RV FEATURE

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Five essential items to carry to help you avoid and deal with potential disasters …

1 . A transistor radio . When you ’ re out of mobile phone or internet range , the humble transistor radio can pick up local radio broadcasts , alerting you to adverse weather or other dangers in the area .

2 . A handheld GPS . We have come to rely heavily on GPS navigation on our smart devices but if its battery is flat or you ’ re out of mobile phone range , it may be completely useless . A hand-held GPS combined with paper maps can assist you to locate yourself if you get lost or direct emergency services to your location .

3 . Comprehensive first aid kit . Most cheap first aid kits are okay for around the home or office but , in the outback , you may have to manage someone with serious injuries for a long period of time while you wait for emergency services to arrive . Your kit should contain items to treat large wounds , snake bites and broken limbs .

4 . Air-compressor and puncture plug kit . Flat tyres are almost an inevitability , especially if you travel on dirt roads . Get one flat tyre and you can replace it with your spare . Get another flat and you could be stranded . A basic plug kit and air-compressor can allow you to get back on the road and out of trouble .

5 . Solar USB charger . When you consider all the electronic devices we rely on for our daily lives , it becomes essential to be able to recharge them even when all other means have been depleted . Solar USB chargers can indefinitely keep your devices charged .