Building a Car Emergency Kit

Summer, summer, summer... Hope everybody is enjoying their days. Summer for many families equals a lot of travel by car. Whether you are planning an adventurous road trip, or a quick ride to your local farm, grocery store or visiting grandparents across the state, you need to be prepared and organized. 

Are you ready for emergencies? Do you have essentials in your car in case you need them? It’s better to be safe than sorry. I know, it’s cliche but believe me when you travel with kids you have to be ready for anything. And I’m not even talking about accidents and serious problems, god forbid. 
Well, now is a good time to think and take an action to create an emergency kit for your car with your family's needs in mind. The items in the summer emergency kit will be different than the one in winter. Once you create your kit don’t forget to attend to it from time to time and check the content for updates. Kids outgrow clothes fast, weather changes, your child starts using the potty all of a sudden and you end up not needing diapers in your car, just saying it. Or quite the opposite-you forget to carry diapers and your child of course surprises you with an accident. Whatever your situation, keep the emergency kit always updated. 

First, you need to have some kind of container. It all depends how practical or fancy you are. Are you a backpack type of parent, clear plastic bin type, a wicker basket aficionado or...a designer bag lover. The main thing is the content. 

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To help you with creating an emergency kit here are key questions to keep in mind. 
What’s your travel routine? How many kids do you have? What are your/their needs? How big is your car? How much time do spend in the car? 
Then after you create some list, determine the type of container you would like to use. 
So what shall you put in your container? 

As I’m writing this article I am also going over my own bag. I usually keep seasonal clothing in the car for all of us. You just never know. Of course when you travel with kids you have to have more than clothes - you have to get snacks and entertainment as my daughter calls it. In the summer time I always have bubbles, beach toys and a ball in our car. 

Here are a few key categories to guide you in creation of your bag. You can go as elaborate as you wish or you can stick to bare minimums. I have to admit I am someone in between. 

Survival
snacks/water

clothing
blanket/pillow
cash/coins
maps
phone numbers of friends and family on laminated paper in case your cell phone doesn’t work
first aid kit
sun hats
umbrellas/rain ponchos
flashlight

Entertainment for kids
crayons/markers
sketchbook
DVD’s 
Music CDs
travel games such as magnetic dolls, travel bingo
Bendaroos
camera for them to take pictures
other

I’m not a big fan of electronic games and devices but they sure can keep your child occupied for longer periods of time. 

Sanitation
hand sanitizer
bar soap
diapers
baby wipes
antibacterial wipes
feminine hygiene products
trash bags
bug repellent
sun screen
toilet paper
paper towel

Car essentials
paperwork
car registration
insurance
scraper
jumper cable
other

In the summer time I like to keep extra things handy in the car, like paper cups and napkins and plates. Just in case we want to “dine alfresco”. 
I also keep a hand vacuum in the car. You know traveling with kids can get messy. The best part of the hand vacuum is that my daughter loves to use it as well. 
It’s no fun being stranded on the side of the road but with an ultimate emergency kit in your trunk things will become more bearable. 

Have a wonderful summer. Bon voyage! Be safe and prepared!