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Safety Tips For Road Trips |
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A very dear friend was recently stranded in her car on a very cold winter night. She ran out of gas and wasn't nervous about it until she went to use her cell phone and the battery wasn't charged. Fortunately, a good samaritan family stopped to see if they could help. Here are some things we all need to think about before we get in the car, even to go a short distance.
- If you don't have a cell phone, purchase one and always make sure it is fully charged.
- Do not ever drive through water in heavy downfalls.
- Make sure you have a simple first aid kit in the car
- Also include a flashlight.
- Keep a screwdriver in the glovebox, in case you ever need to break a car window to escape.
- Put a sleeping bag or a couple warm blankets in the trunk.
- In cold weather, carry a candle and matches in a can or container in the trunk. This could keep you from freezing.
- Keep your car manual in the car, that way you will always know where it is.
- Keep a spare key in your wallet or purse, just in case you get locked out of your car.
- If the accelerator gets stuck, turn off the key.
- Let a friend or someone else know where you are going, especially if you have to travel at night. I have my road service number programmed into my cell phone. Never get in a car with a stranger to go to a phone or get gas.
I am sure there are more good tips, but these are all I can think of right now.
By Bobbie from Rockwall, TX
Editor's Note: Another good tip is to keep phone numbers for any road side assistance programs you belong to. Feel free to post your ideas below.
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RE: Safety Tips For Road Trips
Good tips. I once walked 2-1/2 miles home and then 2-1/2 miles back again when I locked myself out of my car at Walgreen's. My spare key didn't do me much good hanging on its hook at home.
In my cardboard box "care package" in the car, I also keep an extra leash for my dog, a bottle of water and an extra water dish (16-oz. cottage cheese container) for her. If we unexpectedly find a new park (the only kind of "emergency" I want to have), we're ready. I know you should always have a leash with you when you have your dog out, but sometimes we just hop in the car and go and I forget.
I also keep a can of Pepsi and some candy for me. Now I think I'd better get a safer box, one with a cover on it.
RE: Safety Tips For Road Trips
Another good idea I have always done is when you get a new cell phone. ALWAYS buy the charger for the car with the phone at the same time. Living in a Hurricane Zone here in South Carolina. I always make sure we have a charger with every phone my husband and I have. if there is a Hurricane and If the home phone goes and the towers are still standing we always have that as a back up. Thanks for the great tips!
RE: Safety Tips For Road Trips
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Post By Mary (Guest Post)
(04/17/2007)
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I"m not sure you should turn off the car if the accelerator is stuck- in many models, that would also disable the power steering and brakes. You might want to shift into neutral and steer to the side of the road first.
Also- would a screwdriver break a car window? They are made of a strong safety glass.
And- if you keep ANYTHING in your car, make sure it is secured. I recently took a safe driving course and the instructor said many people are injured, often severely, in accidents because the junk is propelled forward during an impact, often hitting the driver in the back of the head.
RE: Safety Tips For Road Trips
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Post By Jo (Guest Post)
(04/17/2007)
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Something that helped us once was having a few drinking straws in the car. We dropped something under the hood in an area that we couldn't reach by hand. By putting the straws together and putting a piece of "chewed" chewing gum on the tip of the straw we were able to reach the item.
RE: Safety Tips For Road Trips
Excellent suggestions. One more would be to keep bottled water in the car (not the trunk). Be sure to replace by the expiration date. One can live without food longer than water--and when you'll be "rescued" is unknown. This is especially important in the summer.
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