The All-important Emergency Kit is Almost Always Forgotten
Many car owners, upon hearing the word "winterization", almost always think of what should be done to the car so that it will be prepared for the oncoming winter. This includes getting snow tires, performing routine and winter-related maintenance, and changing car fluids. However, more than just winterizing cars, we must also winterize ourselves
WHAT?
The premise behind winterizing cars is making sure that the overall driving experience will not be compromised even with the coming of the cold months. People usually assume that if a car was properly winterized, then nothing could go wrong. However, this is not the case.
Question: Suppose your car broke down in the middle of nowhere, with no help in sight. What would you do?
This problem is far from trivial, especially if it happens in Ontario where outdoor temperatures can fall below freezing. If the engine stops working in the middle of the road, the car batteries will eventually run out of charge. To say that it is inconvenient is a gross understatement, as medical complications (READ: Frostbite) on the driver's part are a real threat.
Thus, it is essential for any responsible driver to be prepared for these events by assembling an emergency kit. This kit will include all the essentials for short-term survival during winter, along with some extra components to cover extreme conditions, should they arise.
The Emergency Kit should have the following:
Blankets: Some car problems can only be fixed by qualified professional mechanics. However, it may imply that you will have to wait for quite some time before the mechanic arrives. With no heater, things can get very chilly, so a blanket should be available.
Flashlights: This will be used in case your car broke down and it's dark. Look for those modern LED flashlights because they are more energy efficient, and thus, will last longer.
Spare Cellphone Batteries: If you need a mechanic, you have to be able to place a call. Unfortunately, there are times when we tend to forget to charge our phones, and those times can be untimely. Imagine being stranded with no means of contacting anyone. Do not rely on your notebook's wireless internet wireless signals are more likely to get problematic during extreme weather.
Jackets: You need these to enable you to move around outdoors. Jackets become indispensable when you need to perform more thorough engine inspections, or if you need to hitch-hike, just in case things get desperate.
Snow Shoes: Well, you can never be too prepared. Snow shoes can come in handy if you need to travel over snow by foot like when looking for a mechanic or some other person who can help you.
Tools: Your regular tool kit should be there, of course. After all, they're the heart and soul of every emergency kit.
Portable Car Battery Charger: This is something that can recharge your batteries should they get discharged. Battery chargers can be charged using the cigarette lighter outlet on the car's dashboard.
Booster Cables: Sometimes, all the battery needs is a quick and light nudge, so that using a portable charger is unnecessary. To get that little kick, using booster cables is the way to go.
Tow Rope: This relatively simple tool will come in handy when worse comes to worst. In some cases where professional towing services are not readily available, your car may need to be towed by another automobile. Instead of praying that this Good Samaritan has a tow rope, it is better to have one yourself.
Shovel: If your car got stuck in the snow. This will be your best friend. This is especially true when driving in more rural areas, where road salting is done less often.
First Aid Kit: This is very important. Put over-the-counter medicines for headaches and other common illnesses. Furthermore, it may be wise to put some of your maintenance medication (e.g. for hypertension or diabetes) as car breakdowns may take a while to fix, so that it will take an even longer while for you to get home and replenish your supply.
Extra Clothes: Inspecting the car usually involves inadvertently soiling your clothes. In more extreme cases, it may take hours before help arrives. Bringing extra clothes will make the wait much more bearable.
Washer Fluid (Anti-Freeze): This can easily run out, even if there were no engine breakdowns. Unfortunately, this is something that drivers will have a hard time living without.
Glycerine/defroster: You will need this in case the doors or the wipers get stuck. Glycerine is perfect for de-icing door handles and hinges. Take a small bottle and put it in your bag. There's no use in putting it inside the glove compartment since you can't get inside in the first place.
Remarks:
Never store spare fuel. This is simply too dangerous unless you really know what you're doing. This is very true especially for gasoline.
Even if alcoholic drinks are often given to people who shiver too much from the cold, do not include this into the kit. Drunk driving is just as dangerous.
They do not necessarily have to be stored in one place. If they can be stored in the car's interior, let it be so. The rest can be placed inside the trunk.
The All-important Emergency Kit is Almost Always Forgotten
By: Jim Baz
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