What should you pack in an emergency kit for your car?

I keep an emergency kit in my car for my own safety and for the safety of my family and my passengers. It’s a good idea to put a small backpack together to keep in your trunk with basic items you might need if you were to break down for an extended period of time, particularly in poor conditions or in circumstances where help may not be readily available.

Below is a list of items to consider including in your emergency kit:

Jumper cables and/or battery jump pack.
Flares, reflectors, and a reflective vest.
Blanket (or space blanket), warm clothes, poncho
Flashlight with extra batteries, or crank flashlight
Basic tool kit, multi-tool, and duct tape
First aid kit, prescriptions, sanitary items, paper towels
Food & Water. Granola bars / energy bars
Ice scraper and a small shovel
Additional misc. supplies if traveling with babies, children, or pets

Take a look at other resources for suggestions on building a good emergency kit, including lists put out by the AARP, the NCS, and the Farmer’s Almanac.

Author Bio

Joshua Rohrscheib is the Owner of Onward Injury Law, a Central Illinois personal injury law firm. With more than 17 years of experience in injury law, he is dedicated to representing clients in a wide range of legal matters, including car accidents, trucking accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and other personal injury cases.

Josh received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named among the “Top 40 Under 40” in 2019 by The National Trial Lawyers and a “Rising Star” in 2019 by Super Lawyers.

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