Cars are safe when everything is going as planned, but there are times when you will have to be prepared for the unexpected.

Emergencies can happen to anyone, and if you're in a car, you will need the right equipment to act quickly.

Common items such as a first aid kit, jumper cables, bottled water or blankets are things most people have. But for more severe emergencies you may need something more serious like a window breaker or seat belt cutter. Here are some of the best items to keep in your car in case of an emergency.

Start with a first aid kit

Most people have a first aid kit in their home, but they should also keep one in their car. If you or a passenger are injured, having the proper medical equipment is critical. The average first aid kit comes equipped with Band-Aids, gauze tape, alcohol wipes and other items to treat minor injuries. A decent kit can be bought for under $20 from a pharmacy or select retail stores and more elaborate kits can be found for nearly $100 or more. If you are willing to spend more money, than you can get a bigger kit with more items.

Taking care of your tires

Tires are one of the most important parts of the vehicle, so you have to keep them puncture-free and filled with air. If you end up hitting a large pothole, glass, nails or other types of debris you need to know what to do next. To remove your tire, you can use a floor jack to lift the vehicle or the jack that comes with your car along with a tire iron to remove the lug nuts on the wheel.

If your tire is in need of air, then using a tire inflator to get them to the recommended PSI levels is very important. You can buy one from an auto parts store or use the inflator that is available at most gas stations. For a more accurate reading of tire pressures, a tire pressure gauge will show the correct levels and allow you to remove air from the tire when needed. If you don't know what your recommended pressures are, you can find them on the sticker that is located in the driver's side door jamb.

Keep your battery running

Without the battery running, a car is just a motionless hunk of steel. In the instance your battery dies, you can use jumper cables along with a running vehicle to jump start the battery. For a more convenient way to start a vehicle, use a jump starter. It is a portable battery that connects to the battery terminals in your car and works almost immediately. Since the jump starter provides power to the dead battery, you won't need a second vehicle like when you are using traditional jumper cables. These can be bought at an auto parts store.

If you don't have those items or don't know how to change a tire, having a roadside assistance service subscription to call for help is a good idea.

Keep your devices charged

You should try to keep your phone charged while driving. If you end up with a dead car battery and can’t plug your phone into the vehicle, there is still a way to preserve the battery life. Using a portable power station can let you plug in electronic devices no matter where you are. Most power stations have multiple ports for USB-A, USB-C and traditional outlets.

Stuck on the side of the road

If there is an issue with your vehicle and you have to pull over, there are a few items you should have in this instance. If you are walking on the side of the road or working on your vehicle, wearing a neon vest will make you easier to see by oncoming traffic. Warning triangles can be placed behind the vehicle to increase your visibility as well. A strobe light is another way to make you easy to see as the flashing lights can catch the attention of nearby drivers and let them know there is a hazard on the road. A standard flashlight can help you see things close by in the dark. Don’t forget to have extra batteries for your devices in case they run out of juice.

Simple, yet effective

If you are stranded for an extended period of time, keep bottled water and some canned goods to stay well fed and hydrated. Keeping blankets around to keep you and your passengers warm is another great addition to your emergency gear.

In case you need to escape

If you ever find yourself in a scenario where you need to exit the vehicle immediately, then you will need tools for an escape plan. A window breaker tool can break side windows and windshields if the vehicle has non-laminated glass. If you have a car with laminated glass windows, then you may need something more powerful like a hammer to break them. If you need to exit the vehicle and can’t unlatch the seatbelt, then having a seatbelt cutter will work in this instance. These can be bought online or at a hardware store.

Putting out a fire

Out of all the things that could go wrong with your vehicle, catching fire is among the worst. If you notice your vehicle is smoking and is on fire, then carrying a fire extinguisher is the best course of action you can take. If the fire is too much to handle, get as far away from the vehicle as you can and call 9-1-1 for the fire department immediately.

As much as you can try to prevent emergencies, they can still happen. You will need to be prepared and have the right gear in case you need it. Whether it's equipment for treating injuries, inflating or changing tires, breaking windows or extinguishing a fire, you can never be too safe, so consider keeping some of these important items in your car in case of an untimely emergency.

Keenan Thompson is a car culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Keenan at kthompson@freepress.com. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Emergency items every driver should keep in their car

Reporting by Keenan Thompson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press

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