Introduction
In 2008 I spent a distressing 9 hours stranded on a freezing freeway in China, caught in an epic traffic jam. I was completely unprepared. A car emergency (like this) happens when your car breaks down or becomes stranded or ‘stuck’. Think in a major motorway pile up, or a flood, storm, blizzard or natural disaster. I was NOT prepared, but you can be with a well-stocked Car Emergency Kit. In this article we explain what to put in a Car Emergency Kit to help prepare you for the 3 most likely car emergency scenarios.
What is a Car Emergency Kit?
A Car Emergency Kit is a collection of items packed into a small backpack that you can use in an car emergency to:
- help fix your car,
- keep you safe in your car until help arrives, or
- help you to get home or get to safety on foot.
The kit itself is designed to meet your basic survival needs – water, warmth, light, food, communication, first aid – for 24 hours. It’s like the first-aid kit in your home. It has things like bandages and antiseptic, but also jumper cables, a space blanket and water supply.
Car Emergency Kits are also called ‘Roadside emergency kits’, ‘Get home bags’ or ‘Car Emergency Go Bags’. They contain exactly what you need to ‘grab and go’ and make it home when trouble strikes on the road.
The benefits of packing a Car Emergency Kit
Like most emergencies, emergencies on the road can happen unexpectedly, at any time, in any location. And they can happen to you.
Stranded in a traffic jam for 9 hours!
In 2008, while living in China, I was stranded in a traffic jam on the highway between Beijing and Tianjin for 9 hours. There was no toilet. We had no food and little water. It was freezing out, and dark. All we could do was sit there, helpless, and wait. It was hell.
Eventually the traffic cleared. But not knowing when made those 9 hours feel like forever. I swore I’d never be unprepared like that again.
You might already have your own car emergency story to tell. Most stories feature some kind of stress, dehydration, discomfort, and fear for our personal safety.
Like the story in early 2022 when thousands of cars were stranded for over 24 hours in a massive snow storm in the US. Rescue took hours because there were so many people to help.
Not long after in Australia hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight in flood waters on the M1 motorway between Brisbane and Sydney. Those caught up said they felt ‘invisible to authorities’. They too just had to ‘wait it out’. The massive scale of the flood overwhelmed State Emergency Services resources and no one came to help them.
Whether it’s car trouble, traffic jams or severe weather, you don’t have to experience this stress and discomfort! Most of these stories end the same: those drivers that were well prepared faired best during the ordeal.
An emergency kit for your car will reduce stress, discomfort, fear and panic if and when you’re faced with trouble. It will also empower you to get out and about safely and confidently, in all weather conditions.
And if help takes forever to come, you’ll cope!
What is a Car Emergency Kit used for?
A Car Emergency Kit or ‘Get Home Bag’ is designed to help you mitigate the risks and survive any kind of emergency on the road. It can help you survive in case of:
- Exposure to extreme cold or extreme heat.
- Physical danger and injury.
- Dehydration.
- Remoteness. Sometimes rescue can be hours away. Or maybe there is no way to even call for help.
- Access. Rescuers may not be able to get to you in a disaster if the roads are cut off.
We have a Car Emergency Kit for these scenarios, and you should have one too. With a well-stocked kit in your car, you’ll be able to handle most things that come your way.
3 car emergency scenarios you must prepare for
What you do in a car emergency impacts what you should have in your Car Emergency Kit. So let’s run through the 3 scenarios you must prepare for:
- Repairing your car to get back on the road. Are you handy? If so, take stock of what’s wrong with your vehicle: Is it something that you could fix yourself? Your Car Emergency Kit should have basic car repair items to get you back on the road again.
- Staying with your car until help arrives. This is the safest option in many situations. But you still need to be prepared. Could you last 24 hours (or longer) for help to come?
- Heading out on foot – to get home or get help. Once scenario might be flash flooding in an urban environment. Roads might be flood where footpaths are still safely accessible.
A Car Emergency Kit will prepare you when trouble hits and you’re on the road. It will help you:
- stay safe and get home in case of an unexpected hazard or breakdown,
- wait for rescue without deprivation and discomfort, or
- help you stay calm when faced with a dangerous situation in your car.
If you get stuck or stranded on the road, you don’t need to panic. Instead, think about which of these 3 scenarios you’ll likely face. Next, we will help you pack your emergency kit for that scenario.
What to put in a Car Emergency Kit
Our Car Emergency Kit list is designed for the kinds of problems you might face while driving: flat tires, dead batteries, broken glass windows/mirrors, severe traffic accidents, and extreme weather conditions are a few of these.
Scenario 1 – Simple car repairs
Simple car repairs are things like changing a tire, fixing a radiator leak or charging a flat battery. They’re quick and temporary repairs to get you on the road and to your destination. Most people could do them with a little prior knowledge. We always include the right tools in our kit:
- A reflective hazard sign (which should always be kept in sight),
- Radiator block leak – comes in a bottle and will block a small hole in your radiator
- Jumper cables – for a flat battery
- Tire plug repair kit (if you’re handy enough to tackle this yourself)
- Spare tire with a jack and lug wrench – to change a flat tire
- Duct tape or electrical tape – to temporarily repair burst pipes.
For an expert’s take on what to do in a breakdown, check out this car breakdown guide from the RACV.
