Fall came to Kentuckiana seemingly from nowhere after our record weeks of heat! Wrapping our minds around the need to have our cars ready for the quick approach of winter weather and cold temperatures is a little tricky right now. I compiled a general list of supplies to keep on hand in every car include your college student’s car, work car, and family car.
1. Fall tune up
The first and simplest thing you can do to improve safety is to have your car serviced before winter strikes. Here’s a check list to get you started: tires (including spare) rotated; oil changed; headlights and brake lights checked; windshield wipers inspected; too off with the proper washer fluid that will work in cold or below freezing temps and last but not least have your car battery tested. Cold and freezing temps eat batteries alive as they age! You can take your car to a place like Autozone and have your battery checked. I highly recommend this every fall. In addition, most batteries have a warranty. I missed my window a couple years back on getting my battery replaced completely free because I didn’t take time to have the battery checked before the warranty was expired. It was a costly learning experience for me! And, keep your gas tank filled to at least a half a tank of gas.
2. Useful Technology
Cell phone and car chargers are part of our everyday carry gear, but always a great tool. I will be covering soon a list of great apps to have on your phone. Remember in event of blizzards, ice storms etc. your cellular network may be down so you can not depend on this device alone.
Even best made plans fail! If your battery does need a jump, don’t worry about jumper cables or depending on a stranger for assistance or waiting hours for car club tow trucks. Here is what I keep in my cars and absolutely love them! The batteries keep a charge for months.
3. Other items that can be life savers:
A. Extra clothes: warm, waterproof socks, gloves, hats shoes. Place plastic grocery bags in the toes of the shoes. Wrap your feet in the bags before putting on your shoes. this will keep your feet dry and warm especially if you do not have waterproof socks and is a common trick of the homeless population during winter.
B. Traditional blankets or mylar blankets. Have one blanket for every person who could possibly ride in your car. Easy to find on amazon!
C. LED flashlight and extra batteries; road flares or reflector signs
D. Food and bottled water.
The easiest food items to carry are energy bars. They are small and pack a punch for calories and taste. And, yes, you can become dehydrated in the winter simhabe water available to sip should you become stranded.
E. First Aid kit. You should always have one in your car regardless of season.
F. Kitty litter, shovel and ice scraper.
G. Any possible life saving meds? Inhaler, insulin, nitro. Keep a baggie by the back door and grab it daily. Don’t forget specific medicines for your children.
H. A deck of cards can go a long way to pass the time. Pad of paper and pen.
A few quick safety tips if you do get stranded:
1. Don’t leave your car unless you absolutely have to. If you do leave the car, then leave a note indicating exactly where you were going.
2. Put out reflectors or road flares
3. Run your car for 10 minutes of every hour (keep tail pipe clear of snow)
4. Do not get so warm as to sweat leading to hypothermia, so layers are always best
At the end of the day some preparation is absolutely the best thing you can do. Remember to leave room in your trunk for daily life, school bags, groceries, work related equipment. If you overwhelm your trunk space, then you will pull out your emergency stash and forget to put it back!