The Car Kit

Most emergencies happen while you’re out in the world, not at home. A dead battery on a cold morning. A road closed by weather. An hour on the shoulder waiting for a tow. A small kit in the trunk turns any of those from a scary night into a minor annoyance.

Start with a road kit for the car itself — jumper cables, a reflective triangle, a tire gauge — then add the human stuff: a first aid kit, a bright flashlight, a warm blanket, and a few hand warmers for a cold wait. Keep it in a bin in the trunk and forget about it until the day you’re glad it’s there.