Must-Have Items for Your Ford Truck Safety Kit

Your Brain is the Most Important Item

A multitude of situations could occur to you at any given time.  Some of them may the direct result of your action/inaction.  Most of them are not. The world is just unpredictable like that. Either way, being prepared helps to mitigate the fallout from incidents or accidents.  The most important item in your safety kit is your brain.

Incidents such as a flat tire, a minor fender bender, a breakdown, or a rescue may need attention.  Being a Ford Truck or SUV driver means that you may have the capacity to respond.  As such, it's wise to think about these situations and run mental exercises about said situations.  Why run mental drills?

A rule taught in flight school, which works extremely well is "Fly the airplane." Obviously, you're not flying an aircraft.  In this case, we adapt this to your situation: "Drive the car!" If an accident occurs, don't panic.  Continue to maintain control of the vehicle and remain aware of your surroundings.  Panicking causes the brain to take a backseat to emotion.  However, if one has never been in that situation before, one will not know how to act and panic can easily set in place.  This is why running the mental drills are so very important. 

Here are a few items that may be a good primer for mental drills:

• What will likely happen when you have a tire blowout at highway speeds?
• How will you respond when a breakdown occurs?
• Most people in this age will "call for help."  What if that help is 12 hours away?
• Are you equipped to handle medical emergencies?
• What will you do if there is a major accident? 

Automotive Preparedness Kits

While continually running mental drills, one should build up their automotive kit.  The kit can be broken down into a few subsets.  The first is automotive related material.  When getting automotive items, avoid the pre-packaged kits.  They usually over-charge and under-deliver.  The components are often inferior and one can build a much better kit for about the same price. Here is a list of items to consider:

• Jumper cables
• Avoid the small ones.  The lower the gauge (wire thickness), the better.  Lower numbers are thicker (like golf, lower numbers are better).  A good idea is to get nothing smaller than an 8-gauge jumper cable set.  Also, mind the length of the cables.   Lower gauge wires can support longer lengths of cable.
• Another great option for those that lack mechanical aptitude.
• Tire inflator 
• Avoid the "Fix-a-flat" stuff.  It will ruin your wheel and will void any warranty you may have with wheels and/or tires.  There are many on the market, find one that works for you.  A recommendation is one that comes in a storage bag, is long enough to reach most tires and will inflate an SUV tire in under 15 minutes (versus over one hour for cheaper ones). From personal experience, this tire inflator has worked on my F-150 SuperCrew 4x4, Expedition 4x4, and even something as large as a Suburban (which means it should have no problem working on either an Expedition EL or an Excursion).
• If your vehicle is equipped with a spare, ensure it remains properly inflated.  Consider this an item on your monthly maintenance checklist.  Also, know how to change a spare.  It's not hard, my 9-year old daughter can do it with some assistance (she's needs some help with the heavy lifting).
• As you practice changing installing a spare tire in the safety of your driveway, you will find the factory-supplied tools are minimal and barely work.  Invest in a good lug wrench that gives you the leverage to break the torque on the lug nuts.  A 4-way, or cross, the wrench is a good option.  Some opt for an electric (12 Volt or wireless) impact wrench.  As with anything complex, they may fail and do not always work.
• Spare fuses, 12 Volt cell phone charger, basic tools, and rescue tape.
• With prior experience as proof, rescue tape (with packing tape to prevent unwinding) can repair radiator hoses and hold for long periods of time. 
• Basic tool set should include common (straight), cross tip (Phillips #2), and a small metric socket set. 
• This allows you to do basic repairs if needed.  If not able to do so, those mechanically inclined can help.

Safety First (or was it Third?)

Regardless of the type of incident you may encounter, the most dangerous place to be is outside your vehicle.  Unless you have a fire, bees, a bear, or a bad guy in your vehicle.  In which case, being outside is dangerous.  If you must venture out of your vehicle, to make a repair or change a tire, keep in mind a few things:

• All modern vehicles come equipped with turn signals and hazards.  Turn your hazards on if you are stopped, regardless of whether or not you get out.
• Have a reflective vest handy and wear it (day or night).  More visibility will keep you alive.
• Keep a flashlight and spare batteries in your vehicle.  Mag Lights also have light wand attachments which come in handy for flagging people down.  The large mag lights can also be used as a bludgeoning device if required.  However, they are outlawed in some states (like the People's Republic of California).
• Keep electronic flares available.  They are a great tool for being seen, and for attracting help from motorist assist or law enforcement.  More drivers will move over a lane with these than any other device.  Most of them have a magnet allowing you to attach it to your vehicle.

All About You

Are you prepared for your needs?  Do you have children or pets in your vehicle on a regular basis?  Here are a few pointers to ponder:

• Keep snacks, bottles of water, and an additional medication that can withstand vehicle temperatures.
• Keep an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) for basic/minor injuries.
• Keep a trauma kit in your vehicle (ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE TRAINING).
• GET TRAINING on how to use items such as Quick Clot, Israeli Bandage, tourniquet, and other items.  Training should include CPR/Rescue Breathing.
• Keep an extra set of work gloves and seasonally appropriate accessories.
• Items such as winter gloves, hat, scarf, sunglasses, boots or walking shoes, and sunscreen.
• Be mindful of additional items for your children or animals.
• Extra items for each child.  Leash for your animals.  Entertainment for your children (NOT your cell phone).
• Do you carry a firearm?  If so, carry it on yourself (not in your purse or in your glove box) if legally allowed to do so.  Be mindful of the safety rules when carrying a firearm and the applicable laws in the states where you will be driving.

Additional Items to Consider

Most people will never leave the Sub/Urban jungle; however, there may be a time in which additional items are necessary. Having life lessons such as being stuck in the middle of nowhere for three days, to breakdowns in the desert, or even being stuck in snow are great teachers.  At least twice a year (usually during season change), go through your first aid kits for expired items.  Check batteries inside devices. Also, change out seasonal items in your kit.  Anything with little use gets removed from the kit.  All items should serve more than one purpose.

All listed items are kept in a small plastic tote in the back of my Expedition or F-150.  The additional items included are:

• At least two tie-down straps.  Four is recommended.  It is easily the most used item in my kits.
• 12-inch square 1/4 inch steel plate (to support jack on soft surfaces). They can be purchased at just about any hardware or home improvement store for a reasonable price.
• A heavy duty tow strap or tow chain.  (I have both in my kit.)
• Small boat bumper and 100 foot or more of floating rope (in flood-prone areas).
• MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).  Great option for meals when stuck somewhere. Some people hate them, others have enjoyed them.  Find what works for you.  My wife carries snack crackers and cookies in the back of her vehicle (also keeping in mind for children).
• Whistle, mirror, extra flashlights, fire starters (all fit into small ziplock bags).
• Ice scraper, snow brush, or a small bag of kitty litter.
• Additional ammo or magazines beyond what you would carry on yourself (If you do carry a firearm, mind state laws).

While some may find these items excessive, personal experience has found that these items have been used and remain useful.  As with most things in life, take it with a grain of salt.  You will find out what works best for you.  Hopefully, this has been a primer to reassess the items in your custom vehicle safety kit and reassess your skill sets.  Acquire the items needed and taking the training to improve yourself.  It may save your life, a family member's life, or someone else.

This is NOT an all-encompassing article for motorist preparedness.   What do you carry in your vehicles to be prepared?

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