MUST: Don’t Forget These Items Before You Leave Home

As you get
ready for your next adventure, take time to review these five simple steps to
make sure you’re prepared for anything that comes your
way.

1. Don’t Leave Home Without the
Basics

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Insect
  Repellent
• Flashlight, with extra
  batteries
• Warm blanket
• Small votive
  type candle, empty tin
  can
• Lighter
• First aid kit including
  pain reliever and Benedryl
• Fire
  extinguisher
• Shovel
• Knife/multi-purpose
  tool
• Lantern
• Solar-powered cell phone
  charger
• Non-perishable staple foods (soups, canned
  pastas, chili, crackers, sports drinks, etc.)
• Ropes,
  tarps, bungee straps, tape and other items necessary to secure any gear Wood
  blocks and levelers to assist in leveling your recreational
  vehicle

2. Be sure to tell
someone back home your plans Before you leave on your trip,
always tell a family member or someone else you trust what your plans are.
Tell them where you are going, who you are going with and what time you will
be returning. If you happen to change your plans, be sure to call that person
and let them know. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that
should you get stranded or run into another unexpected situation, your
contact back home will make sure that help is on the way. 3.
Learn some basic first aid and carry a first aid kit with you
Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but you’ll be glad you were prepared if you
ever do. The American Red Cross recommends that a first aid kit for a family
of four include the following:

• 2 absorbent
  compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages
  (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1
  inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1
  gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2
  packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space
  blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1
  instant cold compress
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size:
  large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1
  gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage
  (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches
  wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3
  inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4
  inches)
• Oral thermometer
  (non-mercury/nonglass)
• 2 triangular
  bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid
  instruction booklet

4. Bring the
proper clothing and equipment to deal with changing weather
Weather conditions can change in a heartbeat, so when you’re traveling across
country and visiting different climates, you never know what kind of weather
conditions you might encounter. It’s best to dress in layers so you can
adjust your clothing as necessary as the weather changes throughout the day.
You should also plan for changing conditions by packing a variety of outer
garments and footwear. With the following items on hand, you’ll be able to
weather any storm:

• Sunglasses
• Rain
  jacket
• Fleece or wool
  pullover
• Hat
• Gloves
• Sturdy
  pair of walking shoes or hiking
  boots

5. Make sure your vehicle
is “road ready” Before you leave home, always perform a
vehicle safety check to ensure that your vehicle and all your belongings are
ready for the road:

• Make sure your tires are
  fully inflated and there’s no unusual tread wear
• Check
  and refill all your fluids including oil, coolant, brakes, transmission,
  power steering and washer fluid
• Test all of your lights,
  including headlights, taillights and brake lights
• Make
  sure anything you’re bringing with you is securely attached to your vehicle,
  including bikes, canoes, car toppers, lawn chairs and
  coolers
• If you are towing a vehicle or any type of
  trailer, make sure the hitching mechanism and all safety chains are securely
  attached and that the wiring harness and connections are appropriate and in
  good working order

Have a safe
trip!