Our situation with the pandemic is improving all the time as more and more Marylanders are receiving the vaccination each day. With that in mind, many of us are starting to plan out trips for the spring and summer. If there is a road trip over the horizon for you, be sure to check out our road trip safety essentials!
Preparing the Car for a Road Trip
Car reliability is obviously key for those about to make a long trip. Before you hit the open road, you may want to head to your mechanic for an inspection or simple routine maintenance. The last thing you need is to get stuck because of a simple car issue that a little extra TLC could have prevented. If you haven’t had new tires or windshield wiper blades installed within the last year, these are key features you may want to consider upgrading as well.
What to Pack
In Case of an Injury
At the very least, you’ll want to have access to these crucial first aid materials if you are planning a long trip:
- Any required prescription medications
- Medical gloves
- Extra face masks
- Stop the Bleed kit
In Case of a Breakdown
You could always end up facing car troubles on your drive, so be sure to pack these items to ensure your safety until help arrives:
- Wireless phone charger
- Spare tire and jack
- Jumper cables
- Water and snacks
- Flashlight
- Flares
Naturally, many of these items can be useful even outside of road trips, and can be stored in your vehicle until needed.
Stay Alert!
You should always make sure you are fully alert when driving your vehicle. That alertness begins before your trip even starts, when you are still planning the route. Before you get on the road, be sure to download a section of the map on the Google Maps app between your starting point and destination. That way, even if you lose service, you can remain on the correct path and steer clear of distractions.
Additionally, keep in mind that long drives can be very exhausting. If you ever feel like your reaction times are off, or you keep entering a dozed off state, be sure to stop for some rest time. If you can rotate drivers throughout your trip, you should be able to avoid any major issues.
Expert CPR and AED Training from Heart to Beat
Heart To Beat offers comprehensive safety programs to protect you and your employees from the risks and emergencies in both your professional and personal lives. If you’re interested in discovering our team can help you, contact us today at info@hearttobeatllc.com!
