Hey, welcome back everybody—Roger here from
O’Reilly Auto Parts to recommend the top ten emergency supplies to keep in your vehicle. Before I get into that, take a second to subscribe
to our channel if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss out on any of our new content. You never want to have a roadside emergency,
but what’s even worse is when you have a roadside emergency you’re completely unprepared
for. So we’ve put together a list of ten things
that could come in handy if you happen to get stranded in your vehicle. First things first: keeping an automotive
emergency kit in your trunk or hatch is a good idea, especially considering most kits
are in a small pouch so they don’t take up much space. Depending on the kit you choose, it can include
everything from basic first aid supplies to jumper cables. A jump starter is great to have around, even
if your emergency kit includes jumper cables. The great thing about a jump starter is that,
unlike jumper cables, it doesn’t require a second vehicle with a functional battery
to get your vehicle started if your battery’s dead.
Needless to say, if you happen to get stranded
in the dark, a flashlight can be a lifesaver. You may find yourself in a situation where
you need to change a tire or check under the hood in the dark, and the flashlight on your
phone COULD work, but a handheld flashlight or battery-powered lantern can allow you to
see what you’re doing AND save the battery life of your phone for communication. Most vehicles have a place specifically for
storing a spare tire, and keeping a spare in your vehicle at all times can mean the
difference between having to call a tow truck and driving to a tire shop for a repair or
replacement. Even if it’s just a temporary donut, it’s
worth having with you in case of a flat. You might also consider keeping Fix-a-Flat
on hand for an even quicker way to get back on the road.
A spare tire in your vehicle won’t do you
any good if you’re not toting the tools to put it on when you need to. Keeping a jack and lug wrench handy is essential. It’s also a good idea to stash a tire pressure
gauge and air pump somewhere in your vehicle so that if you put on the spare, you can be
sure it’s properly inflated. In addition to a few tire change tools, it’s
good to keep a small tool box or tool kit on hand. There’s nothing worse than getting caught
off guard by a minor problem with a simple fix and not having the tools you need to take
care of it. Whether you’re having to do roadside repairs
or just pull your vehicle onto the shoulder for a period of time, hazard triangles or
road flares create visibility that helps protect your vehicle from traffic that might not see
or expect it next to the road. Having maps in your vehicle—yes, actual
paper maps—is mostly important on road trips or when you’re driving in places that aren’t
familiar.
It’s true that most people have GPS on their
phones, and increasingly even in their vehicles themselves, but traveling where there’s
spotty reception can sometimes cause issues that a map could help solve. Some emergency kits will include a poncho
in case you’re dealing with an emergency in the rain, but an umbrella can come in handy
even if there’s no emergency. Getting caught in a cloudburst is a lot less
stressful if you have an umbrella stashed somewhere in your vehicle. Finally, if you’re going to be driving through
any remote areas, keeping bottled water and a few non-perishable food items like energy
bars somewhere in your vehicle is a good idea. It can make being stranded even for just a
few hours a lot easier to deal with. Think of this list as a starting point, and
adjust it if needed depending on what kind of driving you’re gonna be doing and where
you’ll be doing it.
If you have any questions, stop by an O’Reilly
Auto Parts store, reach out to us on social media or visit us at OReillyAuto.com—we’d
love to help. See you again soon..
