Having certain safety toolkits in your car can drastically increase the chances of survival in an accident or any other fatal incident. Nobody wants to have to experience that, but when it does happen, it is crucial to be able to take control of the situation and do everything possible to maximize the chances of survival, either for you if you’re the victim, or if you encounter such a situation and you’re the nearest person that can administer help to the victim.
Below, is a compiled list of some of the safety kits you should have in your car in case of an emergency situation on road trips.
First aid kit box
Obviously, this is very important. A first aid box is a combination of medical supplies and personal protective equipment or PPA. For the latter, it may include but is not limited to face masks, personal medicines and pills, sanitary pads and other personal hygiene items for women, while the former will include items such as oral rehydration salts, thermometers, googles, surgical masks, gloves, cotton swabs, scissors, tweezers etc.
But generally, a first aid kit contains essentials like
- plasters of different sizes and shapes
- sterile gauze dressings
- sterile eye dressings
- triangular bandages
- crêpe rolled bandages
- safety pins
- disposable sterile gloves
- tweezers
- scissors
- alcohol-free cleansing wipes
- sticky tape
- thermometer (preferably digital)
- skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula
- cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings
- antiseptic cream
- painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen
- antihistamine cream or tablets
- distilled water for cleaning wounds
- eye wash and eye bath
- Gloves/Eye Protection
- CPR Pocket Mask
- Roller Gauze
- 4×4 Gauze Pads.
- Medical Tape.
- Two Triangular Bandages.
- Sam Splint.
This list is of course not exhaustive, and should include as many things as you may need including personal items like inhalers, medications and other essential stuff.
Fire safety equipment
A fire emergency can be very traumatic and damaging. There is not only the loss of property, but there is real possibility of loss of life to fire outbreaks. As a result, keeping a fire safety equipment kit handy at all times can be very important. A fire safety equipment may include
- Fire shelter
- Safety clothing
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire blankets
- Sprinklers
- Fire hose
Emergency supply kit
Whenever you’re on the road for long journeys, maybe a road trip, a vacation or any other road adventure, there is a real possibility of an emergency situation. Accidents, fire outbreaks and so many other incidents may occur while on the road.
After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days, especially in lonely or deserted places before any help gets to you.
An emergency supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. They may include
- Water for drinking and sanitation
- Food, especially canned foods or other non perishable foods
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- A torchlight
- Extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Flares
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape
- Moist towels, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers
- Manual can openers to open canned food
- Local physical maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
- Additional Emergency Supplies
- Masks, soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
- Prescription medications
- Nonperishable, high-energy foods, such as unsalted nuts, dried fruits and hard candy
- Drinking water
- Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
Other Essential Safety items
There are some other essential items that can also be kept apart from the ones mentioned above. They may either be an accessory, a medical equipment or any other item that can still be kept in the car to ensure safety in the event of an emergency. They include
- Tourniquet : blood loss can be particularly devastating and would need urgent attention. This is where a tourniquet comes in. A tourniquet is a device that is placed around a bleeding arm or leg. Tourniquets work by squeezing large blood vessels. The squeezing helps stop blood loss.
A lot of people are not quite familiar with the use of tourniquets, but they can be quite essential to you or a victim in an emergency situation. The applied use of a tourniquet to stop excessive blood loss can sometimes determine life and death in any given situation. Emergency scenarios that could require the use of a tourniquet will include car accidents, gunshot wounds, deep cuts, or a crushed limb related to an accident or any other activity resulting in injury.
Most people may not find themselves in a situation requiring the use of a tourniquet, but if you ever find yourself in one of the situations above, knowing how to properly use a tourniquet could potentially save your life or someone else’s life. If you want to know more about tourniquets and how to get them, Sam Medical’s Tourniquet is a really good place to start and you can also order one there.
- A properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod jack
- Jumper cables
- Tool kit and/or a multipurpose utility tool
- Reflective triangles and brightly colored cloth to make your vehicle more visible
- Compass
- Reflective vest in case you need to walk to get help
- Car charger for your phone
- Fire extinguisher
- Duct tape
- Rain poncho
- Additional items for cold weather like a snow brush, shovel, windshield washer fluids, warm clothing and other large blankets etc.
