Building a Vehicle Emergency Kit

Let’s dive into a unique kind of EDC – your Everyday Vehicle. Whether it’s a Toyota Camry or a Rolls Royce, it’s the car you rely on daily.

Every time you drive your kids to school, fetch passengers, or make a grocery run, your car transforms into a dynamic hub on wheels. This piece will touch upon various facets of your vehicle, from its upkeep and road manners to creating an on-the-go emergency kit.

It’s just another aspect of living a lifestyle of preparedness.

You should keep your car in tiptop shape at all times as well. This is your emergency escape and response vehicle; if it’s not ready for an emergency, you aren’t. – Pat McNamara (Sentinel)

Basic Vehicle Maintenance

This is a common trend you’ll notice in the Transporter movies. After each of his jobs, the car is maintained and repaired as needed. The name of the game is preventative maintenance.

This is no particular order, just some guidelines I follow to keep my vehicle ready at all times.

To start I never let the gas tank go below half a tank

I learned this first from my dad many years ago and I keep hearing it reiterated by many in the executive protection field as well as other industry professionals. Some choose to always keep the tank at 3/4, but for me, half is more practical. Without gas, you’re not going anywhere.

Next up is the oil

The general rule of thumb is to get the oil changed every 3000 miles or 3 months (whichever comes first). Your driving habits are going to dictate this. If you’re driving more than 100 miles a day I would stick to the rule of thumb, but if you’re just commuting around town to run errands a few times a week, then you can probably stretch that timeline out a bit, say every 4 to 6 months.

Tire pressure is also important to maintain

Most newer vehicles have tire pressure sensors that will alert you to any drops in pressure. Typically when you take your vehicle to get the oil changed, they will top off the tire pressure according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Either way, it’s good to know your manufacturer’s recommendations and spot-check those from time to time.

Next on the list are your lights

Make sure your headlights, high beams, brake lights and turn signals are all functional. These are all generally pretty easy to replace. I keep several on hand just in case, especially if I’m traveling.

Keep windshield washer fluid topped off

It’s not necessarily a maintenance must, but it sure makes things easier when driving for long periods of time, staring through a windshield pelted with bugs, bird crap and road grime.

Battery Replacement

The battery in your vehicle should be replaced about every 5 years or so just to be safe. I know they can go much longer than that, but it’s an industry guideline for many executive protection teams and close protection specialists.

Last but not least is the check engine light. If it comes on, it’s on for a reason. Go get it checked out and address any issues sooner than later.

Vehicle Roadside Emergency Kit

Flat tires. It’s a fact of life. It’s better to be prepared than stuck on the side of the road or a parking lot waiting and depending on someone else to rescue you. I keep a small tire plug kit and can of fix-a-flat in my kit.

The portable air compressor I carry plugs into my 12-volt outlet and allows me to inflate a low or flat tire pretty much anywhere. I do not want to be dependant on finding a gas station with air.

The portable jump pack I keep in my vehicle also gives me peace of mind when traveling. The jump pack allows me to jump either my vehicle or someone else’s without having to use jumper cables.

You just need to make sure you charge the jump pack after using it so that you’re prepared for the next time. I keep my hand tools and other small items inside a tool bag.

For medical gear, I carry a trauma kit located under the driver’s side seat and a small first aid kit in the glove box. When you have a family in the car, make sure you have enough medical supplies to treat them ALL.