No one fancies getting stranded but sometimes, life happens. One minute you are driving your car, happy and safe, the next minute it is all dire. You are struggling to get out of the car because it is upturned or on fire, or someone in the car is nauseated and you cannot stop for them to throw up. Certainly, nobody wishes for days like this, but it is better to be prepared for such days. So, in preparation for such days, these are the 5 must-have emergency items in your car.
1. Stander HandyBar Window Breaker and Seat Belt Cutter
We start off with this product that offers 3 functions. It can be used to break the window of a car and cut seat belts in emergencies. Asides these, it can be used indoors with U-shaped latches as a handybar.
Features
- Can support up to 350 lbs. when used as a handybar.
- Metal nose for breaking window
- Ergonomic handle for firm grip.
2. Top Gear Premium Roadside Assistance Kit
This roadside assistance kit offers up to 14 functions. It comes with battery booster cables, flashlight, multi-function tool, gloves, light sticks, cables, PVC tape, first aid items, and many more. It comes in handy during auto accidents and when your car breaks down.
Features
- Neo-yellow safety vest.
- 8-gauge battery booster cable.
- Branded carry case.
3. PRIMETRACKING Personal GPS Tracker
Primetracking Personal GPS Tracker is a device for tracking lost items. It is a very small device that can be hidden easily (1.5” x 3”) in bags and cars. It offers real-time tracking and has a limitless range.
Features
- Battery life over 14 days.
- Silent monitoring.
- Supports Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
4. BIRDROCK HOME Snow Brush and Ice Scraper
When winter comes, your Birdrock Home Snow Brush and Ice Scarper should be in your car. It is used to clear snow that may have settled on your car and to remove ice from your windows and windshield. The handle is fitted with foam to improve grip.
Features
- Foam head is resistant to freezing.
- Lightweight – weighs 2.2 lbs.
- Extendable handle.
5. Medline Emesis Bags
The Medline Emesis Bags offers multiple uses. It comes in handy when you or a passenger becomes car sick and have to puke. It can also be used as a cleanup bag.
Features
- Graduated body for easy measurement.
- Latex-free body.
- It is non-sterile.
Buying Guide for Emergency Car Items
There are many emergency items you can have in your car, but you cannot have everything. Certain items may be more important as emergency items in your car than other items. These items should be prioritized when you want to buy your emergency car items. This buying guide highlights the factors you should consider while buying emergency items in your car.
1. Health
Your health and the health of your family should be prioritized when buying emergency items for your car. Every car should have a first aid kit for emergencies. However, you can tailor your first aid kit to suit whatever health needs you may have.
For instance, having a spare inhaler if you are an asthmatic is a good idea. Having an epinephrine pen if you have allergies is also smart. Specific emergency items that you or your family members may need should be part of the emergency items in your car.
2. The Condition of your Car
This is an important factor to consider when getting your emergency items. Generally, newer cars are less likely to become faulty, unlike older cars. Cars that have been used for over a year or 2 years are more likely to become faulty while you drive them.
If you drive a new car, buying emergency car kits like battery booster cables may not be your priority. However, if your car has been used for over a year or 2 years, getting emergency car kits becomes necessary.
3. Season of the Year
During most seasons of the year, you are unlikely to come across the snow on the street or on your car. However, when winter comes, snow settles on your car, parts of your car freezes, and the road is blocked with snow.
It is during these periods that you need items like a snow brush, an ice scraper, and a car snow chain. These items are best gotten before winter comes.
3. Essentiality
Certain items are very important emergency items; they should always be in your car. There is no predicting when these items will be needed because you cannot predict when situations warranting them will come up.
Items like a window breaker, seat belt cutter, emesis bags, and a first aid kit are essential because accidents are unpredictable. You should also get a portable tire inflator in your car for a condition where your tire goes flat and a spare is not enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempered glasses can easily be broken, however, laminated glasses are quite resistant. You must verify the type of glass installed in your car before buying a window breaker. If your glass is laminated, the usual window breaker may not work.
No, it does not. It is pretty much the same as when the brush is not extended.
No, some GPS trackers are to be switched off when you are on an airplane.
No, some GPS trackers are to be switched off in certain restricted areas – such as when you are on an airplane.
No, the handybar may not work with all cars. The compatibility sometimes depends on the shape of the door latch.
No, the window breaker which also functions as a seat belt cutter is totally manual. It does not require a battery to function.
Patrick Cooper
Patrick has over a decade’s experience writing about consumer electronics on the web. An avid traveller, he is the father of two adopted pitbulls and a greyhound. Cheif editor at WhatRocksAndWhatSucks.com, right now Patrick lives in Austin, TX. Reach him at patrick@wraws.com.