Are you getting ready to purchase your first ever vehicle? Do you know what to do in the event that your vehicle breaks down? Before anything happens to your vehicle, it's a good idea to put together an emergency roadside kit. Here are some things you should have available while you wait for the tow truck to arrive:
Flares: Flares make it easier for the emergency roadside service vehicle to find you. Besides the chemical road flares that you may have seen your parents or the police use, there are also battery-operated LED road flares. It may be difficult to ignite a chemical flare at times, while batteries will obviously need to be checked and replaced at regular intervals. For the best reliability, you may want to have a few of each type in your emergency kit. If you do get the LED flares, make sure to check them monthly to be certain that they still work.
Mylar blankets or sleeping bags: It can get cold very quickly during the winter in a vehicle with an engine that's off. Even if the emergency roadside service vehicle is only half an hour away, that's still half an hour without heat. When you're stranded on a highway or freeway, it can be difficult or impossible to leave your vehicle to seek warmer shelter. Although mylar blankets may seem flimsy and worthless, they reflect your own body heat back at you, helping to prevent…show more content… If it's very hot, you can even pour some of the water over your head to cool down. Avoid packing just juices or sodas, as these can be more dehydrating than helpful. For food, cookies, crackers and jerky can stave off hunger until the emergency roadside service vehicle arrives. If you live in an especially remote area of the country, consider picking up a few surplus MREs to keep in your vehicle. It could be well past meal time by the time the tow truck brings you back to