These items are meant for breakdowns, rather than for major accidents or severe weather events. Let’s look at what to prepare for those situations next.
Scenario 2 – Staying with your car
Scenario 2 is where you stay put and wait until help arrives. You might find yourself in this scenario driving through a remote area or along a deserted road. Help could be hours away.
If you’re in this situation, here is what you should have in your Car Emergency Kit:
Mobile phone, car charger and battery bank
Your phone is your best friend if you’re stranded – provided there is a signal. To always keep your phone powered up, pack a car phone charger, charging cable and/or a portable battery pack.
Water
Make sure you have a water bottle in your kit. A single walled stainless steel water bottle is best. You can store water in it. You can also cook in it or purify contaminated water (by boiling it).
3 litres of water per adult, per day is what we have in our cars.
Food
You’ll need energy to face the predicament in front of you. So always pack some form of non-perishable food in your kit. We pack enough food to last 24 hours. For excellent no-cook food options pack granola bars, nuts, freeze dried food, energy bars, protein bars, trail mix, and/or jerky,
Maintaining body temperature
To manage risks like severe heat or extreme cold, pack a space blanket. Used the right way, a space blanket will help keep you warm in winter or cool in summer.
Space blankets are made out of plastic and aluminium foil material that reflects heat back towards or away from the body. You can hang the space blanket up inside the car to reflect heat away from you or keep in the warmth.
Space blankets are also super versatile since they’re waterproof and windproof; so even if it starts raining there is no need to worry about getting wet.
If you want to know more about the versatility of space blankets, here’s a great article ‘Do space blankets work? (Or are they money down the drain?)’
To protect against the cold, we also recommend a waterproof, lined, jacket or poncho and a compact sleeping bag.
Sanitation
It’s confronting, but sanitation can be the cause of much discomfort in car emergencies. Especially for women. Packing these provisions can make things more comfortable:
- Wet ones
- Feminine hygiene products
- Toilet paper
- Mini deodorant
Basic multi-tool
A multi-tool can be handy addition to your kit, as it provides a variety of tools that can come in handy in different situations. For example, a knife can be used to cut through seatbelts or debris. Pliers can be used to remove nails or loosen bolts or replace a blown fuse.
When you’re putting together your Car Emergency Kit, be sure to add a multi-tool to the list.
Getting home or getting help (on foot)
First, a word of warning.
If you plan to leave your car, always make sure it’s safe to do so first.
Check on your radio or on your mobile phone that the disaster or emergency has passed in the immediate area and at your destination. Use information from emergency services, Council and the Department of Main Roads in your area.
Also make sure your route is walkable within 24 hours – this is all your food and water will last!
A typical adult walks 4 to 5km per hour. Factoring in rest, your destination should be within 40km. This assumes you’re reasonably fit and can walk for 10 hours in a 24 hour period.
You’ll need to be even more prepared to make it home on foot. You may encounter or need to move through dangerous or perilous conditions. There may be no road access, no water or power. Telecommunications networks may be down.
These are the items you should carry in your Car Emergency Kit in addition to the list above:
Navigation & communication
- A map of the area (if you’re lost and there is no mobile signal)
- Compass (and the knowledge to use it)
- Whistle – to attract attention
- Hand crank radio (if there’s no cell service) – to stay connected
- A list of important contact numbers, on paper – if your phone dies, you’ll be glad you had this.
Handy tools
- Knife – to cut through hazards, help start a fire for warmth
- Paracord – to tie things up or down
- A lighter and back up Ferro rod – to start a fire for warmth and light
- Pad and paper – to write information down if your phone is dead
Light
- LED flashlight
- Spare batteries
- LED headlamp (hands free light for all occasions)
First aid & protection
- Mini first aid kit – to treat cuts, scrapes, burns and blisters. Include antiseptic wipes for cleaning wounds. Make sure there are sterile gauze pads and bandages in the kit.
- High visibility vest – for safety if walking along highways or main roads.
- Sunscreen, hat and insect repellant.
- Trade or building gloves to protect your hands when moving objects, clearing paths etc.
Warmth and shelter
- Boots and a spare pair of socks
- Compact tent – if you have to sleep overnight on the walk out
- Compact sleeping mat
- Bivvy sack – to keep everything dry
Storage
- A backpack – to keep everything in so you can carry it on your back. A 40L pack should be enough.
Free downloadable Car Emergency Kit / Get Home Bag checklist
Download your Car Emergency Kit list in pdf now. It’s completely free – no sign ups required.
How to make a winter emergency kit for your car?
If you live in southern parts of Australia, or anywhere winter brings snow and ice, you’ll know that winter driving can be tricky and dangerous. There’s a lot that can go wrong on the roads. To prepare for winter risks, ack these four extra items in your Car Emergency Kit:
- Kitty litter – spread it under your wheels to get traction on ice.
- Compact saw – to move downed trees from across the road.
- Road flares (x3) – to attract attention or start fire.
- Collapsible shovel – to dig yourself out.
Conclusion and next steps
And with that, we’ve rounded up our list of what to put in your Car Emergency Kit. We’ve also explained why you need one. Whether it’s for extreme flash flooding in our cities, or remote area travel a Car Emergency Kit is smart and worthwhile addition to your car. Now that you know what to include, make sure to use our list to pack a Car Emergency Kit before your next road trip, summer floods or winter storms. You never know when you might need it. Stay safe on the roads!