Top 10 must-haves in vehicles

IT HAS been said that it is better to be safe than sorry and this rings true in the event of an emergency.

Many of us spend a considerable amount of time on the road as we commute to work or head out for a holiday.

Planning ahead and equipping ourselves with certain items in our vehicles can make the difference between being able to take action in a dangerous or unpleasant situation or just sitting there in despair.

StarMetro Online speaks to safety activist and Road Safety Marshal Club founder and chairman K. Balasupramaniam to find out some useful items to keep in our car in the event of an emergency.

1 Fire extinguisher

This may raise some eyebrows but keeping a fire extinguisher in your car is highly recommended by Balasupramaniam. A 1kg fire extinguisher is enough for a small car while a 2kg one is recommended for bigger vehicles.

“Buy Sirim-approved extinguishers,” Balasupramaniam advised.

Cars can catch fire due to overheating, an accident or friction. If you see smoke coming out from your bonnet, pull your car aside.

“Pull your bonnet latch, but don’t lift your bonnet or you’ll feed the fire with more oxygen,” said Balasupramaniam.

Spray the fire extinguisher between the small space of your bonnet and only lift it up once no smoke emits from it.

2 First aid kit

It pays to spend on a good first aid kit that not only comes with tools to treats minor cuts but with other useful contents including burn gels. It also helps to brush up your knowledge on first aid than to be caught unprepared. Balasupramaniam encourages people to buy first aid kits with soft containers or cushioned casings instead of the hard ones where you may injure yourself if it flies within your car during an accident.

3 Masking tape

Masking tape is extremely useful as it has many uses and can hold things in place. For example, Balasupramaniam explained that you can use masking tape to hold your bumper in place until you can get it fixed or to tape your side mirror if it has been knocked in an accident and is dangling from your car.

4 Life hammer (emergency hammer)

In the event you are trapped in a car after an accident, a life hammer, or emergency hammer, can help you escape. It comes with a siren and torchlight, and you can also use it to cut your seatbelt and break your window if you are trapped in the car. It can easily be stored in your glove compartment and you can get them for about RM30 in some supermarkets, making them accessible and relatively affordable.

5 Towel

Having a towel in your car is useful if you or your passenger is bleeding, experiencing hypothermia or needs to dry off. You can also use your towel to wrap around your face in the event your windscreen has shattered to protect yourself from shards of glass, or to protect your seats in the event you were caught in the rain or covered in dirt.

6 Water

Balasupramaniam advises motorists to keep three litres of water in their cars. This can be used for your radiator or for your own consumption if you find yourself stranded in an unfamiliar place. The water will also come in handy in the event you need to wash yourself if you get dirty.

7 Jumper cables

Any car owner dreads getting caught with a flat battery. It can delay appointments or cause panic if you are in an unfamiliar place. Keeping jumper cables in your car will help you jump start it from another individual’s vehicle.

“Buy good quality jumper cables and not the thin ones,” advises Balasupramaniam, adding that one should also remove any rings or watches before jump starting the car or you may injure yourself.

8 Traffic cones and a blinker

If your car breaks down on the road, traffic cones offer visual warning to other motorists to stay clear of your car.

“Emergency warning triangles have a tendency of getting stolen, however,” said Balasupramaniam. Vehicle owners should consider buying three cones to guide oncoming traffic away from your car.

“Buy collapsible traffic cones that can fit in the boot without taking up much space or you can also use blinkers to warn other motorists when your car is stopped at the side of the road.

“If you need help, you can even wave the blank side of a CD to attract attention as it reflects light,” said Balasupramaniam.

9 Plastic poncho

A poncho will come in handy as it is multifunctional. It can help keep us dry when changing tyres in the rain, it can be used as a temporary shelter from downpours, to wrap your car window in the event it is shattered or to protect your seats from getting soiled if you are wet from the rain. You can easily purchase them from pharmacies and even convenient stores.

10 Portable charger

No one wants to be caught in a situation where they are stranded in an isolated area with no battery in their phone to call for help.

Generally, one does not want to rely on public payphones as they may be vandalised while emergency phones on highways may require you to walk some distance to reach one.

Keep a mobile charger in your car to ensure that you can call for help if your phone battery has run flat or to Google information.

It might be useful to consider a portable solar charger that can be used to charge various mobile devices including your laptop, phone and camera.

A regular portable charger works too, if you do not need the additional features that come with a portable solar charger.