How to Create an Emergency Car Kit

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As a mother of three, I have a responsibility to ensure that my family is kept safe. This also means keeping myself safe if something were to happen if I am away from home. One of the easiest ways I can do this is by keeping an emergency kit in my car at all times. I typically keep the same things in there each time, but may add a few more blankets during winter weather. It’s not unreasonable to consider some day I may be stranded with my family in a snowstorm on our Iowa roads.

You’re going to learn how to create an emergency car kit!

Emergency Car Kit

Jumper cables
Tire gauge – you can usually find a guide on the inside of the passenger door as to what psi to inflate your tires
Jack & spare (Get the right size for your vehicle and know how to use it!)
Flashlight (I keep the extra batteries in my purse – I am not a fan of keeping batteries in a hot or cold car)
Gloves (usually a working pair and a winter pair)
Duct tape
Flint or striker
Matches (a backup lighter would be great, too)
Lifestraw
Three reflective warning triangles
Lifehammer
Tow straps
A small game to keep kids entertained while you wait
Multi Tool
Playing cards (in case you’re stuck somewhere for a while)
Shovel
Hand Warmers
Cat litter (helps provide traction when stuck)
Snacks (energy bars, nuts – make sure you rotate these)
First aid kit
Blankets (regular and emergency blankets)
Folding stove
AAA card
Drinking water (I usually keep at least a case in the car for emergencies)
Ice scraper
Paracord

One of my fave things to keep in the car is baby wipes. Not only are they great for wiping up messy kids…they’ve got so many more uses:

Wiping up messes the kids make
Washing off hands after pumping gas
Freshening up after a long road trip

I like to keep a tote in the car – it fits perfectly in the trunk and leaves plenty of room for other things when I need it!

Baby wipes have a ton of uses!

- Toilet paper when camping (don’t flush ’em though)
- Removing eye makeup
- Wiping toddler and baby butts

- Taking off dust on the dashboard while sitting in traffic

- Use as a makeshift replacement when I run out of swiffer wipes for my mop

- Removing crayon from our door

- Dusting house plants

- Wiping hair dye off my forehead while dying it

- Cleaning off after playing in sand

- Getting deodorant marks off my shirts after putting them on

- Wiping off my dog’s feet when she comes in from outside

- Taking grease off cabinets in the kitchen

- Removing hairspray off cabinets in the bathroom

- Cleaning my iPad screen

- Cleaning blinds

- Wiping off tanner when I put on too much

- Taking off chalk from the chalkboard

- Taking off marker from the dry erase board

Our emergency car kit came in handy recently when we were rounding a corner and the entire wheel came flying off of the Jeep! It’s the middle of winter and we had to wait a long time for AAA to come.