Car Emergency Kits

The car trip analogy has been used in previous posts but now lets look at the possibility of your car trip becoming a disaster. One of my favorite sites has a fabulous list for creating an emergency car kit.
 http://www.whathappensnow.com/files/WHN%20-%20CarEmergKit2.pdf  Extensive Emergency car kit list
But as with all things, children require some special considerations.

As mentioned previously – entertainment is going to be one of your key issues in a disaster if stranded in your car. I would follow the same standards in food and entertainment as for your 72 hour kit. As a parent I would recommend that you extend you car kit to include “parenting emergencies” – such as blow outs (not the tire kind), and car sickness. Include a change of clothes for the entire family, along with garbage sacks to cover seats if needed. If you have an infant consider a breast pump and batteries – you will want to try and keep baby in their seat in case of an accident or even if you've just pulled over to the side of the road. You may want to have a separate emergency entertainment kit in your car (NO CRAYONS!!!!) or just have a permanent collection of games, books and notepads in your car. Be sure to have extra blankets. One picnic blanket isn’t going to cover the three rows of seats in your mini van. Plan accordingly or have individual emergency blankets in your kit. Remember a van or suburban uses more gas than a car so its even more important to keep it full.

If your pregnant than your supply list grows as well. You will need extra water, feminine supplies, maternity clothes, medical contacts, towels, and an Emergency birthing kit. I would also recommend a bowl that can be sealed for morning sickness, or car sickness.