Emergency Preparedness Tips

Essential Items for Your Vehicle Emergency Kit

• Jumper cables or portable jump starter: To restart your vehicle if the battery dies.
• Flashlight with extra batteries: Essential for nighttime emergencies.
• First aid kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape, and pain relievers.
• Warning triangles or flares: To alert other drivers if you're stopped on the roadside.
• Basic tool kit: Include screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, and duct tape.
• Tire pressure gauge and portable air compressor: To check and inflate tires.
• Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench: Ensure they're in good condition and you know how to use them.
• Nonperishable food and water: Energy bars and bottled water can be lifesavers during extended waits.
• Blanket or warm clothing: Essential during cold weather.
• Phone charger or power bank: To ensure you can call for help.
• Rain poncho and gloves: To stay dry and protected while handling roadside issues.
• Fire extinguisher: Small, automotive-rated extinguisher for vehicle fires.

Seasonal Additions

• Winter: Ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, sand or cat litter for traction, extra blankets, hand warmers.
• Summer: Extra water, sunscreen, hat, cooling towels, insect repellent.

Immediate Steps When Your Vehicle Breaks Down

1. Signal and move to safety: Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If possible, pull to the shoulder or off the road completely, away from traffic.
2. Stay visible: Set up warning triangles or flares behind your vehicle to alert other drivers. Place them at 50, 100, and 150 feet behind your vehicle on the same side of the road.
3. Stay with your vehicle: Unless it's unsafe to do so, remain with your vehicle. It provides shelter and makes it easier for help to find you.
4. Call for help: Contact roadside assistance, a local towing service, or E.M.A Tire & Auto at 540-504-7840.
5. Assess the situation: Determine if it's a problem you can safely fix yourself (like changing a flat tire) or if professional help is needed.

Special Circumstances

• Highway breakdown: Exit the vehicle from the passenger side if possible. Never stand behind or in front of your vehicle.
• Night breakdown: Turn on interior lights so you're visible to other drivers and emergency services.
• Bad weather: Stay inside your vehicle with seatbelt fastened if conditions are severe.
• Engine fire: Pull over immediately, shut off the engine, get everyone out of the vehicle, and move at least 100 feet away. Call 911.

How to Handle Common Roadside Emergencies

• Flat tire:
  1. Find a safe, flat location away from traffic.
  2. Apply the parking brake and place wheel chocks.
  3. Remove the hubcap and loosen lug nuts slightly (before jacking).
  4. Position the jack under the designated jack point and raise the vehicle.
  5. Remove lug nuts and the flat tire.
  6. Mount the spare tire and hand-tighten lug nuts.
  7. Lower the vehicle and fully tighten lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Dead battery:
  1. Position the working vehicle close to yours, but not touching.
  2. Turn off both vehicles.
  3. Connect jumper cables: red to dead battery's positive terminal, then red to working battery's positive terminal, black to working battery's negative terminal, then black to unpainted metal on dead car's engine.
  4. Start the working vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
  5. Try to start the dead vehicle.
  6. If successful, remove cables in reverse order.
• Overheating:
  1. Pull over and turn off the engine.
  2. Wait at least 30 minutes for the engine to cool.
  3. Check coolant level (only when engine is cool).
  4. If low, add coolant or water as a temporary measure.
  5. If the problem persists, call for professional help.