This guide is intended to give you a guideline on packing a small assortment of items that can help you in emergency situations while traveling the roads this summer. It is intended only as a guideline, items can be changed or added in order to fit ones individual needs.

Summer's arrived and at this time of the year, more people hit the roads for vacations than any other time of the years. There are many ways to get to where you're going this summer, but the most common way is still the automobile. Airfares have gone up, taking a family on a flight is quite expensive, so load up the car and yes, prepare yourself for sticker shock at the gas pumps, and hit the road.

A little preparation before leaving home can go a long way in having a safe and enjoyable trip. The first thing I would recommend is, unless you own a relatively new car or one that you know is road worthy, is consider renting a vehicle for your trip. It's money well spent as a breakdown on the highway away from home is not only costly, but can send you home before you get to your destination. You can shop rates on the internet, all major car rental companies have websites to compare prices on rentals. If you decide to forgo the rental, at the very least, consider AAA insurance before you leave. Not only do you get discount towing along with many other "automobile emergencies", most hotels offer discount room rates if you are a member. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Once the vehicle has been decided on, now it's time to start packing. Not the suitcases yet! Let's get a small travel bag or similar size bag and put together a few items that may can save your trip from being a disaster. One of the first things to go in should be a small box of "Band-Aids", or better, a small first aid kit. The first aid kits are inexpensive and don't take up much room. Usually included in the kits are gauze, sterile pads, alcohol, iodine, tweezers, soap, and band-aids. Bigger and fancier kits have more to them, but we're talking "just in case" type stuff here, not a hospital staffed emergency room! Second on my list would be a small flashlight. I'd spring for something a little heavy duty but small. A spare set up batteries is essential as well. The batteries should be replaced before each major trip, both in the flashlight and the spares. A flashlight with weak or dead batteries is not very useful. In addition to a flashlight, a few of safety  "glow sticks" can be extremely handy. These get activated when bent and chemicals combine to give off light, usually lasting 8-12 hours. Again, these should be replaced regularly as they do go bad if not used after a period of time. If not used on a trip, you can always give them away at Halloween to the real young kids, they just love them and it'll help keep them safe as well.

A small but useful tool to pack is called a P-38 can opener. This is a very small can opener used by GI's around the world and can open cans of any size. I recommend taking one as it has a sharp edge/hook that may come in handy for other situations as well. Just be sure to put it in a small matchbox or so to keep it from piercing something else. And since we're talking about sharp edges, throw a small Swiss Army knife in the bag. These come in several configurations with everything from a bottle opener to scissors to a nail file.

Next in the bag should be what is called an "emergency space blanket". These are highly reflective, waterproof, and reusable ultra-thin blankets. They are great for reflecting heat and help retain 90% of one's body heat, so they're good for summer and winter emergencies. The blankets fold to a small three by four inch square but open up to four by seven foot big... and they're in-expensive. Why not pack a couple of them! Along with the space blanket should be an item called "Light Load Towels".  Again, a very small package that opens up to a decent size that can be used as a towel, washcloth, water filter, headband, fire starter, and goes well as a first aid kit supplement. Very versatile items that you should not leave home without.

Another item I would include in the travel bag would be a small pack of rope or paracord, 50' would be ideal. As with most items in the bag, the paracord can come in handy in a variety of situations. The more uses of an item, the less items we have to pack. One of the last things to include is a folding sign that states "GET HELP" in bold letters. This can be homemade or store bought, but it should be large enough for someone in a passing vehicle to be able to read easily. This can be folded and stored in the bag but should be put in a waterproof ziplock bag for protection.

There are many other items that can be useful in emergency situations such as waterproof matches, a compass, roadmaps, and a list of family names and phone numbers. Space does dictate what you can carry, but the ones I've listed should fit easily in a bag and be able to store away nicely even in the smallest vehicle. The one item left to include, but does not go in the travel bag is a small fire extinguisher. This should fit under a seat easily and be readily available in an emergency. I do stress that it should be secured in a way that it would not become a flying hazard if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

I hope you all have a safe and adventurous summer vacation. Packing a emergency bag is quick and in-expensive, and may not only be of use to you, but someone who may have had an accident or be in a situation in need.