Vehicle Summer Safety Essentials
By thom·August 12, 2026
Summer road trips are all sunshine, playlists, and the occasional “Are we there yet?”—until a flat tire, surprise storm, or traffic jam turns the whole thing into a roadside hostage situation.
A little emergency kit can save the day. Keep water, electrolyte drinks, non-melty snacks, a phone charger, and a handwritten list of emergency numbers within reach. Because a dead phone at 2 percent is basically decorative.
Add sunglasses, a sunshade, and a cooling towel for the heat. Take sunscreen with you, though—leaving it in a blazing hot car can make it less effective.
Kids need extra water, wipes, clothes, and something quiet to do. Pets need water, a bowl, food, and a safe carrier or harness. And neither kids nor pets should ever be left in a hot parked car. Ever.
Finally, keep a first-aid kit, paper map, emergency radio, and window breaker handy—not buried under three years of reusable grocery bags in the trunk.
Here’s Your Car’s Complete Summer Safety Checklist
- Water
- Electrolyte drinks
- Non-perishable snacks
- Phone charges
- Hard copy of emergency contact numbers
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Reusable cooling towels
- Window shade or light-colored towels
- Wet wipes
- Change of clothes and pajamas
- Busy activities for kids (if applicable)
- Pet food and bowls (if applicable)
- Pet carrier or carseat/harness (if applicable)
- Pet cooling mat (if applicable)
- Pet paw protections or booties (if applicable)
- First-aid kit
- Paper maps
- Portable emergency radio
- Walkie-talkies
- Window-breaker
Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash
Source: Martha Stewart