Even a well-maintained car or truck can break down. This might be due to engine trouble, driving over glass, or animals bolting across the road. A well-stocked breakdown kit will keep you safer and more comfortable as you wait for Durham roadside assistance.

First Aid Kit

A small first aid kit is invaluable for patching up minor cuts and scrapes. Look for one that includes staples like:

• Tweezers
• Antiseptic wipes
• Adhesive bandages
• Painkillers and fever reducers
• Gauze pads
• Surgical tape
• Small scissors
• Latex gloves

Fuel Container

Even a smaller capacity fuel container may be able to carry enough gas so you can drive to the next station.

Hazard Triangles and a Reflective Vests

Set the triangles up around your vehicle to give traffic a head’s up about your vehicle. A reflective vest, meanwhile, helps traffic avoid a much more valuable target: you.

Phone Charger

Keep a spare charger in your car so you won’t face a double emergency: a breakdown and no battery life left.

Flashlight

Vehicle owner’s manuals tend to be produced with very fine print that’s pretty hard to make out at nighttime. A flashlight can help you here, as well as illuminating the situation when you pop the hood. Consider a hands-free version that attaches to your forehead via a strap.

Batteries

Flashlights have a tendency to run out of batteries at the worst possible moment. For peace of mind, throw into your breakdown kit a spare set of whatever your flashlight runs on.

Water

Distilled water in sealed bottles is great for rinsing out scrapes and staying hydrated. If you break down on a hot day, you’ll be glad to have this around. An unopened bottle of water can be stored indefinitely, although most manufacturers say it tastes the freshest if drunk within one to two years.

Snacks

If you’ve got a bit of a wait before Durham roadside assistance can get to you, a few shelf-stable snacks can take the edge off of your hunger. Popular options here include:

• Energy bars
• Sealed bags of jerky
• Dried fruit
• Nut mix
• Sports drink powders for your water

A Blanket

Blankets can keep you warm when you break down at night. Do you travel with a small child or pet? They may feel less anxious about the unexpected situation if they’re curled up in their favorite blanket. While we’re on the subject of kids…

A Toy and Coloring Book

Children can get fussy or overactive when they’re in a stressful new situation like a car or truck breakdown. Having a few toys and games on hand can entertain and distract them (so they stop distracting you).

Danny white