A winter wonderland commonly comes with fun festivities and outdoor activities. Unfortunately, it also comes with snow storms and icy roads.
By stocking your vehicle with these cold-weather essentials from Blain’s Farm & Fleet, you can stay safe on the roads in the winter months.
Keep a pair of jumper cables or battery booster cables on hand. Sometimes, your car battery needs a little jump when the temperature drops.
A portable jump-starter is a lightweight and powerful way to instantly jumpstart your vehicle without the need of another car. It also fits easily in the backseat or trunk of your car.
When you park your car outside during the wintertime, there’s always the chance that it will be covered in ice or snow when you’re ready to drive.
Always have a brush and scraper in your car to help remove the snow and ice from your windows.
Have extra blankets or sleeping bags in the back or trunk. These will provide extra warmth if stranded in winter weather. For the warmest option, we recommend going with a heated blanket.
Dress appropriately by wearing layers of lightweight clothing. Also have an extra set of mittens, socks, and a hat in the car in case you or a passenger forgets them.
Foot and hand warmers are also a good idea for instant warmth.
Flashlights with extra batteries are always great to have on hand. It gets dark early this time of year, so you want to be prepared if you need extra light.
The Rayovac Virtually Indestructible 3″ AAA LED Flashlight is water resistant, energy efficient, compact, and provides up to 160 meters of light. It even has a place to keep a spare bulb in case the old one burns out.
Have a distress sign, a brightly-colored cloth, reflectors, or a combination of the three in your vehicle if you get stuck and have to wait for help.
We highly suggest reflectors or even flares in cases of harder snow. A warning triangle is great to place near your stranded vehicle for safety and visibility.
Have a stocked emergency kit in your car. A first aid kit is a must, and double check that your kit is fully supplied. Include a pocket knife for added tools.
A Swiss Army Pocket Knife includes all the tools you might need if you get stranded: large blade, small blade, can opener with small screwdriver, bottle opener with large screwdriver, scissors, pliers with wire cutter, Phillips screwdriver, and more.
Find a small shovel you can keep in your car at all times. During snowy weather, a shovel will help get you out if your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.
Carry carpet strips or create a medium bag of sand or kitty litter to have in case you get stuck. You can sprinkle the kitty litter or place the strips down for additional traction.
One of the most important things to have in case of an emergency is your cellphone. If your car gets stuck on the side of the road, you’ll need to make sure your phone keeps enough power to call for help.
We recommend keeping both a car charger and a portable phone charger in your car.
Pack high-energy, non-perishable snacks like nuts or canned and dried fruit and granola bars. We also suggest water and instant beverages.
Blain’s Farm and & Fleet knows how important road safety is, especially during the harsh, midwestern winters. That’s why we offer a large variety of road safety supplies.
You can find more how-tos and safety guides like this one on our Automotive Blog.
