Road Trip Essentials: Car Emergency and First Aid Kits (Text)

West Valley Medical Center - November 13, 2018

You and your family have decided to take a holiday road trip together. You envision scenic snowy routes, countless rounds of the alphabet game, and show tune sing-alongs. But if you're not careful, it could turn into a nightmare, complete with roadside medical emergencies.

Before you embark on your next road trip, make sure that you have all the essentials you need to be fully prepared for a possible emergency.

In Case of Emergency

Bad: 44% of Americans do not have first aid kits

Worse: 48% of Americans have no emergency supplies at all

Must-Have Roadside Emergency Kit Supplies

Jumper cables
Flares or reflective triangle
Non-perishable food with manual can opener
Water: 1 gallon per person for a period of 3 days
Radio: hand-crankled or battery operated
Basic tool kit: screwdriver, pliers, wrench
Cat litter or sand for tire traction in mud or on ice
Chargers for cell phones or other devices
Flashlight
Paper map
First aid kit
Batteries
Blankets

Essential Basic First Aid Kit

Medications
Epi-pen for life-threatening allergies
Ibuprofen or aspirin
Antibiotic ointment
Antiseptic wipes
Tweezers

Stay Charged Up

20% of Americans use cell phones for emergency info and social media for warnings and alerts.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federal Emergency Management Agency
American College of Emergency Physicians