In this article we are going to talk about the Top 10 Emergency Tools That You Should Keep In Your Car. We have all felt the toll of Covid-19 in one form or another. Amongst the different ways it has changed our lives, for me specifically, social isolation has been especially rough. Not being able to interact with people despite being a social animal is tough. There are many things that I miss like meeting up with my friends and going out, but the thing that I yearn for the most is a long drive. It has been a while since I have had the cold afternoon wind rustle my hair as I cruise through the highways.
Despite my longings, I have been following protocols and have been a good citizen to the best of my abilities. However, that does not mean that I haven’t been preparing for the pandemic to be over and for everything to go back to the way it was. I and a couple of my friends have already made plans to travel by car once we defeat the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to the pandemic, something that I have been able to do is make my car safer to use.
Top 10 Emergency Tools That You Should Keep In Your Car
It’s mind-boggling how I did not have many things that I should essentially keep in my car. You can find a lot of these items in general stores but given the current situation, I’d advise using websites like Flipkart or Amazon to buy them. In this article, I will mention 10 emergency tools that one should keep in their car at all times. They are as follows (in no particular order of importance) –
1. Tool Kit
It is of utmost importance to keep a tool kit in our car. Preferably the tool kit should consist of multiple tools like wrenches, pliers, ratchets, screwdrivers, etc. so that one can fix their car when it breaks down. It doesn’t even have to be major car issues. One can make the minor repairs themselves. For example, if there is a need for you to change bad spark plugs, you can do so on your own with the help of tools like a ratchet or a plier.
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2. Screwdriver
It would be better to rather have the whole tool kit instead of separate individual tools. Nonetheless, one can still make do without a tool kit if the appropriate tools are kept. Out of all the tools from a tool kit one should carry with them a screwdriver. There are other emergency tools as well that should have in their car but a screwdriver is one of those tools that one cannot do without. If one knows how to get around fixing their car, then a screwdriver will come in handy. Not only is it helpful for major fixes but you can use it to make smaller fixes as well, like swapping out dead batteries with a new one.
3. First Aid Kit
Considering how many people are prone to road accidents, sometimes because of their own mistakes or sometimes because of the wreckful driving of others, it is of utmost importance to keep a first aid kit in your car at all times. It is better to be safe than sorry since we never know what will transpire. Even if you are a good law-abiding citizen, it does not mean that everyone else will be as well. Hence why a first aid kit is essential. Not only will a first aid kit be helpful in accidents but also for minor inconveniences like headaches. You can always take painkillers and get on with your day. Additionally, one must keep in mind that first aid kits have expiration dates and so, replace them if needed.
4. Tire-Inflator
Another handy emergency tool to have is a tire inflator. It will help you from losing your mind, for just like road accidents, having a low tire pressure is common as well. Fluctuations in weather can lead to low pressure. A tire inflator will help you maintain your tire pressure. In today’s date, tires have advanced to the point that they can be used for certain distances even after a puncture. In case of tire puncture, you could use the inflator to get your car to the nearest repair shop without damaging your car and avoid mileage issues.
5. Flashlight
I believe that one should keep a flashlight in their cars. One never knows when a situation will arise where one might need light but there is no other source. What would you do if your car for some unknown reason breaks down in a pitch-black area and the street lights aren’t working? That is where a flashlight will come in handy. Keep one in the glove compartment, ready to use at a moment’s notice.
6. Vehicle GPS
We are bound to make mistakes for we are mere human beings. However, ideally one needs to minimize making such mistakes. A GPS can help us do so. It will save us time, gas, and money. Regardless of the weather or the area, GPS will help us reach our destination. Due to improvements in technology, the services a GPS can provide have also increased. It tells you about traffic jams or if any road accidents that have occurred due to which is some roads have been closed.
7. Car Fire Extinguisher
As mentioned before, road accidents are more common than people consider them to be. As a result, due to these accidents, sometimes a fire breaks out. For such instances, we need to be well equipped to adequately deal with such situations. That is why you should also keep a fire extinguisher just in case. If you have space, you can keep a 5L fire extinguisher, but the mini fire extinguishers (500ml) should do the trick as well. Moreover, it isn’t just for you. If you stumble upon an accident site and see a fire hazard, you could potentially help others out.
8. Safety Hammer
Apart from a fire extinguisher, one should keep a safety hammer as well. What may happen to us cannot be predicted, however, we can prepare ourselves to deal with different types of situations. In case you are for some reason stuck in your car with no way out, the safety hammer can help you make an emergency escape. There’s a rationale for finding these in buses and trains. It is provided so that you can make a quick escape. For example, if you find yourself in a situation where the car door isn’t opening but it is imperative that you leave your car, you can use the safety hammer to break the window and make an escape.
9. Jumper Cables
Sometimes we get too busy with our lives and forget to keep track of things. For instance, I too have dealt with a dead car battery. At that time, I neither had a spare battery nor jumper cables to resolve the issue. I had to call a tow truck. In that scenario, if I had a replacement, or even jumper cables (to jumpstart my car), I could have saved a few bucks since I had to call a tow truck. But that is the past and I have learned my lesson. One should keep a fresh battery (like a spare tire, if possible) in their car but also keep jumper cables, just to be on the safer side of things.
10. Maps
Though I have suggested keeping a GPS, we should nevertheless carry maps with us. While traveling to newer areas that one isn’t accustomed to, it is all the more important to carry maps. Not only do maps help us with navigation but they help us plan as well. We can pinpoint locations on maps and draw routes that we want to take, further organizing our trips. Aside from that, while using maps we do not face the issue of it running out of battery or not getting a signal.
In these aspects, the GPS cannot compete with a map. In times of need where the GPS runs out of battery or isn’t working because there is no signal available, a map will always be helpful. That is why you should start keeping maps in your cars if you don’t already. Moreover, it would be wise to practice reading maps beforehand so that when the situation does arise, they can be used appropriately.
I know that many of you just like me have innumerable things planned and can’t wait for the pandemic to be over. Even during the pandemic, revenge tourism has been quite the hit. It is safe to say that even more people will be traveling after the pandemic becomes a thing of the past. Many of you will travel by train while others by air. And there will be those like me who plan on traveling by car. This pandemic has provided enough time for all to make our cars safer. Traveling by road can be dangerous considering the different variables that come into play. That is why the impetus is on us to make our travels safer. I do hope that more people start carrying the 10 emergency tools mentioned in the article. Thank you and safe travels!