Keep a Car Emergency Kit That Matches Your Climate

Every car should have a permanent trunk kit: jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, water, and basic tools. In cold climates, add an ice scraper, hand warmers, and a bag of sand or cat litter for traction on ice. In hot climates, add extra water and sunscreen. Check your kit twice a year — batteries die, water expires, and supplies get borrowed and never returned. The best time to build this kit is a boring Saturday afternoon, not the side of a highway at midnight.