No matter how many hockey bags you’re trying to fit in your trunk you should never hit the road without an emergency kit, especially in the winter months.
The cold can aggravate small, pre-existing problems with your car and increase your chance of breaking down. So what can you do? Be prepared!
No one wants to be stranded in the cold, but sometimes we get unlucky. To help you weather any storm here’s the top five emergency kit essentials:
– Cell phone: Always be sure to have a fully charged cell phone with you so that you can call for help if needed.
– Snow brush/ice scraper and windshield washer fluid: Visibility is everything when freezing rain, snow and ice are cumulating on your windshield, mirrors and lights.
– Flashlight: In the darker months of the year, it can be difficult to see and be seen, keep a waterproof flashlight with charged batteries in your car.
– Warm blanket: Running your engine for extended periods of time can put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, keep a blanket or sleeping bag in your car to keep you warm if you’re stranded. Include a pair of socks and mitts in your kit too.
– Shovel: Keep a small shovel in your car in case need to dig yourself out of a snowbank or parking spot.
Preparing for unexpected emergencies will help alleviate anxiety in stressful situations and can help keep you safe. To keep you and your family safe this winter, don’t omit the “kit” – keep a well”stocked emergency kit in your trunk. It’s better to have it and not need it than to be stuck without it.
For more tips to keep you safe on the road this winter, visit www.BeCarCareAware.ca.
