Road Heroes

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How to put together a first aid kit for your car

Image:Pixabay.com 

An emergency car kit is one of those things we don’t think about until it’s too late. Whether it’s a break down in a dark and dingy spot, with no cell phone reception or going on a road trip and someone sustains minor injuries – it’s a good thing to always be prepared

Having free road assistance is not an excuse to gear down for the safety. The great thing about making your own first aid kit is that you can customise it to fit into your family. You should always have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, jumper cables, flashlight, extra batteries, a multi-purpose utility tool, a tyre gauge, and gloves.

Today, we focus on creating the perfect first aid kit for your family. You will want to add medication specific to your family’s needs. Here are the items will you need for your kit:

The items

3 small and one medium sized water-resistant container

A CPR mouthpiece Eye Drops Hydrogen Peroxide Ace Bandage Gauze (assorted) Medical Tape Adhesive Bandages (assorted) Disinfecting Wipes Hand Sanitizer

Thermometer Antibacterial Wipes Bug Bite Itch Relief Stick Latex Gloves

Medical gloves Tissues

Trash Bags Heat and/or Ice Pack

Labels

1 small child safe scissors - metal

Medication (assorted)

Triple Antibiotic Ointment

Antiseptic solution

Sunblock

Anti-diarrhoea medication

Put it together

The organisation is an important part of your first aid kit. Everything needs to be easily accessible. The 3 small containers will help separate your bandages, gauze, and medication. This also saves space in the kit.

When you are done packing the small stuff in the various containers, label each container and include the day you stocked the stuff.  Labelling the stock date will make it easier to rotate anything that is running low or has expired.

When you are done, add the small containers into the medium-sized container and fit into your boot in case of emergency. If you are unsure about medication contact ER24 and ask for medical advice or the pharmacy. It is also a wise idea to pack a safety blanket and a 5-litre water container if you have space in your boot.   

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How to keep the kids entertained on a road trip

Image: Getty Images 

If you have had family road trips, you will know how tough it is to keep children entertained on the road. The relentless ‘Are we almost there’” question could test the most fun-loving parents. Kids love to think out of the box, and confining them to a few hours on the road can really test their patience, as well as yours. 

Here are 4 methods that can help you make the next road trip a fun experience for every member of the family: 

1. Create an art kit

Children usually love to draw and be creative, so anything that involves colour pencils and paper is a huge winner. To create this kit, you just need a DVD cover, cut a piece of paper to fit into the left side of the case. On the right side of the case, you can place all the colouring equipment with a rubber band. You can also create a jewellery making kit, with beads and strings. Don’t forget to make it fun, use coloured paper and get stickers, however, stay away from anything that can make too much of a mess in your car.

Image: stacyvaughnblog.blogspot

2. Hourly gifts and treats

Wrapping up gifts to give by the hour, helps entertain them and gives them something to look forward to by the hour. You can also use it as a time indicator. For instance, if you have five gifts, this helps them estimate the length of the trip without having to explain too often. This can also make a beautiful visual story for your road trips snaps. Nothing too expensive needs to be presented, little toys, action figures, comic books, a chocolate bar or a cheap barbie doll etc.

Image:taradennis.com

3. A car charger and Apps

Tablets loaded with your kids favourite Apps is guaranteed to keep your kids entertained. You can keep it educational with Apps as well as e-books. The great thing is that most apps can now be used offline if data is a huge concern…so don’t forget your car charger.

Image:coolmomtech.com 

4. Comfort goes a long way

It’s important to note an infant must be placed in a safe, rear-facing car seat. Having a parent or an older sibling next to the baby is a good idea because sometimes having someone to look at, is enough to help from restlessness. Making sure there are sunscreens for the windows, and lots of liquid to keep them hydrated. Food packed neatly in a cooler box will make sure food isn’t a dull experience, no more sloppy tomato or hot bread. You could even ask them to draw up their own menu, to avoid complaints.

Image: Amazon.com 

Don’t forget to make the holidays a special treat for your loved ones, the true adventure is spending time with those we love -  no matter how messy your car may get! 

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How To Claim For Pothole Damage

You know how it goes… It’s raining and you drive into what looks like a puddle of water - only to meet a pothole. This can result in anything from a simple bent rim to a full on tyre puncture. All it takes is a split second and the damage is done.

Experts note that the damage is not always clear, and down the line your damaged tyre or rims can affect wheel alignment and balancing. A damaged tyre may also result in premature wear on shocks, exhaust system damage, engine damage and broken components. 

Replacing tyres or damaged rims because of a pothole is not cheap! The good news is that you can claim from the JRA (Johannesburg Road Agency) if you meet the following requirements.

You can lodge a claim with the JRA’s legal department regarding damage due to road works, or a lack of infrastructure. It’s as easy as filling in a claims form that you need to submit. This claim form must be attached with a:

 Police affidavit

 A copy of driver's license and ID

 Vehicle registration documents

 Photos of the damaged car, tyre or rim

 Quotations of invoice/ payment

 Doctors report if you sustained injury and letters from the insurance company

Tips when filling in your claim:

Fax or email documents, don’t do both as this delays the process.

If you don't receive acknowledgment of receipt within three days with a reference number, email the JRA claims office or call 0860 562 874 or 011 298 5001.

Each claim is assessed on its merits, which means not all claims will be successfully paid out.

To get started, download the claim form the JRA website.