It’s not just the Boy Scouts who need to be prepared. Now that winter is here, Iowa motorists need to take special care they’re ready for the harsh season ahead. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says it’ll just take a few dollars and a few minutes to assemble a life-saving bundle.
White says all Iowans should have a winter car care kit in their trunks, full of items to protect the passengers from the cold weather elements. White says for anyone who’ll be spending any time in a vehicle during the holidays or the months of winter ahead, that emergency kit needs several ingredients.
White says to include a heavy blanket or a sleeping bag, gloves, mittens, hats and gloves — all to protect the extremities. She says non-perishable food items and a jug of water are also pluses along with road flares and a cellular phone. She also suggests putting candles and matches in a coffee can, along with a transistor radio and extra batteries.
Given the story a few weeks ago about a California family that got stuck in the snow in Oregon, White says Iowa motorists can learn from that experience. She says it’s never wise to stray far from the safety and shelter of your car.
White says “If you do find yourself in a situation where you are stranded in a storm, it’s very, very important to stay with the vehicle as we’ve learned from this most recent case. We had survivors who stayed with the vehicle and that’s usually the case in most of these incidents.” She also suggests keeping a shovel in the trunk, if for nothing else, to clear snow from around your exhaust pipe so deadly gases won’t build up inside the car if you leave it running while waiting for help to arrive.