Put The Right Junk In Your Trunk

Not every one belongs to AAA, has a cell phone or drives a car equipped with OnStar.  In case of a mechanical breakdown, help is not always a phone call away!

Other than hailing a passing motorist or spending the night cramped in the backseat of your Toyota, here are other ways to prepare for a mechanical emergency.

Know what’s already stored in your trunk.
Most cars come equipped with a basic emergency kit: a car jack, lug wrench and spare tire.

However, you still need to learn how use a jack, be  strong enough to remove the lug nuts and have a fully inflated spare tire.  If in doubt, get a pro to help.

Keep the necessary survival items.
According to BePrepared.com, the essential items you need when stranded in a mechanical 911 are water, food and warmth.

You may be able to make it without food for a few days, but your body will dehydrate without water. Water is also good for washing wounds, sanitation and for an overheating vehicle.

Since food spoils in extreme hot or cold temperatures, Calorie Food Bars are the best thing to store in your car. These bars leave you feeling full and provide you the necessary energy.

What if you’re marooned in the winter cold?  According to BePrepared.com, to stay warm you may need 6 to 20 hour warm packs or emergency blankets. Place the warm packs in your gloves, shoes and pockets. Emergency blankets are made of a reflective material can reproduce up to 80% of your  body heat.

Create Your Own Emergency Car Kit.
Here’s a tool kit you can put together containing items prescribed in the March/April issue of Westways Magazine:  pliers, an adjustable wrench, a utility knife, Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, work gloves, a quart of engine oil, antifreeze, a weatherproof flashlight, a Swiss Army knife, wire cutters, bottle opener, an ice scraper, duct tape to make a temporary patch on a leaky water hose and a dry fire extinguisher.

Familiarize yourself with these items before you run into a mechanical emergency. 

Have a supply of flares or triangles.
The downside of using flares is that they only burn for a short time and can create a fire hazard where there’s a spillage of fuel. 

Reflective triangles last forever and are easy to see by oncoming cars especially at night.  Be sure you purchase the ones with sides at least 17 inches long and reflective strips that are two inches wide.

Always keep a flashlight with fully charged batteries in your emergency car kit. 

Keep jumper cables stashed in the trunk.   
Don’t skimp on jumper cables. The longer the cables, the less you need to position the cars together. 

If you don’t know how to do a jump-start properly, you can do serious damage to your car’s electronics and yourself.

Take care of yourself as well. A cell phone is a must. Store a list of emergency contacts (ICE) in your cell phone. 

Packed away in your trunk, you should also carry a first-aid kit containing bandages and dressings, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors, waterproof tape, pain relieving medicine such as Tylenol or Advil, antiseptic wipes, wound ointment and a set of instructions on basic first aid.

Invest in an up-to-date Thomas Guide to help you navigate when you’re totally lost. 

Having a roadside emergency kit for mechanical breakdowns and unusual weather conditions can make the difference between getting back on the road or being stuck.

John   
Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

My new book Intelligence For Your Life:  Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth is now available in your local bookstores or you can order it online from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.