| We all hear about car accidents and breakdowns | | | | All of these items are useful should you be |
| and think that it would never happen to us. | | | | unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident. |
| However, what if it did and you weren’t | | | | Duct tape is also brilliant to have as it serves |
| prepared? It is always better to be safe than | | | | many purposes such as makeshift repairs of |
| sorry so making sure you have an emergency kit | | | | bodywork or bumpers. If you can get hold of a |
| in your car is advisable as you never know what | | | | high-visibility jacket then do so as they are very |
| might happen and when. | | | | useful if your car breaks down at night. In poor |
| Emergency kits have helped millions of people | | | | visibility or at night it’s important that you |
| over the years and at the same time millions | | | | make your presence known to other motorists |
| have wished they’d had one. If you break | | | | to avoid any accidents. |
| down in a remote place where there is nobody to | | | | Other items you should consider having are |
| come and assist you quickly or where it would | | | | blankets in case you break down in colder |
| take the emergency services a long time to | | | | weather, drinking water to keep you hydrated (or |
| reach you, then you will benefit from carrying an | | | | to fill washers should you run dry). A flashlight or |
| emergency kit and being prepared. | | | | torch is handy so you can see what you are |
| The first thing to have on board is a first-aid box; | | | | doing if you break down at night. |
| these can be brought from most pharmacies or | | | | The best thing to do with emergency kits is to |
| large supermarkets. Some are more | | | | leave them underneath the passenger seat, in the |
| comprehensive than others but you should make | | | | glove compartment, in the boot or with the spare |
| sure that the kit has at least painkillers, bandages | | | | wheel so that it is out of the way but easily |
| and plasters, wet wipes and any medication you | | | | accessible should you need it. Try and stay calm |
| need to take regularly. | | | | and remain in your car if possible and wait for |
| In the event you are unable to drive your car | | | | help to arrive. |
| you should have the necessary tools in the boot | | | | If you need to venture outside then make sure |
| to help you fix it. Typically the tools you should | | | | you are careful and be aware of your |
| have with you are a tyre iron, car jack and | | | | surroundings at all times, especially at the road |
| possibly screwdrivers for electrical faults, although | | | | side or on a hard shoulder. Finally, it’s |
| this is best left for roadside recovery or | | | | advisable to carry a mobile phone with you when |
| breakdown services to deal with. Having jump | | | | on any journey and to make sure that your |
| leads on board is essential should your battery go | | | | phone has plenty of charge in case of an |
| flat. | | | | emergency. |