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Farm Vehicle Emergency Kit

Breakdowns, storms and minor injuries often happen far from help. A kit that is stocked, accessible and checked regularly gives you options while you wait for assistance.

Why keep an emergency kit in farm vehicles?

Farm work often takes you away from the house and sometimes out of cell range. A simple kit lets you signal for help, stay warm or cool and treat minor injuries until help arrives.

Having one in each vehicle means you do not need to remember to bring it.

A kit is also useful for neighbors. Farm roads are often quiet, and being able to help someone who is stranded, even if only by signaling for help, can make a real difference.

What goes in a basic kit?

Think in categories: communication, visibility, basic first aid, comfort and tools. The right contents depend on your climate, distance from help and the type of vehicle.

Ask the American Red Cross or your extension office for recommended lists, since they can explain what suits your area. Do not rely on a list from memory.

Think about the hazards of your own situation: extreme heat, cold, dust, long distances or poor signal. Each one points to a few extra items, such as extra water in summer or warm layers in winter.

• Charged phone and a backup charger
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Reflective vest or warning device allowed by local rules
• First aid kit, assembled or bought from a reputable source
• Water, snacks and weather-appropriate clothing
• Basic tools recommended in the vehicle manual

What about a first aid kit?

A first aid kit is only useful if people know how to use it. Take a hands-on course from the Red Cross or a local provider, and replace items before they expire.

For serious injury, call 911 right away. First aid does not replace emergency care.

Keep any personal medicines needed by family members in a safe place separate from the kit, and ask your health care provider what to carry. Do not guess at doses or give medicine to others.

How do I choose a place to store it?

Keep the kit where you can reach it from the driver's seat or from outside the cab, secured so it does not shift in a rollover or sudden stop. Avoid storing items where they could become projectiles.

Protect it from heat, cold and moisture, which can ruin supplies. Keep a spare set in the shop or yard.

Mark the kit's location in your safety plan and tell new workers during orientation. In an emergency, minutes lost searching can matter.

• Secure it so it cannot shift
• Protect it from heat, cold and moisture
• Keep a spare set in the shop

How often should I check it?

Inspect each kit at the start of every season. Replace batteries, expired items and anything that has been used. Update the contact numbers and any medical information your family wants to keep with the kit.

Label the kit clearly so a worker, teen or visitor can find it in a hurry.

Make a habit of asking at the start of each season whether anyone has used the kit and not told you. A short, no-blame conversation keeps supplies stocked.

• Replace expired supplies
• Swap batteries and test the flashlight
• Refresh emergency contact cards
• Restock anything used

Who should know how to use it?

Everyone who drives or rides in the vehicle needs a quick orientation. Show them where the kit is, what is in it and when to call 911. Practice using a flashlight or reflective device in the yard.

Include seasonal workers and visitors. Do not assume they have the same background as family members.

Teach older children the basics of how and when to call 911. Practice giving a location, such as a road name or the closest cross road, because accurate location information helps responders find you.

How does the kit fit into a larger plan?

A kit is one part of safety. Combine it with regular maintenance, a communication plan, safe routes and training. Tell someone your location and expected return time.

Review your plan with the family or crew each year. Ask your county emergency management office or extension educator for tips tailored to your area.

Include a paper card with emergency contacts, in case a phone is dead or lost. Update it each year, and review it with everyone who uses the vehicle.

• Maintain vehicles regularly
• Share your location and return time
• Review the plan each year

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.