DON’T GET STRANDED OUT IN THE COLD AND SNOW!

Picture
Winter weather could leave you stranded. In recent years, many areas of the country have been hit with some heavy snow and ice storms – sometimes unexpectedly. Take the example of I-95 in Virginia earlier in January 2022. People were stuck on I-95 for 36 hours. Most people did not have the proper supplies ready to help them during that scary situation.

Winter car emergency kits are important to keep handy for these situations. Kits should be well-stocked with a mixture of first aid supplies, utility tools, and non-perishable foods. These kits should be kept on a location that is easily accessible from the driver’s seat, so you are ready when and if you find yourself in a situation caused by bad winter weather. Be sure to check them every six months and remove expired items. 
We here at Brock-Norton Insurance Agency have compiled a winter vehicle car kit checklist to help you prepare for wintry weather travel. You probably already have a few of the items in this check list in your garage, but they, and a few other things should be placed into your car.
 
Vehicle emergency supply kits should include:
  • Backpack or Durable Canvas Bags to Store all of these items
  • Blankets (1 person & extras)/ Emergency Survival Blanket
  • Sleeping Bags
  • First Aid Kit
    • Gauze
    • Medical Tape
    • Bandages (Different sizes)
    • Antibiotics
    • Ointments
    • Aspirin
    • Nonlatex Gloves
    • Wet Naps
    • Scissors
    • Hydrocortisone
    • Thermometer
    • Tweezers
    • Instant Cold Compresses
    • Necessary Medications
    • First Aid Guide
    • Antiseptic Towelette
    • Sting Relief Pads
    • Alcohol Wipes
    • Q-Tips
    • Pain Killers (Tylenol/Ibuprofen)
  • Winter Weather Tools
    • Ice Scraper
    • Snow Brush
    • Small Shovel
    • Windshield Wiper Fluid
    • Blanket
    • Gloves
    • Beanies
    • Hand Warmers
    • Sand/Cat Litter for Traction
  • Jumper Cables
  • Flares
  • Reflective Triangles
  • Brightly Colored Cloth to Hang out Window
  • Snow tires
  • Road Maps
  • Compass
  • Cell Phone Charger/Car Charger (Could be Solar Powered)
  • Jump Starter Power Bank for Car Battery, Phones, Laptops or Other   
    Electronic Devices
  • Tool Kits/Utility Tools
    • Pliers
    • Wrenches
    • Screwdrivers
    • Swiss Army Knives
    • Vice Grips
  • Paper Towels/Towels
  • Small and Large Trash Bags
  • Flashlights and Extra Batteries
  • Battery or Hand Cranked Portable Radio
  • Tow Ropes
  • Tire Chains
  • Batteries of all Different Types
  • Cable Ties
  • Bungee Cords
  • Emergency Candle
  • Emergency Instructions
  • A Few Cans of Compressed Air
  • De-Icer for Windshields, Door and Locks
  • Large Ziplock Bag of Ice Salt
  • Bottled Water 3 Days’ Worth for Drinking
  • Extra Water
  • Non-Perishable Food 3 Days’ Worth
    • High Energy Foods
    • Unsalted Nuts
    • Dried Fruits
    • Canned Foods
    • Hard Candy
    • Energy Bars
  • Toys, Book, and Games for Children
  • Extra Baby Supplies
    • Diapers
    • Wipes
    • Medicine
    • Clothes
    • Gloves
    • Hats
    • Baby Formula
  • Clothes & Extra Clothes
    • Gloves
    • Hats
    • Scarves
    • Snow Boots
    • Jackets/Coats
    • Long Sleeve Shirt and Pants
    • Heavy Duty Work Gloves
  • Antifreeze
  • Portable Potty
  • Extra Oil for Your Car
  • Manual Can Opener
  • Help Sign or Distress Banner
  • Inflated Spare Tire, Wheel Wrench, Tripod Jack, and Tire Pressure Gauge
  • Reflective Vest
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Coveralls
  • Duct Tape
  • Whistle
  • Poncho or Umbrella
  • Light Stick or LED Strobe Light
  • High Visibility Safety Blanket
  • Quick Spark Fire Starter Kit
  • Car Escape Tools (Window Breaker and Seat Belt Cutter)
  • Extra Medication
  • And if you are travelling with your pets, you should have these following items in the kit:
    • 3 days to a weeks’ worth of canned or dried food
    • A weeks’ worth of bottled water for your pets
    • Food and water bowls
    • An extra collar, harness, and leash
    • A sturdy pet carrier plus carrier liners or disposable litter trays
    • Lights that can we attached to your pet’s collar or harness
    • Liquid dish soap and a towel
    • A two-week supply of your pet’s medication in a sealed container
    • Medical and Ownership Papers either printed or on a USB
    • A pet waterproof jacket and booties
    • Pet First Aid Kit
 
