In case of an emergency – what to pack

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With the festive season drawing near, many of us are planning road trips all around the country. Travelling with family, including small children can be stressful, so before you set off, consider the following:

  • Are you the main driver registered on your car insurance policy? If someone will be sharing the driving load, make sure you are comprehensively covered on your car insurance.
  • If you break down or get into an accident, are you insured for assistance and have the correct contact numbers?
  • If you have a tracker system, is it in working order?

Have you thought about packing some emergency items too? 

As far as essential items for your car’s emergency kit, the following should definitely be included:

  • A charged cell phone – you’re likely to have one already, but it could be useful to keep a spare, as well as a charger, in your car.
  • Jumper cables, a fire extinguisher, tow rope and a reflective warning triangle.
  • A multipurpose utility tool and a waterproof torch with extra batteries.
  • Details of your car insurance, and your insurance company’s contact number.
  • A first aid kit – include an assortment of adhesive bandages, gauze pads and safety pins; adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, disinfectant, pain killers, tweezers, scissors, and cotton wool.

Other useful items that can really help while you’re waiting for assistance:

  • Drinkable water – try to pack a few small bottles to make the load lighter.
  • Emergency food – a handful of protein bars for example.
  • A map book – while you may have a GPS in your car already, an electrical malfunction may make a hard copy a real life saver.
  • A toilet roll or two, wet wipes or paper towels and some hand sanitiser. This can be really useful if you can’t find a toilet for miles.
  • Bug spray and pepper spray, especially for ladies travelling alone.

When travelling with kids, remember to bring items to keep them entertained and if you are travelling with pets, pack leashes, treats, a water bowl, waste bags and pet blankets.

There may be other items that you’d be at a loss without, or that you feel would make an overnight stranding much more comfortable for you, so pack those too, keeping the essentials as priority.

Preparing as much as possible beforehand, particularly checking your insurance cover is up to scratch, goes a long way to making your road trip a guaranteed success.

TIPS FROM: Bertus Visser, Chief Executive of Distribution at PSG Insure

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