Holiday Travel: Emergency Items to Have In Your Car While Going on Long Drives

holiday travel emergency items first aid kit thermal blankets road map car phone chargers christmas American Automobile Association New Year vacation destination good traction kitty litter sandbag

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Dec 08, 07:33 am

Days before Christmas, the roads will be packed with people on their holiday travel, driving their cars to their vacation spots or hometowns to celebrate the season with their families or friends.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), about 53.4 million U.S. travelers were on the road for Thanksgiving this year as people have been on the rebound after staying at home and isolating during the lockdowns. The number will likely remain the same for Christmas and New Year.

If you're one of those people driving off somewhere during this busy time, here are some recommended emergency items to pack in your car:

1. First aid kit

With or without a pandemic, it's common sense to pack a first aid kit in the car in case of an accident or injury. This kit should include packs of band-aids and gauze, a bottle of alcohol, essential medicines for pain and diarrhea, cotton balls, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, eye drops, safety pins, and extra face masks for both adults and kids. There should also be a flashlight, a pair of scissors, tweezers, gloves, and an extra thermometer in the kit.

Other families might need to have one or two Epi-pens for family members prone to allergic reactions. Put an extra pad in the kit to use when disposing of contaminated items and try to find an easy-to-follow first aid manual.

2. Thermal blankets

In case you'll need to stay in the car during the holiday travel, having thermal blankets will provide extra comfort, especially when the temperature drops. According to Sustain Supply Co, thermal blankets may also be used as a sling, tourniquet, or splint for broken bones during roadside accidents before the help arrives. It may also be used to signal for help.

3. Tools for removing snow

There could be chances of snow and ice while you're on the road, so you might need an ice scraper to take these off your windshield. A shovel will also be useful for removing large mounds of snow that may be blocking the wheels of your car. There are many portable and travel-friendly shovels at popular home stores or hardware stores that are specifically lightweight since they are meant to be packed in the trunk.

4. Extra car phone chargers and a good old road map

Smartphones will be your lifeline if you're stuck on the highway with car trouble, so be sure that these don't run out of batteries. Thus, you'll need to have a car charger in your vehicle. However, should technology fail, be sure you have a road map in the glove compartment in case you get lost driving to your holiday destination.

5. Good traction.

Additional traction for the car is also a good idea to pack in the trunk because you'll never know if you'll need it after a heavy snowfall. Some suggest using kitty litter, but the experts at Car Talk said to use sandbags instead because these cheaper ones won't turn slippery and muddy when wet, which will make things worse.