When you’re about to embark on a fun road trip with friends or family, how you’d deal with an emergency on the road is probably last thing on your mind. However, it pays to plan for the worst case scenario and know exactly what to do in the event of a road trip crisis. Here are four scenarios that will make you thankful you have an emergency plan in place.
- Your vehicle breaks down.
Pexels Car trouble always seems to strike at the least opportune times. Before you leave, make sure you have your roadside assistance information written down somewhere in the car or RV. It’s also worth getting your vehicle checked out by a mechanic if you’re going on a longer trip or have been hearing any odd sounds that might develop into a real issue after days of non-stop driving. Next, pack your car with items like extra antifreeze and coolant, motor oil, and a funnel. It’s worth investing in a car battery jumpstarter just to be safe, but make sure you at least have a good set of jumper cables.
- You encounter severe weather.
Pexels Mother Nature can be fickle and weather reports can be wrong. If you’re caught in a bout of extreme weather, it’s important to have a plan for how to deal with it. Before you leave, check your vehicle for safety. Make sure you have new wipers installed, get any tire issues dealt with, and check to see that all your windows roll up properly. Next, check the weather report in your destination and in areas you’ll pass through along the way. Pack a few extra snacks and even a blanket or two if you think you might be forced to pull over for a bit due to extreme rain or snow.
- Someone becomes seriously ill or injured.
Pexels From simple car sickness to a sprained ankle or even a more dire injury, medical emergencies don’t care if you’re on vacation. To make sure you’re prepared in the event of illness or injury, first make sure that you have health insurance coverage outside your home area. Next, create or buy a first aid kit that includes things like antiseptic, bandages, painkillers, fever reducers, and anti-nausea medication. Keep your insurance information and doctor contact info in the kit as well. Make sure you’re aware of any allergies in your party and always contact emergency services if you suspect that an illness or injury is serious.
- Your wallet is lost or stolen.
Pexels Best case scenario, your friend has to foot the dinner bills for a few days. Worst case scenario, you’re stranded somewhere without access to funds to pay for things like gas and lodging. Losing your credit cards or cash can be a scary experience, but having a plan can make surviving this emergency much easier. Be sure you’ve downloaded your bank’s mobile app before leaving and that you know (or write down) your login information and card numbers. It’s also worth splitting up credit cards between bags or people. Consider stashing a cash emergency fund or extra credit card somewhere other than your wallet, such as in your glove compartment, first aid kit, or jacket.
Hopefully these tips will help you keep everything safe and happy on the road. If you’re looking to rent an RV for your next cross-country adventure, take a look at our guide to doing it correctly here.
Pexels
Car trouble always seems to strike at the least opportune times. Before you leave, make sure you have your roadside assistance information written down somewhere in the car or RV. It’s also worth getting your vehicle checked out by a mechanic if you’re going on a longer trip or have been hearing any odd sounds that might develop into a real issue after days of non-stop driving. Next, pack your car with items like extra antifreeze and coolant, motor oil, and a funnel. It’s worth investing in a car battery jumpstarter just to be safe, but make sure you at least have a good set of jumper cables.
Mother Nature can be fickle and weather reports can be wrong. If you’re caught in a bout of extreme weather, it’s important to have a plan for how to deal with it. Before you leave, check your vehicle for safety. Make sure you have new wipers installed, get any tire issues dealt with, and check to see that all your windows roll up properly. Next, check the weather report in your destination and in areas you’ll pass through along the way. Pack a few extra snacks and even a blanket or two if you think you might be forced to pull over for a bit due to extreme rain or snow.
From simple car sickness to a sprained ankle or even a more dire injury, medical emergencies don’t care if you’re on vacation. To make sure you’re prepared in the event of illness or injury, first make sure that you have health insurance coverage outside your home area. Next, create or buy a first aid kit that includes things like antiseptic, bandages, painkillers, fever reducers, and anti-nausea medication. Keep your insurance information and doctor contact info in the kit as well. Make sure you’re aware of any allergies in your party and always contact emergency services if you suspect that an illness or injury is serious.
Best case scenario, your friend has to foot the dinner bills for a few days. Worst case scenario, you’re stranded somewhere without access to funds to pay for things like gas and lodging. Losing your credit cards or cash can be a scary experience, but having a plan can make surviving this emergency much easier. Be sure you’ve downloaded your bank’s mobile app before leaving and that you know (or write down) your login information and card numbers. It’s also worth splitting up credit cards between bags or people. Consider stashing a cash emergency fund or extra credit card somewhere other than your wallet, such as in your glove compartment, first aid kit, or jacket.
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