First aid supplies for your vehicle
See Figures 7 and 8

Many of the little problems that can disable a vehicle along the roadway can be taken care of by the driver if he has some simple tool or some little thing like a piece of tape or wire. You don't have to be a mechanic to fix many of the little things that can go wrong. Your vehicle's fan belt may become loose because the bolt holding the alternator in position became loose; this would be reflected by the warning light on your dashboard indicating that the alternator is not charging. A wire may become disconnected, a tailpipe hanger may break, and so on. The following is a list of some of the things you can carry in your trunk or glove compartment that you may find useful from time to time:

Necessary emergency items: A checklist

Glove compartment

• The names, addresses, and telephone number of someone to call in an emergency.
• Spare fuses for the electrical system.
• A good flashlight with reliable batteries.
• An ice scraper for winter driving.
• A pocket knife.

• Spare tire (with enough air in it).
• Can of tire sealant.
• Fire extinguisher.
• First aid kit.
• Jack and lug wrench for changing tires.
• Flares or reflective day/night devices.

• An empty can to carry gasoline (if you run out of gas) and a plastic jug of water (if your engine boils over and you lose your coolant)

• Pliers -- useful for tightening clamps, small nuts that may work loose, and twisting wires
• Screwdrivers -- several sizes, including a Phillips head
• Adjustable wrench or small set of open-end wrenches-to tighten nuts and bolts that may have worked loose
• Electrical and duct tape -- to repair broken or frayed wires and to temporarily stop small leaks in a hose until you can get to a service facility
• Wire -- to temporarily hold a muffler or tailpipe in place if one of the hangers breaks or falls off
• Rags -- to dry up your distributor or wet wires if your engine is drowned out in heavy rain or high water
• Battery jumper cables -- to get your vehicle started if your battery is weak, especially in the winter
• Piece of sandpaper -- useful for cleaning dirty battery terminals when the vehicle won't start
• Bottle of engine oil -- nice to have when the oil light comes on and you're far from a service station

Other useful items

• Air compressor (cigarette lighter plug-in type) -- to use when one of your tires has developed a slow leak and you'd rather drive to a service station to have it changed than do it yourself
• Plastic sheets -- for changing a tire in the rain or if you have to get under the vehicle to check something

• Tire chains
• A small shovel -- to help you get out of ruts and snow banks
• A small bag of sand or traction mats -- to throw under the wheels for better traction if you are stuck in ice or snow

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