Holiday travel tips: Is your car winter ready?

You should always be prepared to travel with an emergency kit like this one! 

Are you planning to travel for the holidays this winter?  We may have already had our first snows of the year. but soon we will have to think about more than just what holiday lights to install.  And because some of us may be traveling several miles for that Thanksgiving meal, family Christmas or other holiday event, things can get hectic. To make sure you arrive safely, it is important to take some time and prepare your vehicle. In addition to filling up your gas tank and checking your tires, Ready.gov recommends before your trip, you or a mechanic check the following on your vehicle

•  Antifreeze levels
• Battery and ignition system
• Brakes
•  Exhaust system
•  Fuel and air filters
• Heater and defroster
•  Lights and flashing hazard lights
•  Oil
•   Thermostat
• Windshield wiper equipment and washer fluid level

What if all the necessary maintenance has been completed on your vehicle but you punctured a tire or slid off an icy road into a snowbank during a snow storm?  You can be prepared by having an emergency kit with the right items, which can help keep you comfortable until help arrives to get you back on the road.

The emergency kit in your vehicle should be checked every six months and expired items should be replaced as needed. Here are some essential items we suggest having in your vehicle’s emergency kit:

• First aid kit with bandages in multiple sizes, gauze pads, tape, antibiotic cream, over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy medicine, hand sanitizer, and cotton swabs
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Jumper cables
• Drinking water 
• Non-perishable snacks such as nuts
• Warm clothing or blankets
• Multi-purpose tool or tool kit
• Road flares or reflective warning triangles
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Small fire extinguisher
• Charged cell phone with family and emergency phone numbers
• Cell phone charger
• Spare Tire and tools to help change it

Once you have all this completed, you’re ready to travel safe this winter! Make sure you know before you go, by checking road conditions at www.kandrive.org.