Tag Archives: car

It is time to prepare your car for the cold

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Environment, Hard News, How-To's, ,

By Maggie Carey
WKTV Contributor

Snowy weather is here which means making sure you have checked that your car has all your survival essentials. (WKTV/Maggie Carey)

With the colder months approaching quickly, it is important to stock your car with items that will help you through the winter. Winter weather can leave you stranded and having a kit of essentials can get you back on the road faster or make your time waiting for assistance more comfortable in the frigid temperatures.

Winter essentials for the car can include:

Ice scraper. This is an essential that can be found almost everywhere. Car scrapers with a brush end and scraper end are best (see image right) as they help remove both snow and ice from your car. Not only is it safe for you to clear your car of snow, it is also safe for those around you as snow falling off your car can impair their vision while driving.

 

A car scraper with a brush and scraper end is recommended.

Portable Shovel. Small portable shovels can be helpful when digging a car out from snow or when trying to leave a snowy street in the morning. If you have a big enough trunk, consider keeping a full-sized shovel on hand to make the process smoother.

Cat litter or salt. Did you know that cat litter can help budge a stuck car more than salt? Cat litter absorbs all the moisture around the tire and makes the surface dry to drive on. If you are stuck in snow or ice, pour small amounts around your wheels and slowly accelerate to dislodge your car. This can also be an affordable alternative to keeping salt in your car. Or if you want to keep it classic, salt does the job too. Be sure to have one on hand though as we enter the Michigan winter.

Extra warm clothes. Having extra clothes on hand can be helpful if your car has died and you are waiting for assistance on the side of the road. Put together a tote with a coat, gloves, hat, scarf, socks and if you have the room, a blanket. These items can help regulate your temperature while waiting for assistance and could potentially save your life.

Food and water. Some types of food, like non-perishables, can stay in your car for the winter months and come in handy for those unpredictable winter weather emergencies. Trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, and canned foods can be kept in cold temperatures in your car. You should also keep water in your car. Stainless steel bottles are the best method of storing water, just remember to only fill them ¾ of the way as the colder temperatures can make the bottle burst if too full.

 

Take the time now to think about what you need and stock up your car essentials to keep you and your family safe during your winter travels.  

Keeping Kids Safe and Warm this Winter

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, , ,

Courtesy Cherry Health

By Dr. Jenny Bush, Director of Pediatrics at Cherry Health and Pediatrician at Westside Health Center

As winter is coming we all worry about making sure our young ones are kept warm when we go out. We must remember though, that we also want them to be safe. The emergency room sees many young children with serious injuries in the winter due to big coats or snowsuits causing car seat straps not to work well. Even when the straps seem tight, the force of a car accident can squish down the coat and allow space for the child to slip from the straps and get hurt.

Here are some tips for keeping your child both warm and safe:

  • When possible, warm the car before you get in.
  • Have your kids wear their hats, mittens and warm shoes or boots.
  • For babies in an infant seat, place them in the car seat with the straps tight, then tuck a blanket around them or use a car seat cover. Make sure nothing is over the baby’s face. Store the seat inside when not in use so that the baby is not in contact with the cold seat. Nothing should ever be placed between the baby and the car seat, as that makes them less safe.
  • For toddlers or young children, have them wear their coat to the car, take it off to strap them in tight and then turn the coat backwards and place it over their arms (see picture below). Another option would be to have a blanket kept in the backseat for them to use.

Consider having a winter emergency kit in the car. Include back up clothing, socks, and mittens, a blanket and some snacks.

While these tips focus on kids, they do apply to adults as well. Large coats can also cause our seat belts to be ineffective. We need to be safe so that in the case of an accident we can focus on our kids and help calm them.

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

Local police departments remind public to lock their car doors when left unattended

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety and the Kentwood Police Department are together reminding the public to secure their vehicles when left unattended. Both agencies report several larcenies from vehicles in different neighborhoods between May 30 and June 7. The larcenies occurred between the hours of 1 and 6 a.m. In Kentwood the thefts occurred around the area of Princeton Estates and the surrounding neighborhood. In Wyoming, the thefts occurred in the Chateau Hills neighborhood and in the neighborhood along Valleyridge Avenue SW.

 

Reports indicate that the suspect looked for unlocked cars that were parked on the street, in driveways, and in open garages. The suspect took cash, new or high-end electronics, and medication. Many cars were ransacked with no items taken.

 

Multiple reports indicate that the suspect is a male of slim build, and an approximate height of 5’10”. In some reports it is mentioned that the suspect may have been carrying a red backpack or riding a bicycle.

 

Both Departments want to remind the public of these simple safety tips to keep your valuables safe:

 

First and foremost, lock your vehicle when it is left unattended
Hide or keep valuables out of sight
Remove portable electronic devices such as smart phones and GPS navigation systems Please report suspicious activity when it is occurring

 

The Departments will continue with their investigations. Anyone with information in regards to these larcenies are asked to contact the either the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300, the Kentwood Police Department at 616.698.6580, or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.