Skip to content

Treat your car like family in winter

Did a recent snowfall catch you unprepared? Were you scrambling to locate your children's boots, hats and mittens? In addition to preparing your family to meet the challenges of a Canadian winter, it is recommended that you treat your car "like a mem

Did a recent snowfall catch you unprepared? Were you scrambling to locate your children's boots, hats and mittens?

In addition to preparing your family to meet the challenges of a Canadian winter, it is recommended that you treat your car "like a member of the family" and take time to ensure that your vehicle is properly "outfitted" for winter.

Winter is usually flu season. Just like it is a good time to make sure your family members visit the doctor for a check up and flu shot, it is smart to get your vehicle winter-ready with a "maintenance check-up". If you haven't already done so, contact your local automotive shop to make an appointment for a check-up and have those winter tires installed as soon as possible. You want to ensure that your car is wearing proper winter "boots" in order to keep your family safe when driving on hazardous road conditions.

This is also a good time to change to winter wipers and to top up your windshield wiper fluid. While you're at it, you should also have your battery, antifreeze, fuel and ignition systems, headlights and other key components checked.

Christmas holiday season is fast approaching and it's time you faced the facts. Someone is impossible to buy for. Perhaps they have everything. Maybe they just want nothing. It could be a sibling, spouse, friend, parent of child.

For that impossible to buy for person, there is a perfect gift. It's a thing that many people don't have and yet all should have. It's a gift that shows your thoughtfulness, resourcefulness and most importantly, that you care for the person's health and safety.

It's a roadside safety kit. And in some cases a roadside first aid kit. What could be more fundamental to the peace your own peace of mind that you have added some extra safety for that person while avoiding the "tie or gift card" dilemma?

Be Car Care Aware with a Do-it-yourself Road Side Safety and Emergency KitThis kit is for peace of mind during a roadside emergency or breakdown and can be assembled in a sealing rubber container, wrapped nicely and ready to drop into a car trunk. Flares Blankets Matches Flashlight with batteries An emergency cell phone Jumper cables Bungee cord Screwdriver Duct tape Fire extinguisher. Good quality Map Roadside-assistance contact

Road Trip First Aid KitThis kit is important for the person who takes much longer drives and goes on road trips: Anti-Nauseant (Gravol) After Bite Bug Spray Bandages Disinfectant spray Anti-Bacterial ointment Gauze Pain Medication Antihistamine Sun screen (SPF 30 minimum) Antiseptic wipes for wounds Hand sanitizer Thermometer Medication Health Cards

"Peace of mind and gift shopping both take some work," said Patty Kettles, Car Care Canada's Manager of Marketing & Communications. "Here they can be combined through creativity, resourcefulness and fun."

SOURCE: Be Car Care Aware and Car Care Canada