5 Must-haves for your car survival kit

When SHTF and you have to bug out in your car, there’s no telling what might happen on the road. You could find yourself in an incident that can range from an inconvenience, such as a flat tire, to an urgent concern, such as a medical emergency. To help you get back on the road quickly, here are some survival items that you should keep in your car. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com)

Spare tire, jack and a wrench

Your car will need a spare tire. During disaster situations, you won’t be able to rely on car repair services to help you out with a flat tire. This also means that you will need the right tools for replacing a tire, such as a wrench and a jack. If you still don’t know how to replace a flat tire, now is the best time to learn it.

Jumper cables

If your car refuses to start, it may have dead battery. This can happen for a variety of reasons. It may be due to the weather, overuse or age. Under normal conditions, your car battery should last around four years before needing to be replaced. If you get stranded in your car with a dead battery on your way out of a disaster area, you may be able to jump start your car again by having a Good Samaritan with a working car battery come over and give your car a little boost, so make sure to have jumper cables on hand. (Related: A basic list of winter survival items you should carry in your car.)

A flashlight and bright colors

Keeping a strong flashlight in your car can help you out when you need to call for help from other motorists. Consider using a rechargeable flashlight, or keeping extra batteries in your car.

Your car also needs to be visible to other motorists at night. Make sure your car has a set of reflective triangles, or other portable lights that you can use so that other cars won’t crash into your vehicle.

Cell phone and charger

Communication is essential for any bug-out scenario. Keeping your smartphone with you is important. However, as you rush out of your home and into your car, you may forget to charge your phone; this is why you should keep a charger in your car at all times.

Nowadays, charging your phone in your car is simple; just keep a USB cable in your glove compartment and you can plug in your phone. However, if you want to be cautious, consider investing in a portable charger or a power bank, which should be able to provide enough power for your smartphone, as well as the phones of your other family members.

First aid kit

No bug-out vehicle is complete without a first aid kit. If you find yourself in an accident, or are able to help in one, having a first aid kit in your car can save a life. Your first aid kit should have scissors, sterile gauze pads, medical tape, bandages, cold packs and antiseptic. Take into account your family’s health when purchasing other items to add to your first aid kit.

When you’re bugging out in your car, you need to make sure that you reach your bug out location quickly and in one piece. The items listed above will help you achieve this goal.

Sources include:

DoomsdayMoose.com

PopularMechanics.com

Auto.HowStuffWorks.com

VeryWellFamily.com