A road trip can be exciting and fun, but there can be emergencies on the way too. In the winter we can go from a beautifully sunny day to cold and icy weather by night time.  Of course we hope your trip is smooth sailing, but just in case you run into some unexpected bad weather, here are a few things to have in the vehicle with you just in case.

Extreme Low Temperature washer fluid: Fill up your car with washer fluid specially designed for “freezing temperatures” (it’ll say on the label). You can also use it on your windshield as you drive to melt the ice and snow. And it’s always good to bring an extra bottle with you. If you have to use a lot of it while you’re driving, make sure to fill the bottle up at the self filling stations at the gas stations or buy a couple more bottles.

All-in-one car emergency kit: Instead of trying to remember all the separate items you might need in an emergency, you can go to an auto supply store and buy an all-in-one kit. They come with jumper cables, flashlight, batteries, and a first aid kit. They have some in a zippered bag and you can add more items you feel you would like in there too.

Low-salt snacks: To survive the trip with kids, experts say, don’t give them salty foods like pretzels or chips. Salt makes you thirsty: You drink more water, and that means more bathroom stops — not fun in wintry weather. Good options for low-salt snacks include granola bars, fruit snacks, string cheese and fruit.

Emergency supplies: In case of a real emergency where you’re stuck on the side of the road, you should pack these items, you may be there for a while:  blankets,  flares, water, a few snacks and a candle (the ones in the glass jars with a lid)  for heat ( you can get a bit of heat from a candle and not have your car battery die) . If you really want to be prepared you can get hand cranked cellphone battery chargers. A shovel with a folding handle also might be a good idea.

Kitty litter: If you get stuck in snow or ice, it’s good to have a large bag of kitty litter in the trunk. Lay it down in front of the wheels if you have front-wheel drive, or behind the tires if you have rear-wheel drive; it’ll give you traction so you can get out. The weight in the truck will help you gain traction when you come across deeper snow.

We hope that your next winter road trip is a safe one.
Irene Bilinski
Real Estate Representative for Ottawa, Orleans and surrounding area.