We know you don’t want to hear it, but summer is quickly coming to an end. We know this because you can once again watch football on Monday night. Well, that and the fact the days are getting shorter and it’s not quite as hot as it was in July. Anyway, before you know it, it will be coat weather and leaves will be falling on your lawn at a ridiculous rate. You might already be planning a road trip to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving or a cross-country trip over Christmas to visit family. You probably already have a few items in your vehicle that would be a great asset should you find yourself stranded on some lonely country road in the middle of winter. That’s nice, but it is in no way enough if you want to ensure you and your family’s safety while traveling in the winter. A properly equipped emergency kit in your vehicle will help you deal with most roadside breakdowns and help you avoid getting frostbite or freezing to death. Seriously, getting stuck in a blizzard can be a very dangerous affair. Groovy Automotive, your auto repair service in Austin, offers what you need to pack in your emergency kit for your vehicle.
Winter brings very short days, slick roads and low visibility. So it is important that should you break down on the side of the road, other drivers can see you. You might have a high-visibility vest you can wear, that is a good start. If not, you can throw some reflective tape on some old clothes, it works just as well. Road flares give off distinctive light that keeps you visible and lets other drivers know you are in need of assistance. And as in any emergency situation, you will want to ensure you have a couple of flashlights ready to go and extra batteries.
Living in Austin, you might not fully appreciate just how cold it can get in parts of our country. It’s no joke, surviving overnight in single-digit temperatures is a lot easier if you are properly prepared. You might have a pair of gloves and a hat in your car already. It’s a good idea to think warmer. After all, it’s no fun sitting in wet clothes in freezing temperatures after trying to dig yourself out of the snow. In addition to extra clothes, you should also have a warm blanket in your emergency kit.
It is just as easy to become dehydrated in the winter as it is in the summer. Bottled water is fine, you just need to find a way to keep it from freezing. To do this, keeping your water in the truck isn’t a good idea, keep it with you in the car. You will also want to store it in an insulated container that will help keep it from freezing.
If you are going to be stranded in your car for a while, you will want something to snack on. Choose food that is non-perishable, full of calories and won't freeze solid. Jerky and nuts are always good options.
You should have a shovel in your trunk. You can buy a collapsible snow shovel that will easily fit. If anything, a shovel can be used to keep your tailpipe clear. You also need to have a windshield scraper. It is a good idea to have a small toolkit to make repairs if needed. However, if you don't want all that added weight in your car, you should at least have a good multi-tool.
If you are involved in a minor collision, having a first aid kit is crucial. Make sure your first aid kit is packed with the necessities including bandages, gauze, pain relievers and antiseptics.
We can all be a little scatterbrained while on a road trip and we could wind up leaving a dome light on and suffering a dead battery. A dead battery is a lot easier to deal with if you have a set of jumper cables. And before you take that winter road trip to visit grandma, stop by Groovy Automotive to have your vehicle serviced.
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