Three Items You Should Always Have in Your Car in Case of an Emergency

Emergencies, by nature, can occur unexpectedly. Whether you are at home or on the road, it is always best to be as prepared as possible for any emergency scenario. It is much easier to be prepared for emergencies that occur at home. Most homes will likely have closet or storage space where emergency supplies can be kept. So whether your power goes out or your water stops running, you can be better prepared for an emergency in your home.

Emergencies, by nature, can occur unexpectedly. Whether you are at home or on the road, it is always best to be as prepared as possible for any emergency scenario. It is much easier to be prepared for emergencies that occur at home. Most homes will likely have closet or storage space where emergency supplies can be kept. So whether your power goes out or your water stops running, you can be better prepared for an emergency in your home. It is not as easy to be ready for emergencies in your car. Given the type of car you have, you may not have as much room for supplies to be ready for every emergency scenario. But there are three items that everyone should keep in their car in case of an emergency. Read on to find out what those three items are:

Candle
This item will likely be more useful in the late fall and winter months, but it is important to always have a candle in your car in case of an emergency. A standard sized, sturdy candle, when lit, has the potential to heat your whole car for the duration while it is lit. Depending upon the size of your car you may need more than one candle to heat your entire car. A candle lit in your car can be even more effective if it is lit inside of a coffee can. The coffee can captures heat and acts like a makeshift radiator.

A candle in your car can be especially useful if you find yourself stranded on the side of the road in the winter. Whether your car has stalled or you turn your car off to preserve your car battery, you will likely find yourself without heat. During treacherous winter driving conditions it can take a long time for roadside assistance workers to reach your car, and if your car has no heat you can get very cold very quickly. That is why it is important to keep a candle in your car. With a candle you can keep your car heated, without it running, until help arrives.

Flashlight
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 46% of traffic accidents happen at night in rural areas and 55% of traffic accidents occur at night in urban areas. When an accident occurs at night it can be very disorienting and it can be difficult to get a grasp on what is happening, especially if your car’s headlights go out and you have difficulty seeing. In these situations it is best to have a flashlight.

By keeping a flashlight in your car you will be better prepared for emergencies that occur at night. For example, if you are involved in an accident at night you will better able to assess the damage and whether or not the parties involved require immediate medical assistance. Or if your car stalls on the side of the road and you have to abandon it you will be more visible to passing by motorists.

Water
Water is essential to any emergency situation. Whether you are in an accident or stranded on the side of the road it is always important to keep hydrated. If you find yourself in an emergency situation in your car and you become dehydrated it can be even more dangerous for you to drive once your car is running again.

Keeping water in your car is especially important in the summer. If you find yourself in an emergency situation where your car isn’t running then it is especially important to have water to keep cool. Without water you could become dehydrated and suffer from heat stroke. Water can also come in handy if your car runs out of coolant, as it can act as a temporary coolant for your car.

Emergency situations catch everyone off guard. But there are small ways in which you can be prepared for most situations. In your car it can be hard to keep “survival kits” due to limited cargo space, but by keeping a few essential items in your car you can ensure that you will be prepared for most roadside emergencies.

At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, we specialize in new and used Chevrolet Atlanta cars Chevrolet service Atlanta cars, trucks, and sport-utility vehicles. We have a strong and committed sales staff with many years of experience satisfying our customers' needs.

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