How to Make an Emergency Car Kit for Teens

Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read 

How to Make an Emergency Car Kit for Teens

When I was in high school, I had a day that brought on an event that became an emergency for me. I was in need of an item that I did not have and it was extremely embarrassing to ask for help. Luckily, I had a great best friend to confide in and got a surprise half day of school due to snow, which both helped. After that day, I vowed to never not have what I need on hand at all times. Read on to learn how to make an emergency car kit for teens.

You can create a lot with old ipsy bags!

God Heard My Prayers

I was a cheerleader in high school and with all my activity, I never knew when I was going to start my period. It came about very randomly and I never could plan for it. This is a common issue with extremely active teens and you can read about it here.

I didn’t think to keep any feminine products in my purse or backpack due to my monthly “blessing” being maybe bi-annually instead, and when that day happened my junior year of high school, I was caught off guard and very embarrassed. I was a mess and I knew everyone would see what happened if I didn’t act fast.

DIY emergency car kits

I truly didn’t feel like I had a trustworthy person in my life that could come to school to help me that day. This is a sad fact that many teens deal with…..not having someone they can trust to ask for help if they need it. Whether a parent won’t help or simply cannot (maybe they cannot leave work), teens can work to be prepared themselves if something like what I went through happens.

Luckily, my best friend was very gracious and let me borrow her coat to wrap around my waist to hide my embarrassment and she took me to the bathroom to find a sanitary pad. After sitting through one class with her coat covering my stained pants (in hindsight, I realize she was so, so kind to do this for me), my prayers were answered.

I prayed very hard for God’s help that day, and to my great surprise, snow started falling and we were let out of school early that day. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe God really knew I needed some extra help.

Personalized car kits

My Niece’s Idea + Thrive Causemetics Discount

My niece Aubrey had a great idea recently that would have helped me a lot as a teenager that day in the 1990’s. I sent her a bag I got free from a Thrive Causemetics purchase. You can use my link here for $15 off your first Thrive Causemetics purchase….I LOVE their Brilliant Eye Brighteners.

Aubrey got a car after turning 16 and getting her license, and she told me she had an idea to fill the bag I gave her with her own emergency needs for her glove box. I loved this idea and asked her permission to share it, and of course, she said yes.

Completed emergency car kit

While I didn’t have a car in high school, a small bag filled with emergency supplies for my purse, backpack or locker would have been a saving grace. I believe many people could benefit from having an emergency kit stashed in their car’s glove box or somewhere else they could grab it quickly when needed.

Here’s how I made my version of an emergency car kit for teens. I made multiple kits to gift to loved ones too! I used old ipsy bags for this project and have also turned them into purse’s too. Check out how I did that in this article here.

These would make cute travel makeup bags too!

Discount Code

If buying from Temu and you are a new app user, use code afe55197 for 30% off or use this link.

If you don’t feel like making a bag, I also love my BlingSting First Aid Kit. I got it on Amazon and always throw it in my suitcase when we travel. It has band aids, first aid wipes, safety pins and more.

My emergency car kit for my niece

Things You Need for This Project:

Optional: letter patches for personalization if wanted (I got mine on Temu, but Amazon has them or Walmart has them too), Aleene’s Tacky Glue (Amazon or Walmart)

great gifts for teens

My car craft emergency kit for my mother-in-law

What I put in each bag:

I made this car craft in the car, as I’ve made many “car crafts”. Check them out in this article here. Or watch me create a car crafted ornament below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:

diy car kit idea

Gluing the letters on the bags

I simply placed the small bags on a plastic tray, removed the backing from the letter, applied some glue to the letter (they are sticky, but I wanted the letters to be more permanent), and placed it on the bag.

I allowed the letters to dry for a couple of hours while I shopped for some items to put in the bags. You do not have to personalize the bags as the car kit idea is great on its own!

diy car kit for teens

Placing the items in the car kit

I had some things on hand, got some from Amazon, Temu and Walmart as well as grocery stores. I placed them in each bag, zipped them up and they are done!

They are great stashed in your car’s glove box, a purse, a backpack or anywhere where you’ll be able grab it in a hurry. You can customize each one depending on yours or the recipient’s needs.

If you loved this idea, then we know you’ll love this one too: Why We Love Our Hulken Bag

Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.