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Tip of the Month

Road Trip Preparedness

 

May 11, 2011 — You know where you're going, how you're getting there, and when you're coming back, but are you ready for the emergencies that could pop up along the way?

Survival planning and emergency preparedness for road trips used to be a matter of course, but in a day with roadside assistance, credit cards and cell phones, people have lost a bit of their self-reliant mindset. Suppose you had to spend the night in a broken-down car. Would you be prepared?  

First and foremost, stock at least a liter of water per person in your vehicle. In addition to water, having an emergency stock of food never hurts. You should already have a first-aid kit in your car.

Imagine you break down hundreds of miles from a service station. Have some essentials on hand so that you can fix your car yourself. Some of these items include a flashlight and extra batteries, flares and reflectors, booster (jumper) cables, a basic tire repair kit, and a spare tire of course. Check out this Car Emergency Kit Checklist for ideas about how to prepare your vehicle in case of an emergency.

One last thing: Enlist your family and friends. In addition to getting your road trip companions on board, send your itinerary to someone who is not traveling with you, so someone will know if you don't make it to where you are going. Being prepared is the goal, but the process of preparation is what gets you there.

For information, contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness at 434-982-0565 or uvaoep@virginia.edu.

 

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