Car safety: items you should always have in your car

Here is a list of items that you may want to have in your car at all times.

When you are driving around town or traveling between cities, anything can happen. You can have a flat, run out of gas, experience mechanical problems or get sick. If you are driving, especially if you are driving for long distances alone, here is a list of items you should always keep handy inside your own car to be prepared for any situation.

* Even if you are against the use of cell phones in cars, you should always have a fully charged cell phone in your car in case of an emergency where you need to contact a spouse, parent or friend. Keep a car charger for your cell phone inside, as well, in case your phone does start to lose charge. This can be a lifesaver if you need to contact the police, a towing company, a company to pop your locks or a friend or family member to let them know where you currently are. In addition to the actual cell phone, it is important that you have a list of important numbers in your glove compartment at all times.

* In case your battery dies, it is good to always have a pair of jumper cables in your car.

* Although it may sound a little silly or a bit like overkill, keep a few nutritional bars and a gallon jug of water in your trunk. It is better to have these things and never need them than to need them and not have them.

* Most large retail stores like Target and Wal-Mart sell an item that fixes flat tires. If you have run over a nail and have slowly lost the air in your tire, this spray will inflate your tire and create a temporary seal on the hole or leak that will hold long enough for you to find a place to have your tire fixed.

* It is always good to be prepared for bad weather, so always carry an umbrella and rain coat in your car. During winter, always have an extra coat and blanket in your trunk in case you are stuck inside your car without heat.

* Just as you would have a first aid kit in your home, you also need a separate one for your car, in case you have a minor injury while driving. These first aid kits usually come with Band-Aids, gauze, tape, tweezers, ice packs and medicine for headaches and minor injuries.

* Always carry a flashlight in your car, in case your car breaks down at night. You will also need a flashlight if you find yourself having to change a tire in a place where there is very little light.

* It is imperative that you always carry a copy of your latest automobile insurance card in case you get pulled over by a cop or you get into an accident. This is one of the first pieces of information you will be asked for in either case.

* Retail stores sell a flashlight combo that you may want to invest in. These combos are perfect for storing in cars, since they include a radio, a flashlight, a flashing light and an alarm.

* Since you will more than likely not be carrying around a tool box, invest in a Swiss Army knife or other multi-purpose knife that has scissors, a knife and different screwdriver attachments.