Business Services

5 Essential Items For Emergency Roadside Assistance

Whether you run out of gas or have a flat tire, having emergency roadside assistance is a smart idea. It can save you money and give you peace of mind.

In addition to having a well-stocked emergency kit, you can make your car conspicuous and safe by turning on the hazard lights and pulling off of the road. Reflective signage and flares are also important to keep in your kit. Contact Emergency Roadside now!

  1. Mechanic Gloves

Mechanics work with a variety of items and chemicals that can be hazardous to their hands. A burr in a misthreaded bolt or a sharp sheet metal edge can quickly damage a mechanic’s hands and the best way to protect their skin is to wear gloves when working with these types of objects. These types of gloves are typically made from leather or other synthetic materials such as neoprene. These materials are chosen to strike the right balance between durability, support and flexibility that is needed for this type of glove.

These types of gloves will also often be heat resistant to allow the user to hold hot items such as jumper cables or a car jack without burning their hands. They will also usually feature a breathable fabric that keeps the hands cool and dry while they are being worn. These features are important when a mechanic needs to be able to move their fingers freely while they are working on vehicles or holding small objects such as hoses and parts.

While these gloves are most commonly used by mechanics, they can be useful for a variety of other workers as well. For example, freezer handlers often use these types of gloves when grabbing large containers filled with cold items in order to avoid the potential of dropping them and damaging their hands. Similarly, moving companies can make use of these gloves to help their employees grip items they are carrying during a move. These gloves are also available in a wide range of sizes and materials so that anyone can find the perfect fit to suit their needs. They can even be printed with logos or other graphics to promote an organization’s brand.

  1. Jumper Cables

Jumper cables (or booster cables) are special electrical cables to connect a discharged car battery with a working one to start the engine. These are the same cables that roadside assistance companies use to help stranded drivers. These cables can also be purchased at most gas stations. However, it is recommended that car owners have their own set of high-quality jumper cables in their trunks.

When choosing a pair of jumper cables, pay attention to the gauge and cable cross-section. The higher the gauge number, the more current they can handle and the more voltage they can safely conduct. Look for a pair that is thick enough and has clamps that will fit your vehicle’s battery terminals. Also, consider a pair that is insulated with durable rubber or plastic to protect the cables from damage.

Make sure both vehicles are key-off and in park or neutral before attempting to connect the jumper cables. Access both batteries, identifying the Positive (usually red or marked with “+”) and Negative (black or sometimes labeled as “-”). Connect the opposite ends of each cable to the appropriate terminals. The red cable should go to the positive terminal of the dead battery. The black cable should go to a piece of unpainted metal on the charged battery, such as a post or a labeled ground bolt.

Turn on the working vehicle and allow it to run for a minute or so while you attempt to start the other. Once the engine starts in the other vehicle, disconnect the black cable from the battery. Then remove the red cable from the dead battery and its black end from the working battery.

  1. Mylar Blanket

Mylar blankets are a great addition to any survival kit. They’re ultralight, easy to store, and provide a sense of security during an emergency roadside situation. They’re a must-have for camping trips and survival kits.

Also known as space blankets or survival blankets, they look like a large sheet of flimsy aluminium foil. Most have one side that is brightly colored so rescue crews can see you and the other is a reflective metal layer that keeps body heat inside.

They are the most effective at reflecting radiated heat, but they’re not very good at stopping conduction (heat loss through direct contact with cold surfaces). They work best when used between you and a warm ground pad or sleeping bag.

Mylar is completely waterproof, so it can be used to gather rainwater or snow and either contain it or use as a funnel for a larger container. It can also be used as a reflector to help concentrate the sun’s heat when cooking with a fire or solar cooker.

You can even use it as a signal to attract attention from rescue crews by spreading out the blanket on the ground. The silver reflective surface will help you stand out in sunlight.

Mylar blankets are very cheap and can be used multiple times. However, they’re not very durable, so it’s a good idea to have a few on hand to replace when needed. You can also recycle them along with other number 4 plastics at grocery stores or community recycling centers.

  1. Reflective Signage

In a world where low-light conditions and unforeseen dangers are ubiquitous, reflective materials have become silent guardians that enhance safety across multiple scenarios. Whether on the road or in the workplace, reflective materials help to warn others about dangers, provide navigational guidance, and highlight hazard areas that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Reflective pavement markers have an inner plastic or metal housing that contains reflective substances that bounce light from vehicle headlights back towards the driver. These reflective materials improve the visibility of roadway signs and markings, making them more noticeable, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions. This can reduce driver confusion, thereby enhancing overall driving safety and reducing the likelihood of accidents.

The brightness of reflective signage is directly influenced by its retroreflectivity, which is determined by the materials and technologies used. Engineers carefully consider the angularity of these elements to ensure that light from vehicle headlights is efficiently redirected towards the driver, maximising luminance values and improving visibility in a wide range of environments.

These materials are also important for guiding drivers along the proper route during an emergency evacuation, such as when a building is under threat of collapsing or on fire. This is why reflective arrows and symbols on road surfaces are so critical, as they can alert drivers to the correct direction to take.

TraffiCalm’s innovative Sign Post Flasher is designed to elevate existing traffic safety measures by combining reflective technology with flash patterns known to capture drivers’ attention more assertively than reflective materials alone. This fusion of advanced features represents the next level of road safety and serves as a vital addition to your emergency kit. This portable and versatile roll-up emergency sign comes standard with a fluorescent pink reflective message that demands attention from drivers in an emergency situation. It mounts on a Dynaflex sign stand with dual-torsion horizontal springs that withstand windy conditions. It is available in 36- or 48-inch sizes with stock or custom messages.

  1. USB Charging Stick

A USB charging stick can help keep emergency vehicles well-supplied with power. This is especially important for first responders who rely on cutting-edge, life saving tools and devices. These devices need to be fully charged in order to operate.

A dual-port USB charger offers the ability to charge multiple devices at once. It can also support USB 3.0, which offers higher data rates and increased power capacity. In addition, this device includes several safety features. These include: battery detection that determines whether or not an alkaline cell is inserted; thermal limiting that reduces the charge current to maintain low die temperature during ambient temperatures extremes; and an autobooting logic output that signals external power.

All four of these products can be used as a source of backup power for USB-compatible electronics in an emergency situation. However, the Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 Lantern is unique among these four because it can provide additional power with a hand crank generator that is designed to work under any conditions. This makes it the most versatile choice for an emergency roadside device.