We’re still knee deep in winter, and with the snow still falling and our Canadian roads still treating us to white-knuckle drives, it’s always a good idea to have an emergency car kit in your trunk just in case you hit a snag and end up stuck.
Do you know what to do if your car breaks down on the side of the road? What if your battery dies at the worst possible time… when your cell phone’s out of juice?
While most of us have never had to deal with this (thankfully), if you ever do you need to be prepared. This week we’ll help by giving you a list of things to keep in that kit on the off-chance you do get stuck.
What Should Be In Your Emergency Car Kit?
- A shovel – to dig yourself out of a sticky situation.
- A blanket – to warm yourself when the heat kicks the bucket.
- A flashlight – a wind-up one will eliminate the need for extra batteries.
- A protein bar – to refuel your body if the gas gets low.
- A bottle of water – to wash it down with.
- A first aid kit – to bandage up any cuts and scraps.
- An extra set of clothes – or at least some gloves and warm socks.
- Road flares – to get the attention of anyone around if you’re not in a well-travelled area.
A jug of windshield washer fluid are also always a good idea.
Safety Tips
And, if you get stuck, there are some things to keep in mind to keep yourself safe.
- Don’t panic! Think before you act or you can make the situation worse. If it’s freezing out and you just jump out and start digging without a plan you could tire yourself out and it could be next to impossible to get warm again. If you have to wait a while for help, this cold could prove to be a major problem!
- If you need light, use the ceiling light instead of your headlights or hazard lights. Leaving these on for too long can drain the battery.
- Don’t sit in the car for hours with the engine running. Sure, this may keep you warm but if the exhaust is blocked at all you could risk carbon monoxide poisoning, and then where will you be?
Winter road safety is important, but so if knowing what to do in case you go off the road or break down, especially when it’s super cold out.
An emergency car kit is a great idea – it’ll relieve the stress and keep you safe. Let’s just hope you never have to use it.
At CSR Automotive, we’re all about keeping you on the road, but just in case you find yourself off it, we’re there for you then too.
