Car Emergency Kits - The RoadReady

• Three levels so the kit matches how you actually drive
• Arrives assembled and ready to go in your vehicle today
• Basic fits in most glove boxes at just over a pound
• First aid kit for cuts and scrapes in every level
• U.S. Coast Guard approved food and water (Deluxe and Premium)
• Jumper cables, reflective triangle, and work gloves for roadside stops (Deluxe and Premium)
• Premium covers two people with sleeping bags, tube tent, and tow rope
• Assembled by a kit specialist building emergency kits since 2007
• Every purchase supports the National Forest Foundation

Basic - Around-town driving, second cars, and new drivers in the family. The right choice if you've never kept a kit in your car and want one you'll actually keep there.

Deluxe - Daily commuters, families who take road trips, and anyone whose regular drive includes a stretch without cell service. Covers the car as well as the people in it.

Premium - Mountain and rural routes, longer trips, and drivers who usually have a passenger. The right choice if help could be more than an hour away.

Not sure which car kit fits? Choose The FirstMile for a compact one-person emergency reserve. Choose The PitStop when roadside tools and deeper first aid are the priority. Choose The RoadReady when you want the flexibility to select your level of coverage, from everyday backup through broader two-person preparedness.

Basic (1.1 lbs)

First aid kit
LED flashlight with AAA batteries, 1 light stick
Emergency reflective blanket, adult poncho, 2 hand warmers
Signal whistle, multitool knife, heavy duty work gloves
Tissue pack, 6 wet naps
Note paper and pencil
Large black pouch

Deluxe (7 lbs) - its own complete kit:

2,400 kcal SOS food ration bar, 12 water pouches, GI can opener
6-gauge 16-foot jumper cables, emergency triangle, ice scraper
Motion sensor headlamp with AAA batteries, 2 light sticks
Oversized reflective blanket, adult poncho
First aid kit
Multitool knife, heavy duty work gloves
Duct tape, 50 feet of 5mm rope, waterproof matches
5-in-1 whistle, playing cards, waterproof notebook and pencil
Toilet paper roll
Large nylon bag

Premium (20 lbs) - the most complete level:

3,600 kcal SOS food ration bar, 12 water pouches, GI can opener
6-gauge jumper cables, polyester tow rope (10,000 lb capacity), emergency triangle, safety vest
Motion sensor headlamp, 2 light sticks, 4-in-1 dynamo flashlight
2 emergency sleeping bags, tube tent, HeatStore reflective blanket, 2 adult ponchos, 2 hand warmers
First aid kit
Firestarters, waterproof matches, duct tape, 50 feet of rope
5-in-1 whistle, multitool, work gloves, playing cards, notebook and pencil
Toilet paper roll
Red duffle bag, 18" x 12" x 10"

• Dead battery. Deluxe and Premium include jumper cables so you're equipped for a jump-start when a suitable vehicle and safe assistance are available.
• Flat tire on a road with no shoulder. Deluxe and Premium include a reflective warning triangle to help make you visible to passing traffic, while Premium also adds a safety vest.
• Long wait for a tow. Food, water, warmth, and playing cards for the hours nobody plans for, and the fourth round of "are we there yet."
• Breaking down after dark. Multiple light sources in every level, including a hand-crank flashlight in Premium that never needs batteries.
• Cuts and scrapes on the road. A first aid kit within reach instead of at home in the bathroom cabinet.
• Cold weather stops. Every level includes a reflective blanket and poncho. Premium adds two sleeping bags and a tube tent, enough shelter for two people through a long, cold wait.
• Helping someone else. Sometimes you're the one who pulls over for a stranded driver.

Make It Yours!

Consider adding:

• A phone charging cable that works in the car.
• A small cash reserve.
• A list of medications anyone in the car takes.
• Water and snacks, if you chose the Basic.
• A blanket, hat and gloves from November on.

Tips:

• Keep it where you can reach it. A kit under the stroller and the folding chairs is a kit you won't get to.
• Check it twice a year. The daylight saving weekends make an easy reminder.
• Rotate food and water annually. Both are rated for five years, but heat cycling in a trunk is hard on everything.
• Test the flashlight when you check the kit. Batteries drain even sitting unused.
• Tell everyone who drives the car where it is. A kit only works if the person behind the wheel knows about it.

What does Ready.gov recommend keeping in your car?

Ready.gov's list for being stranded is short:

• Jumper cables
• Flares or a reflective triangle
• An ice scraper
• A car phone charger
• A blanket
• A paper map
• Cat litter or sand for traction

The RoadReady Deluxe and Premium cover the cables, triangle and blanket. The rest are easy to toss in the trunk yourself. A tire inflator, a seat belt cutter and your prescription medications are worth adding too.

Our guide to what to keep in your car for an emergency goes through the full list.

How do you get your car ready for winter?

NHTSA's advice starts before the first snow:

• Battery: have a mechanic check it, since battery power drops as the temperature does.
• Tires: cold air lowers tire pressure, so check yours against the manufacturer's number, and make sure the tread is at least 2/32 of an inch.
• Fuel: keep the tank close to full. Ready.gov notes a full tank helps keep the fuel line from freezing and leaves you ready if you need to evacuate.

Is it safe to drive through a flooded road?

No. Ready.gov says about six inches of water can make a car stall or lose control, and about a foot can float many cars. Turn around and find another way. If a power line falls on your car, stay inside until a trained crew removes it.

Why are lifeboat rations in a car kit?

The RoadReady's food bars carry U.S. Coast Guard approval, the same rations certified for lifeboats. The water pouches are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada and Lloyd's Register. You'll see "lifeboats and liferafts" printed on the packaging. That's where these rations are tested hardest, which is why they hold up well in a car.

Whichever RoadReady level you choose, it's the part of this list that's already packed. The rest is a quick trip around the house.

Sources: Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness campaign, Car Safety. NHTSA, Winter Driving Tips.