Emergency road trip checklist for parents

Parenting The Shine



Planning a road trip to visit family or friends this holiday season? Between hurricanes, snowstorms, and traffic, road travel these days can be unpredictable. While keeping your family protected at home is part of your daily routine, are you as prepared to keep your loved ones safe when on the road? Here’s THE checklist of the bare essentials. Some of these were in short supply after Hurricane Sandy so you’ll want to stock up well in advance. Keep in mind: this is not the checklist for extra goodies to entertain your kids on a long car ride. These are the bare bones, survival items in case of a roadside emergency and we’ve broken it down to three basic categories; first aid, road safety, and nourishment

[Related: Holiday Travel For Families]

FIRST AID KIT

Do you have a first aid kit in the car? Well you should. If there’s an injury while you’re on the road, you’ll need supplies to take care of it. We recommend a compact first aid kit like the “Triple A Road Trip” kit. It’s stocked with all the basics: band aids, ointments, simple tools and tapes, and more. It's everything you’ll need to treat a minor emergency.

ROAD SAFETY

Number one in this category is a flashlight. It’s essential in case you break down and need to walk for help. Make sure it has fresh batteries in it too. Also store a flare and a can of flat fix. To keep everyone warm and dry, keep an umbrella and blanket in the car as well – the Mylar thermal blanket featured in this episode is paper thin, easy to store, and most importantly will keep you warm in an emergency. Last, do not forget a working cell phone, which will be critical if you need to call for help, so a portable cell phone charger is a must-have on the road. The brand Totes makes a great portable charger that requires no batteries, and powers up by hand–cranking.

[Related: Expert Travel Tips For The Holidays]

FOOD & WATER

You may be stuck in your car for an extended period of time, so proper nourishment for the whole family is key. Your emergency water supply should be a gallon of water for the family, or, a bottle of H20 for each person. Then stock up on basic food supplies: boxed milk like Parmalat, some juice boxes, energy bars, and protein-rich trail mix. These food items can be stowed in your car through the winter, and they have a long shelf life, so you don’t have to worry about them spoiling.

Do you have any road trip essentials to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below.


In this episode Allison's Wardrobe is provided by:

Shirt, Motherhood Maternity
Ring, Jennifer Zeuner - http://www.jenniferzeuner.com
Necklace and Earrings, By Boe – http://www.byboe.com


[Related: 7 Dos and Don’ts For Family Road Trips]

[Related: Is Your Holiday Décor Baby Proof?]

[Related: What To Say “No” To With The Kids This Holiday Season]