Published on Monday, May 8, 2006
in the South Florida Business Journal

Trunk show and tell

What's in your car's trunk? My trunk, affectionately known as the closet-to-go, is prepared for all sorts of esoteric emergencies.

While driving along Stirling Road, I once saw a box turtle who decided to take a leisurely stroll - in traffic. Using Platex Living Gloves from my closet-cum-trunk, I whisked the sluggish reptile to safety. Roadkill averted.

Once upon a time, my habit of preparedness - trunk or otherwise - earned me derisive comments: obsessive compulsive; dork; and Girl Scout, to name a few. But lately, I haven't noticed anyone snickering as I push my Costco flatbed cart overflowing with hurricane supplies at the start of hurricane season. Has there been a shift in attitude toward preparation?

"It would be remarkable if we weren't becoming preparedness freaks," says Ralph Eugene Cash, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and director of the School Psychology Assessment and Consultation Center at the Center for Psychological Studies at Nova Southeastern University, of the likely shift in attitude.

Though he knows of no study to document it, he acknowledges that shift in attitude and says the direction of the shift is a response to salient events in people's lives. In Floridians' cases, it could probably be traced back to the 2000 presidential election, according to Dr. Cash.

"That laid the groundwork for Floridians beginning to think about what happens if government is not adequately prepared, or our institutional processes are deficient," he suggests. "Then, 9/11 certainly affected us all, regardless of where we live in the country. I think it's correct to say that it made us extremely safety and security conscious."

Cash points to the anthrax scares as having "institutionalized a kind of functional paranoia," adding, "and we have hurricanes ... and more hurricanes ...and because of the incredible explosion in media technology, we are all affected by disasters elsewhere - natural and otherwise."

So, what does Dr. Cash carry in his trunk?

"[I carry] the usual kit to change a tire, of course, the little hazard kit that includes flashers and warning signs, and the rest of it is primarily business related." But Dr. Cash also recognizes the uniqueness of our environment: "I also carry an extra windshield wiper. This is South Florida."

And, South Florida is different. Just as in California, where earthquake kits are de rigueur, and the Northeast, where no automobile trunk in winter is complete without a snow shovel and an ice scraper, our geography and climate informs the unique emergency preparations tropical drivers should make. Here, heat, torrential downpours, insects and particularly our waterways dictate items we should carry in our cars - and we're not talking bikinis, golf clubs and fishing tackle. This kit is more about survival of the fittest on the roughest of local roads.

"No matter where I've been stationed, I've had the pleasure of working on I-95," says Lt. Tim Frith, public affairs officer for Troop L Florida Highway Patrol and a 23-year veteran of South Florida's roadways. According to Frith, "a window punch is something every motorist should carry. This should be kept handy inside the vehicle [not the trunk]. In case the vehicle gets submerged, a window punch can be used to break a side window, creating an exit."

He also suggests a gallon of water - for two reasons.

"If you break down in an area where assistance could take some time, you want to stay hydrated, or, secondly, if you bust a hose or overheat, you could replenish water and drive a mile to a service station," he says.

Frith recommends carrying mosquito repellant, as well: Imagine being broken down at dusk at the height of summer.

And put a tarp in the car trunk, he suggests, to provide a clean surface for changing a tire or providing shade or shelter from the elements.

Frith also recommends a monthly check on the condition of the spare tire and tire changing equipment.

"Just as we preach hurricane preparedness, we should have a checklist for our automobiles. You won't believe the amount of vehicles troopers have to spend time with because the spare tire isn't inflated or the jack isn't available."

And he advises drivers not to leave home without required medical prescriptions. Doing so can turn medical emergencies into traffic emergencies.

"A diabetic without insulin may drive in a manner consistent with that of a drunk driver," Frith says.

Inside the vehicle, Frith suggests motorists keep up-to-date address, contact and medical information, along with the vehicle registration and insurance. He stressed that everyone needs a working flashlight to change a tire or to read a map, plus a cell phone is essential in the event of a breakdown.

"But let's use a hands-free device," he says.

Based on Frith's own experience, he also suggests that motorists carry a spare key.

"People get out of their cars and they lock the doors with the cars running. There are several places in a car undercarriage where a spare key contained in a plastic case with a magnetic backing could be affixed."

Lastly, Frith advises knowing where your equipment is and making sure it's in good working order.

Making preparations

Preparing your car trunk for South Florida roadside emergencies need not be a daunting task. Many online sources sell pre-assembled kits, which provide most of the recommended safety necessities. According to Gregg Laskoski, managing director of public & government relations for the American Automobile Association (AAA) Auto Club South, AAA markets several preassembled kits. These range from the AAA Road Kit (Model #04330AAA), which has 39 components for $25.95, to the AAA 57-piece Road Adventurer emergency car kit (model # 04288AAA), priced at $69.99. Both are available from online retailer Safeautocar, www.safeautocar.com. Brookstone, www.brookstone. com, offers its version of a Roadside Emergency kit for $80, which includes a wide selection of tools, including an air compressor, in a snap case.

Other options include kits that focus on disasters in general, rather than roadside emergencies. The American Red Cross sells two pre-assembled disaster-type emergency kit backpacks through its Web site,www.redcross.org, priced from $49.95 to $64.95. Another online source, www.americanfamilysafety.com, boasts that its Ready Kit Plus "has everything recommended by the Department of Homeland Security and more!"

Or, assemble your own localized emergency trunk kit. Using the recommendations SoFlorida Magazine has combined from multiple sources to create the comprehensive Essential South Florida Trunk and Glove Compartment yourself (see box).

Then, make your car trunk your ready-for-fun, closet-on-the-go by adding personal favorites, like golf clubs, beach chairs and towels.