How to create a car emergency kit

By Ané Theron

When a car emergency strikes and you’re stranded on the side of the road, what will you do? Call the AA, or your vehicle’s roadside assistance number? You may be in the middle of nowhere and have no network; or it could be something you can quickly take car of yourself. Hence, the importance of a car emergency kit should not be overlooked.

What you will need: 

• Jumper cables

Not all jumper cables are created equal, so spend a little more and get a decent set that is at least 3-4 metres long and 4 mm thick.

• A jack

Every car should have one, but perhaps the one you were dealt with isn’t user-friendly. Make sure you can work with the above-mentioned jack, or invest in a better one.

• Reflective triangles – at least two

If you’re stranded on a blind corner, having one triangle isn’t as good as having two or three. These should be placed about 15 metres apart, so that the guy clipping apexes in his new BMW X6 has enough time to avoid you. 

• A back-up phone, and additional charger

Nowadays we don’t leave our homes without our trusty smartphones. However, they’re not known for their excellent battery life. What if you get robbed, or lose your phone? Keeping an fully charged phone in your car-kit is always a good idea. Be sure to have the relevant emergency numbers stored on the phone.

• A first-aid / medicine kit

It should have plasters, bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic spray, anti-nausea meds (for motion sickness, such as Valoid or Nauzine), medicine to ease stomach cramps (eg. ‘Buscopan’) and diarrhea (‘Lomotil’), painkillers, and anything else that you or your family may need, such as anti-allergy medications for bee-stings.

• A fire-extinguisher

Dry chemical portable fire-extinguishers are the most widely used, being suitable for class A (combustible materials), class B (flammable or combustible liquids such as petrol) and/or class C (electrical) fires or a combination of ABC-class fires. We like ‘Fire Stryker’ extinguishers, as they are compact, light, and easy to use.

• A tyre gauge

If you’re an avid off-roader, having this piece of equipment in your car goes without saying. But is that spare wheel as inflated as it should be? If you get a flat, you sure are stuck if your spare is flat as well… Check it periodically to prevent the hassle.

• Foam tyre-sealant

Easy-to-use and cheap, no car-kit should be without it. It allows you to repair a flat tyre without going through the schlepp of actually changing it – if the damage isn’t too severe.

• A light source

A must-have, whether you’re finding your way through a dark forest, or digging in the cubbyhole when your car’s battery is long-dead. A waterproof flashlight or camping light will do nicely.

• Gloves

In case you need to handle something hot, cold, or sharp.

• Cloths, paper towels and/or loo-paper

For wiping stuff down, off, or answering the call of nature.

• Duct tape

We can think of various uses, even if it’s just to keep an overly chatty individual’s mouth shut…

• Tow strap or tow rope

…strong enough to tow 2700 kilograms or more.

• A Swiss Army-knife or Leatherman tool

…or something of the sort.

• A rain poncho

Pouring rain? Nobody to hold an umbrella while you change a flat? A cheap, plastic poncho is your friend.

• Drinking water

Perhaps you’ll be stranded for only 30 minutes, perhaps for a day or longer. You may even have to walk to the nearest town for help, if there’s no phone signal. Staying hydrated is key!

• Non-perishable food

Protein or energy bars are a welcome addition to any survival kit.

• Warm blankets/clothing/headwear

Have something on-hand for extreme weather conditions.

• Cold-weather kit

We don’t see that much snow in SA, but did you know that kitty-litter can aid with traction when pulling away on an icy surface? If you do live on the top of the Sani Pass, a snow shovel and ice scraper may also come in handy.