ITEMS TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR * Spotlight My Health

It’s good to be prepared, don’t you think? But I also think there are different levels of preparedness, especially where our cars are concerned. Ever think of what items should be in your car at all times?

It’s a good idea, to keep certain items in our cars at all times. Then there are things we may want to have in the car at different times for different reasons.

There are times, such as when we travel, that there may be other items to have in our cars so as not to get caught without them.

Whether on your way to pick up the kids, to get some groceries or sitting in traffic on your way to work, we never know when an emergency will happen.

Flat Tire Anyone?

I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve had a flat tire. Since the very first car I bought, I seem to run over whatever it takes to get a flat. Several times, it’s been on large highways; scary stuff.

Not to mention the time wasted having to sit and wait for someone to come and help you. And yes, I know how to change a tire, but unfortunately don’t seem strong enough to get the lug nuts off. If you can’t get those off, the tire stays flat.

Enter—Fix A Flat. Someone like me definitely needs to keep a can of this in their car. But it’s also a good idea for everyone. Because like I said, you just never know what will happen when you are in your car.

I tried to think of every scenario I could come up with to create the ultimate list of things needed in your car in different situations. Life throws all kinds of things at us and also because many of us don’t think much about our cars, other than we need them.

But, sometime, somewhere the well-being of you and/or your family may come into play with your car. God forbid, but I’d rather be ready.

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So, I broke the items down into categories. Therefore, it should make things a little easier to understand and easier for me to explain some items and why I put them on the list. The categories are:

Basics

With Baby or Kids

Emergency Tools

Small Emergency Kit

Glamour Kit

Car Kit

For A Breakdown

Seasonal/Regional/Travel/Stranded

I even tried to organize them for you, with what to put the items in and where to have them in your car. You may prefer things in different spots and that’s ok. My primary goal was to be helpful with a comprehensive list for you.

A four page list of car items for your car. You’ll find different things to put in your car for different situations and times of the year. Just fill out the form above and I’ll send you a copy of the complete list!

Reasons For Some Categories and Items to Keep in Your Car

I didn’t want to just start the list and keep on running with it, so I made categories. This also lets me explain the reason for the category and also many of the items I put on the list.

On the printable items list, I put an asterisk at the beginning of the things I thought needed some explanation. These items will also have an asterisk at the beginning of their explanation.

Emergency Tools

*Car Escape Tool: This is a funny-looking tool, but very genius, at least to me. I’ve got a story for you. Last year I spent some time in Ocean City, MD, As we were heading across the bridge on Interstate 90, we paid attention to see if we could tell where a car had gone off the bridge the day before.

Somehow, a car had gone right over the bridge with a baby in it. Luckily, some brave soul jumped over the bridge and saved the baby—thank the Lord!

I’m sure by now you are wondering what this has to do with the tool I’m talking about. Well, the point is that people really do go over bridges and someone will have to try to get out of the car while under water.

That’s what this tool does. One end has a razor that you would use to cut yourself out of the seatbelt. The other end has a tool that is used to break the car window so you can actually get out of the car, even under water. How clever is that? And damned lucky if you ever need one. That’s why I keep mine in the center console next to the driver’s seat for easy access, if ever needed.

*Whistle: Is also for safety if the need arises that you need to get someone’s attention. The sound of a whistle goes further than a yell, especially if you are injured and can’t yell.

*List of important phone numbers: Your phone doesn’t work, or something has happened to it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve come to rely on my phone so much that I no longer remember phones numbers I might need. Hence, the reason to have the phone numbers written down in my car somewhere.

Emergency Escape Tool

Travel John

Glamour Kit

Truth be told, I really didn’t know what else to call this category. It’s a girl thing or maybe a mom thing, I don’t know, but these items I think should be handy, if needed. I don’t carry these things in my purse, so make these suggestions to put in a small makeup case for our car.

*Sanitary pads or tampons: I have to tell a little story for why I carry these things in the car. When I was growing up, my stepfather’s rather large family had an annual reunion.

This meant plenty of nieces and nephews and it never failed, one of us girls would start our monthly. One of my aunts would take care of us because she always carried pads in her car.

I was totally surprised that someone would carry those with them. Back then I didn’t understand, I just knew the one time it happened to me, I was relieved that she was prepared.

But I also have another reason for these items, thanks to my Mom which I’ll address a little further on. 😉

Seasonal/Regional/Travel/Stranded

*Map: I know this item seems archaic, because we all have cell phones and/or GPS in our cars to use for directions. But what if you don’t have GPS in your car and you lose or break your phone while on a roadtrip. Then what do you do to figure out directions. Problem solved when you are prepared with an old-fashioned map.

*Wheel Chains: People that live in or grew up in snow country know why wheel chains are needed at times. They are chains that are made to put on your wheels to drive in the snow.

*Kitty Litter: This item would be used when you get stuck in the snow. Put it as far under the stuck tire and more for the tire to catch on to get you unstuck from the snow.

*Cotton Balls with Petroleum Jelly: If you ever get stranded and need to start a fire, these cotton balls will help. Put a few under the wood and light the jelly and it will help start your fire.

*Travel John: This is an interesting piece of necessity. I’ve added a picture to this post as it will help with the explanation. Ever need to pull over on the side o the road because someone needs to go to the bathroom and there is no place in site to use. Or ever been stuck in traffic for hours and there is no way to get to a place for a bathroom break. This tool will come in very handy, so you may want to take a closer look. It’s even handy for the ladies.

Small Emergency Kit

*Sheet: Just an old, cotton sheet. Keep this in your car to be torn into bandages when needed. And the sanitary pads make an excellent bandage to use with the sheet if someone is bleeding badly. What better item to use than a sanitary pad?

My mother used them when we were growing up for one of my brothers. He played rough and was always coming home with knees, arms or something that needed a heavy duty bandage until she could get him to a doctor.

Oh, and by the way, tampons are superb for bloody noses.

Final Thoughts

This may seem like a rather long list, but not all items need to be in your car all the time. I live in an urban setting, so I carry the basics, emergency tools and emergency kit. We also carry several items from the breakdown list and car kit.

When we go on a road trip, we tend to put more of the items in the car to take with us. And that also depends on the area we are traveling to. If its winter and we are heading to PA or NY, we pack more winter type items. These items would certainly be different when we travel down to FL to see other relatives.

It also depends on where you live. Someone that lives in HI or GA would definitely carry different items in their car than someone that lives in AL or MI. So just think about where you do most your driving and pack your car for your situation most of the time.

When you are going somewhere different, check out the list and see what other things you may want to keep in your car.

Car Emergency Kit

Velcro On Bottom of Emergency Kit

One Last Tip

I also have one last tip for you. I don’t know about you, but I HATE things rolling around in the back of my car while I’m driving.

To stop that pesky problem, I attach sticky velcro to the bottom side of the container I don’t want moving around. (see above pic) When I set the toolbox, backpack, etc. in my trunk or back of the SUV, the velcro catches to the carpet and stays put.

Problem solved.

I hope this four-page list of car items will help you keep your car well stocked for you and your family’s safety. If I left anything off the list, I’d love to hear about it.