Get Ready Month - Day #8: Roadside Ready
Posted on | May 10, 2007 |
Flat tire? Stuck in a ditch? Having extra car essentials on hand can really help in a pinch. (And yes, you’ll need more than just a spare tire, jack and jumper cables!)
We asked Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, for her top car emergency item recommendations:
1. A power source, such as a portable battery charger, engine starter or remote starter.
- “So if you’re by yourself, one of the kids left the lights on, maybe the radio was left on, the battery’s dead,” Fix says. “All you have to do is pop the hood, put the red on the positive and the black on the negative and start the car. It’s also wise for ladies who are by themselves in parking lots or at work.”
2. An LED light source in place of a flare.
- “They’re really easy to buy, about $12. It is a device that is magnetic and sticks to the car and it either flashes or its solid – much safer than a flare.â€
3. A first aid kit.
- You can find these at most big box stores, pharmacies, maybe even grocery stores and online.
4. A pair of gloves.
- “Whether you’re pumping gas or adding washer fluid or checking tire pressure, those chemicals and the stuff that you drive through, you certainly don’t want on your skin or to possibly get in your system.”
5. A blanket.
- “Whether it’s cold outside and you need to stay warm, or you need to throw it on the ground in order to work underneath the car, that’s great,” says Fix. “Even if you’re on your knees and you have a tire inflation product, instead of changing a flat tire, it’s great to sit down on a blanket instead of sitting on the side of the road.
6. A fire extinguisher.
- Make sure that it’s specifically for automotive purposes not households. “You want the right one, or it could cost you a lot of money, if you have to use it and it’s the wrong type.â€
Along with these six items, you should probably have a few additional items on hand. Here’s a suggested list – pick out the items that you think you might need.
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