Don’t Leave Home Without It
With Memorial Day just around the corner, high school and college grads looking towards the open road and vacation season upon us, I thought now would be the perfect time to offer up a handy list of items you should never leave home without – especially on long trips. Some items on the list are obvious, like your drivers license and insurance cards, but I don’t know how many times I’ve left the house, believing my credit card was in my pocket when it fact, it was at home on the kitchen table.
Other items, like a small notebook, toilet paper or duct tape, may not be things we think about keeping in the trunk, but it never hurts to be prepared – in fact, it’s usually when we’re ill-prepared that the worst seems to happen.
1. Drivers License, Vehicle Registration and Insurance Card
2. Debit/Credit Card/Cash {don’t leave cash in your car – keep cash, debit and credit cards on you and never leave your purse in the car – you can lock it in your trunk, but make certain you have your keys}
3. Phone Numbers/Cell Phone
4. Army Knife
5. Spare Tire, Jack and Lug Wrench
6. Triple A Card {if you have one}
7. Sunglasses
8. Baseball Cap or Hat
9. Two or Three Bottles of Water {replace every month or so}
10. Duct Tape {to repair cracked hoses, secure a bumper, etc. }
11. First Aid Kit
12. Jumper Cables
13. Two Cans of Extra Oil
14. Map {especially if your GPS stops working}
15. Emergency Road Kit {blanket, flashlight and batteries, non perishable foods items, flares, toilet paper or tissue, rock salt, kitty litter or small bag of sand, small shovel, socks and extra clothing, gloves, pen, notebook, at least one gallon of water in a plastic jug, matches or disposable lighter and Call Police sign}.
If you can’t purchase the items you need all at once, try to pick up one or two from the list on grocery days, adding to your inventory as you go. By the time you’ve collected everything on the list, you’ll be well on your way to happy travels ahead.
Is your list different? What do you keep in your car in case of an emergency?
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Excellent Advice! You are very good!
In addition to all the valuable items you have mentioned I also carry with me a Multi-Screwdriver [one that has changeable ends on it from standard to phillips], an adjustable wrench, and a pair of pliers. You can also pick up a cheap socket set and stash it in the trunk hoping you will never have to use it!
Yes I know. It’s a lot of stuff. Forgive me but I am an engineer and former Boy Scout: “Be Prepared”
[...] driver’s side. 10)
I would add to your road safety kit a 9mm pistol and a box of 50 cartridges.
Don’t mess around trying to hit a carjacker with a laptop. Shoot him in the chest and keep on shooting.
It is better to be judged by twelve that to be buried by six.
[...] following are items you should have in your emergency kit for winter [...]
I don’t understand taking extra oil. You should check the oil level before you leave. If you have an oil consumption problem you can get a can when you fill up with gas. If you have an horrendous oil consumption you shouldn’t be going in the first place. Anyway, who checks their oil level mid way through a journey in a place where oil is not available? Usually the first indication of a low oil level is when the low oil pressure warning light is illuminated and something seizes.
Hi James: I agree; the oil should be checked before any long distance travel, but if you’re traveling and mid-way through your journey you notice your oil indicator light is on which may signal a problem, it’s a good idea to have extra oil, which may help your engine from seizing up before you get to the nearest service garage.
[...] following are items you should have in your emergency kit for winter [...]