Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Essential Items to Keep in the Car

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I usually clean out and rearrange my car in early spring when my Grandsons’ baseball games make it a necessity to make sure my first aid kit is up to date and that I have instant ice packs just in case. But as we have all experienced, this is not a normal year. In Illinois, we are just opening from the COVID-19 quarantine, and games will hopefully commence by the end of the month. Hooray! But I digress, now is a great time to clean out your car and make sure you have everything you need. Here’s what I suggest:

  1. Check your glove box. It should contain all the necessary paperwork, a good small flashlight, and the Owner’s manual. Make sure all paperwork is up to date. Especially insurance card. Have $20 and a roll of quarters. Cell phone charger.
  2. Emergency escape tool- this is that small device that could save your life someday. It will cut your seatbelt and break your driver’s side window in case of a pin in an accident. It should have two hammerheads to break then clear the glass. Keep in the glove box.
  3. Jumper cables, fire extinguisher, and emergency warning triangles, which are so necessary in an emergency. Make sure your spare is in good shape, and you have everything you need to change a tire. Work gloves, duct tape, and a poncho can be handy to make those break down moments easier.
  4. Have a good quality first aid kit. It will always come in handy. Paper towels and Kleenex, along with disinfectant face wipes, will get used weekly. We all have regular disinfectant sheets, but these should not be used on your face. Ziploc bags of various sizes are good for garbage and make an instant ice pack with cooler ice at a picnic or game. 
  5. A blanket is always a good idea; get a Mylar one if you do not have much space. I always keep extra gym shoes and socks. A couple of sweatshirts are great when it gets nippy. Stock some non-perishable, such as non-melting snacks like dried fruit and energy bars. Water is good too, but not when it is hot—the plastic leeches into the water. I always have a cooler in the back if I am going to be gone all day. 

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO