What you should have in your roadside emergency kit

It’s the end of a long summer day, and you’re about to drive back home on a Sunday evening from a relaxing weekend at the lak. You are looking forward to the beautiful sunset and a cooler night, with the top down and a leisurely drive home. You haven’t been on the road for more than half an hour, and you hear a loud pop, a warning light appears on your dashboard, and you feel your car tug to one side. The perfect weekend is coming to a close. A flat tire. Ugh!

There’s no gas station in view, only one bar on your phone, and no one in sight. You remember and breathe a sigh of relief. You reach in the trunk, and there it is. The roadside emergency kit your wife told you to pack.

What should you have in your roadside emergency kit?

jumper cables
a flashlight
a phone charger
flares
bottled water
snacks such as energy bars 
a blanket
rain poncho
a quart of motor oil
coolant
washer fluid
tire gauge
tool kit
ice scraper
pen and paper 
duct tape
fire extinguisher
reflectors
spare tire

Be sure to keep your emergency kit in the trunk of your car and check it about every six months. Replenish items as needed and replace expired items. Be sure to always keep an emergency contact, insurance information, and other pertinent information.