by Casey West

Created on: December 10, 2009

Nothing can ruin a fun trip like not having a spare tire to replace the flat one. It's dark, cold and it just so happened that your tire went flat on a random two- way road somewhere in Indiana with nothing in sight except for cows and abandoned tractors(maybe you can find the " big barn" where Kevin Bacon got his dance on in Footloose). The title for this article suggests I suggest what  you should pack for an emergency. By emergency I assume it's referring to "stuff" you will need to avoid sleeping in the car and/or walking some ridiculous distance just to get to a Waffle House whose phone is down and the closest mechanic is five miles "that-a way".

 As I've stated in the opening sentences in what will be one of the most brilliant  articles on 'What to Pack in Your Car's Emergency Kit', I highly recommend you have a spare tire AND the tools required to change it. What good is having a nice juicy burger if you left your dentures at home? A gallon of water would come in handy should you have some unwanted(what debris is wanted?) debris "fling" up and damage a hose or radiator. Overheating will result in a blown engine. A flashlight is very crucial. Not just any flashlight- I would suggest a Maglite because it provides light and can have a mean impact should you run into Kevin Bacon on uppers still dancing in the "big barn". Cash is still good. So good, you'd probably run into some backwoods town that might not have a card machine when all you need is some water to put in your radiator. I also suggest one of those small tool kits available at any basic automotive parts and tool stores in case a battery cable or terminal comes loose and a little tightening will resolve your issue.

I know I make it seem like everyone is always taking a trip through the outer-skirts of every backwoods state, so let's assume you're in downtown Atlanta at five thirty in the afternoon, but you're from Indiana and you had no idea it would take two hours to move seventeen feet. First off, if there's no other company in the car, a cell phone will come in handy in verbally expressing to a loved one the reasons you will never move to Atlanta along with a brief description of the intelligent capacity of the drivers beside you, in front of you, and behind you..and those behind the ones behind you. Next step; insert the emergency cd or or ipod with your favorite soothing and happy music, or for that matter, anything that will take you far away from the big city traffic. Close your eyes( remember, your not moving anyway) and put yourself in the character or the sound coming out of those speakers.

Those, as I the expert, believe are the essential emergency items needed to keep from blowing up your engine or having to spend the night fifty yards from a dancing Kevin Bacon on the back roads of Indiana. Be safe and stay sane.

Learn more about this author, Casey West.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.