Do you have emergency supplies for your own personal vehicle? Of course you do. But, what about the company vehicle?
Whoops.
Most businesses forget that their employees are just as likely to experience a breakdown during work as they are on their own time. Here’s what you can do to help protect your employees and maybe even yourself.
Pack Blankets and A Spare Change Of Clothing
This might be the last thing you think about, but it should be one of the first. Pack warm blankets in the trunk of the vehicle. Ideally, they will be wool blankets. Why wool? Well for a number of reasons.
First, wool is resistant to mold and mildew. It’s also resistant to water and it’s one of the best breathable fabrics out there.
In addition to that, it’s flame and fire resistant and resists odors and dirt.
Another thing you should pack is a change of clothes for employees, or tell them to pack a change of clothes if they use the vehicle regularly. It might sound a little unusual, but if your employees are making regular deliveries, or are traveling long distances, a change of clothing makes a lot of sense. And, don’t forget to include rain gear.
Pack Road Flares and An Emergency Phone
You should pack an emergency phone for the employee (or yourself), along with road flares. Emergency phones should be capable of dialing 911 emergency services. And, you may want to pack an extra battery and keep it charged (check it at least once a week).
Road flares are probably the easiest way to signal for help if an employee is stranded in an unfamiliar and unpopulated area.
Pack A First Aid Kit
Pack a first-aid kit. These are invaluable when you’re stranded or if you get into a car accident. First aid kits should contain bandages, scissors, antibiotics, aspirin, gauze, chemical ice packs, heat packs, tweezers, hydrocortisone packs, breather barrier, and non-latex gloves.
And, if you or your employee do get into an accident, you’re going to want to retain the services of a lawyer, like injuryclaimnyclaw.com, a Queens personal injury lawyer. Keep them on speed dial on your phone, along with your insurance company and a home and office number.
Plan Multiple Routes For Long Trips
If you’re traveling long routes, make alternate plans just in case the original route is blocked or there’s a traffic jam. You may also want to carry a paper map in addition to your GPS-enabled device. Why bother?
Because some areas may have limited cell phone or mobile service, and so you may not be able to get GPS instructions or they may “go out” on you when you’re driving. This is more apt to happen when you’re driving out in sparsely populated areas. But, it can also happen in small towns or areas where there’s not good coverage.
A paper map will never fail you. It might not be high-tech, and it might require you to stop on the side of the road to read it, but it could also keep you out of trouble.
Kian Porter spends most of his working day behind the wheel. He enjoys sharing some auto related tips and tricks that he’s picked up over the years with an online audience.