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Planning an Emergency Road Kit in Perth, ON

A red triangle warning sign on the road behind a broken down car

Before you set out in your vehicle on your latest adventure, you may want to consider what you’d do if you ended up stranded on the side of the road. Is your vehicle prepared for an unexpected emergency? If not, or you’re not certain, read on to learn what you can pack in case of an emergency, courtesy the team here at Hinton Dodge Chrysler.

Survival Basics

While several roadside emergency kits are available for sale, it’s actually quite easy to assemble your own. Here’s a handy list of all the basic survival gear you should have packed before you set out.

  • Emergency food which won’t spoil
  • Water in plastic bottles
  • Blanket
  • Spare clothes and footwear
  • Whistle
  • Wind-up flashlight
  • First aid kit – ideally with a seatbelt cutter
  • Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
  • Candle in a deep can
  • Matches
  • Roadmaps

Need to wait a while for that tow-truck? These are the kinds of basic survival gear which will not only help you in case of a break-down, but also if you need to abandon your vehicle and go on foot.

Load Up Your Trunk 

Once you’ve got those survival basics down, here’s a list of additional vehicle-specific items you should always have packed in your trunk.

  • Sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter
  • Antifreeze fluid
  • Tow rope
  • Jumper cables
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Warning lights or road flares

These items are useful for alerting other drivers you’re in distress, extracting your vehicle from a hazard, or even getting a boost from a helpful passerby.

Be Thoroughly Prepared

Looking for even more stuff to pack up in your emergency kit? You might toss some heavy-duty gloves in case you need to protect your hands, or some bungee cords for securing things. For emergency vehicle maintenance, you could consider extra oil or fuses, a tire pressure gauge, or a small kit of basic tools. If you’re concerned about the cold, throw in some extra winter clothes, rain gear, and some hand or feet warmers.

Of course, you’re less likely to need that emergency kit if you make sure to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. Book a service appointment, today, with our amazing service team here at Hinton Dodge Chrysler, and hit the road with confidence.