Is Your Car Ready for the Winter?

As yesterday's post noted, this Winter has been weird. But as we Coloradoans know, we're still going to be blasted (probably in March) with a huge traffic-stopping car-burying blizzard. Is your car ready?

What happens if it starts snowing after you get to work, and keeps on snowing. People come in from lunch, brushing big flakes from their coats, and shivering from the sudden drop in temperature. You sneak a listen to the radio news report, or a friend texts you that it's a roaring blizzard out there. At 5:00, you leave your desk, ready to go home, to find over a foot of snow already on the ground. You de-ice the locks and windows, brush off the snow, and warm up the car. Seatbelt firmly buckled, you slowly pull out from your parking space, nearly side-swiping the car next to you. Crawling along. Nearly sliding on your bald tires through the streetlight because the plows haven't been through yet. You try to get on I-70 or I-25, but traffic is stopped. Oh no, you have a quarter of tank of gas. You forgot to go to the bathroom before leaving. You have your lunch box but it's only got those crackers you didn't feel like eating at lunch. Nothing to drink. Just the push-in lighter for heat. And your forgot your scarf, hat and gloves this morning.

You get the picture.

Prepare NOW!

1. Pack a roadside emergency kit. Road flares, battery jumper cables, de-icer, etc.
2. Check your ice scraper - if it broke last Winter, you should replace it today.
3. Place a first-aid kit in the car. Bandages, antiseptic, aspirin, etc.
4. Pack a little lunchbox with juice boxes, granola or protein bars, dried fruit, etc.
5. Do you have a child? Include a few items like diapers, toys, music.
6. You need heat: there are many little devices you can buy, or pack a few tealight candles in a coffee can with lighters or waterproof matches. In an enclosed area, those tealight candles can provide some heat. Test it before you have to absolutely depend on it.
7. Kitty little in the trunk will not only provide some weight to reduce skidding along on the ice, but is also great to sprinkle under tires to provide traction.
8. Pack some blankets, socks, mittens, and other warm clothing items just in case you need to go out to move snow. When you come back in the car, change in something warm and dry.

What did we forget?