Here are some good tips to remember for any trip: 
  • Do you have a full gas tank? Make sure it is kept full.
  • Do not drive through a flooded area.
  • If powerline falls on your car stay inside your car. You could get shocked. Wait until someone that is trained can remove it before exiting your vehicle.
  • What are your antifreeze levels? Check them to make sure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Your battery and ignition system should be in top condition. If they are not have them serviced before taking your trip.
  • How do your brakes look? Check for wear and fluid levels. If there is more wear than normal please take your car to get them replaced.
  • Check your exhaust system. Check for leaks and crimped pipes. If there needs to be repairs please take your car in to be repaired. Be aware of carbon monoxide. It can be deadly and gives no warning.
  • How are your car’s heater and defroster working? That will be important if you get stuck in the snow.
  • Are your lights and flashers working? If not get them fixed.
  • What is your oil level? If it is low please fill it back up. Also check for the weight. Heavier oils solidify more at colder temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
  • Ensure that your thermostat works properly.
  • Check your tire pressure. Refill if necessary. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don’t be the next cyber security statistic!

Image
  By prioritizing cybersecurity, organizations can mitigate the risk of data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage. Whether you're an individual or an organization, understanding the importance of cybersecurity is fundamental to navigating the threat landscape safely and securely. The increased connectivity of the digital world means greater security vulnerabilities and cyber risk. Remote and hybrid work arrangements, increasingly sophisticated attackers, creative social engineering, and a rise in the number of passwords people use have all contributed to more cyber attacks. The results can be costly. Organizations that are ill-prepared or lacking in security and risk protocols will find themselves paying a hefty price both in reputation and financial loss.   While it’s nearly impossible to prevent all cyber attacks, your organization can reduce cyber risk by ensuring it’s prepared for the most common types of attacks.  The most common types of risk...
Read more
Image
  The month of April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Because it involves cognitive, manual, and visual distraction, fiddling with your phone while driving is extremely dangerous.  We ask everyone to make a special effort to set the phone aside while driving.  We here at Brock-Norton encourage our clients, employees and any/all drivers to put down their phones and buckle up.   The CDC has said that there are three types of distracted driving. They are as follows: 1.      Visual distractions that cause you to take your eyes off the road. a.      Examples:                                                      i.      This can be using a G...
Read more

Attention Vehicle Owners: Protect Your Investment from Theft

Image
  In recent months, we have had several policy holders impacted by vehicle theft. Check out this brief blog for tips on how to reduce the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen! Vehicle theft is increasing and continues to plague the already strained Auto Insurance Market. With premiums on the rise, inventory low and the time and cost to repair skyrocketing, cars are more expensive to obtain and maintain than ever. Across the country there is a 34% spike of stolen vehicles compared to last year. In DC alone there was a spike of 113% of car thefts compared to 2022. That equals about 18 cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles stolen every day. We should be aware that a majority of car thefts are from people that are stealing cars to strip and sell parts. It is also reported that some cars that are stolen are being sent overseas for sales.   Here are some tips that you can enact at home and in your business to reduce the chances of you waking up to an empty driveway. Always lock the ...
Read more