If you have a vehicle, you should have a car emergency kit. The kit is helpful to every driver, and it should contain all the necessary items that you may need. You need to keep on checking your kit to keep on replenishing it from time to time to ensure you have a complete inventory of the items you need. It would be best if you also learned to use each item in the emergency kit, including the medical and first aid items in the kit. The post covers some of the essentials you should learn in 2022.
What is a car emergency kit?
A car emergency kit is an inventory of items that can be handy during your travels. These items include the following;
- A flashlight with additional batteries
- A first aid kit for medical emergencies with specific tools; gauze, bandages, thermometer, tweezers, scissors, instant cold compress, aspirin, antibiotic ointment, and non-latex gloves
- Fire extinguisher
- Duct tape
- Jump cables
- An inflated spare tire, tripod jack, and a wheel wrench
- Tool kit
- Food such as energy bars
- Extra clothing
- Tow rope
- Car charger
- Extra items such as a shovel, blankets, and a snow brush
The items listed above are the most essential. Also, consider keeping family emergency numbers, your UK insurance contact, and a towing company's number on your phone.
How to use the car emergency kit?
Using some of the items above is quite apparent. However, there are some details that you should note;
i. Store water in plastic to not break if the water is frozen.
ii. You should only keep food that won't spoil.
Once you have these details in check, you need to learn how to use the first aid kit in case of any medical emergencies on the road. Here are some tips you can use when you require to utilize a first aid kit;
- Before anything, ensure you disinfect- Open wounds can facilitate the spread of illness; hence you need to avoid such infections. Before applying a bandage, ensure you disinfect your hand before coming into contact with a wound.
- If a person is bleeding, try to stop the bleeding. You can prevent the bleeding by applying pressure on the wound by wrapping it.
- Performing CPR- If a person is not breathing, you need to complete CPR. To perform CPR, give the person 30 compressions with your fingers interlaced. Then, ensure the victim's head tilts to the back and the chin is lifted. Once the victim is in the CPR position, blow into his mouth. Repeat the process until the victim breathes or when you are too exhausted to continue.
- Restock your first aid- Once you use the items in your first aid kit, ensure you replenish them.
Another thing that many drivers struggle with is using the spare tire. Sometimes your car tire may puncture and need repair that you cannot do immediately, and therefore, you have to put the spare tire. Here is a quick guideline on how to change a tire;
i. Find a flat and stable place where you can change your car. Ensure you put on your hazard lights if you are on the road.
ii. Find a heavy object and place it in front of the back and front tire to ensure that the car does not move while changing the wheel.
iii. You can now remove the spare tire and jack from your emergency kit. Place the jack under your car and ensure contact with the car's frame. Lift the jack until it supports the vehicle, but ensure it does not lift it.
iv. Remove the hubcap and start loosening the nuts. It would be best if you loosened nuts by turning them counterclockwise. To loosen the nuts, you will need a wrench which you should have in your emergency kit.
v. After removing the nuts, you can remove the old wheel.
vi. You can now put your spare tire on. Please place it to align with the wheel bolts and then put the nuts. Tighten the nuts using the wrench as much as possible until the wheel balances.
vii. Finally, you can lower your jack.
Bottom Line
A car emergency kit is crucial in every car. It should contain specific items which you should replenish once in a while. It would be best to learn certain essential things, such as using the first aid kit and changing your tire, as these are skills and knowledge each driver should have.