifreeze, engine coolant, or a quart of oil can help you get to the next town.
• Accident checklist. Many drivers have experienced trouble filing an insurance claim because they did not obtain information at the time of the accident. By keeping a simple fill-in form that you created ahead of time, you’ll be sure to get all the facts-even if you are panicked or not thinking clearly. Include names, date, time, license plate numbers, location of the accident, and contact information of witnesses.