Every Parent Needs an Emergency Car Kit

While a good flashlight is a must, it can be a pain to use when you need to work with both hands, be it mucking around the engine or changing a flat. You can aim this compact LED to put the light where you need it using its stand or the magnetic bottom that'll hold to the side of the car or underside of the hood.

Don't assume every bike pump has the guts to fill an SUV's tire. This cordless Ryobi uses a rechargeable 18-volt battery (that also works with the brand's 200 plus other tools) to fill a dead tire in about four minutes. Check the ideal PSI for your tires, which is usually on a sticker in the driver side's door jamb, punch that number into the digital readout and start inflating. But the Ryobi is not just for tires — it will fill air mattresses, basketballs, bike tires, and it deflates things like air mattresses and pool floats.

Everyone needs a jump now and then, but it’s particularly tricky to get your battery firing when it’s freezing cold outside. These cables are designed to remain pliable down to -40 degrees with heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant clamps, and a 25-foot reach to work regardless of how the cars are positioned: hood-to-hood, side-to-side, or front-to-back

Don't get caught with a flimsy plastic shovel when it comes time to dig out. This shovel punches above its scant 1 pound weight with an aluminum telescoping build that locks in at three different lengths. The 14-inch wide pan makes short work of chopping and clearing frozen snow from wheels.

If you find yourself stranded and the temperature outside keeps dropping, you need to have an emergency blanket like this inside your car. Made with a wind and waterproof material the Ozark uses a reflective material on one side to bounce your body's radiant heat back to you. Plus, it’s lightweight and compact enough to fit inside a pocket, so it won’t take up much space inside an emergency kit.