AAA is projecting that a record-breaking 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday weekend – the highest number ever recorded. The Memorial Day weekend is also known as one of the most dangerous weekends of the year. That weekend is considered the ‘Start of the 100 Deadliest Days’. Did you know that an average of eight people are killed on the road every day!

There are so many travel emergency situations including severe weather, stranded vehicles, out-of-gas situations, no air conditioning, damaged vehicles, car pile-ups, breakdowns, etc. that a family needs to be prepared for any and all of these potential emergency situations. At the very least every vehicle should have a basic emergency car kit, If you have more than one vehicle, there should be an emergency car kit in each of your vehicles.

So, before you head out for this Memorial Day weekend in a few weeks, it is the perfect time to prepare in advance for the possibility of becoming stranded in your vehicle. And guess what? Preparation can take 15 minutes or less! Here is the secret. Most families pack for the destination. They think about lawn chairs, sunscreen, swimsuits, and a cooler of snacks for the kids. What most families do not think about is that part of the trip that actually happens while on the road. The blind spot for most families is the risk they take between leaving the driveway and actually pulling in to their destination.

So, how should you prepare for your travel this Memorial Day weekend? The easiest and probably least expensive way is to purchase or place a pre-made emergency kit in the vehicle you will be driving. You can purchase these basic emergency car kits at Walmart, Home Depot or Amazon and have them within a few days. These ‘basic’ emergency car kits typically include about a dozen items including jumper cables, a solar flashlight, a fix-a-flat tire inflater, food that does not spoil such as Ready Hour Ration Bars, a first aid kit and a compact emergency sleeping blanket or two. Most of these pre-made emergency car kits sell for $50-60. If you don’t wish to purchase a pre-made emergency car kit, gather those recommended items from your household and start building your personal family kit. Once you have gathered your basic items, put them in a plastic tote.

If you are really serious about being prepared for the upcoming weekend’s road trip or any future road trip (especially the longer road trips) you might consider purchasing or building an advanced emergency car kit. The items in an advanced kit could include a collapsible shovel, a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman, a tow strap, change of clothes, spare car fluids (oil, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, etc.), tire pressure gauges, paper map, or Atlas. Every one of these advanced items is up to the individual family, so add whatever you have room in your trunk for or whatever you can afford.

Need additional advice on how to get started with your vehicle(s) emergency car kits? We have a simple Emergency Car Kit Tiny Course on our website that can guide you through the process. It is only $27 and takes about 10 minutes to go through the course. Remember that adding a car kit does not have to be expensive or time consuming to create or build. It is just another safety precaution for what might lie ahead in the upcoming holiday weekend. Again, we re-iterate – plan ahead, be safe, be prepared and enjoy this upcoming Memorial Day weekend without worry.