The Citizen, 1997-11-26, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26,1997. PAGE 7.
tomo tiv>e
Winter storms — are you and your car ready?
Getting stuck on the road in
freezing cold weather is something
we all dread. But you can ease the
pain by following Emergency
Preparedness Canada's suggestions
about how to keep warm, and how
to avoid getting into such a
predicament.
One thing you might consider is
membership in the Canadian
Automobile Association. In fact, if
you do a lot of winter driving in
isolated regions, you might also
think about getting a cellular
phone.
Heed the warnings
Turn on the radio and listen to
the local weather forecast. If you
hear warnings of severe winter
weather conditions e.g. blizzards,
heavy snow, freezing rain or
drizzle, cold waves and winds, then
maybe you shouldn't venture out on
the highway.
Know the hazards
• Blizzards - a combination of
falling, blowing, drifting snow,
high winds, low visibility, cold
temperatures (less than -10°C);
duration - six hours or more.
• Heavy snow - 15 cm or more in
12 hours.
• Freezing rain - an ice storm
coating roads, trees, overhead
wires, etc. with ice.
• Heavy winds - the cause oi
blizzard conditions, drifting,
reduced visibility and wind-chill
effects. Weather offices issue
warnings when a wind-chill (rate
of cooling) of 2,000 watts per
square metre is expected. This
means it's cold enough to feeze a
person's face in less than a
minute. (Equivalent to -40°C.)
When you travel
• Drive with caution. Measure
your speed to conditions. Be
defensive.
• Don't press on. If the going gets
tough, turn back or seek refuge.
• Try to keep to main roads.
• Make sure you have ample
gasoline.
• Don't take unnecessary chances.
• Keep your radio turned to a local
station for weather advice.
If you get trapped
Don't panic. Avoid over-exertion
and exposure. Shoveling and bitter
cold can kill. Stay in your car. You
won't get lost and you'll have a
shelter. Keep fresh air in your car.
Open a window on the side
sheltered from the wind.
Run your motor sparingly.
Beware of exhaust fumes; ensure
the exhaust pipe is not blocked by
snow. (Remember - You can't
smell Carbon Monoxide fumes!)
You can run the car engine about
10 minutes every half hour - as
long as your exhaust system is
working well.
Set out warning lights or flares.
Put on the dome light. Overuse of
headlights may run down your
battery.
Exercise your limbs, hands and
feet vigorously. Keep moving and
don't fall asleep.
Keep watch for traffic or
searchers.
Dressing for the cold
Put on a hat as well as extra
socks and mittens. (Without a hat,
you can lose up to 60 per cent of
your body heat.)
Add extra outer wear, or a pair of
coveralls as the extra layers of
clothing will trap warm air near the
body, acting as insulation. (NOTE:
Do not drink alcohol in cold
weather as it lowers the body
temperature.)
W/ien push comes to shove
Winter driving provides a number of challenges for Snowbelt dwellers. Be prepared and
heed the warnings to know how to handle situations like this one, or better yet, avoid them
altogether.
Prepare your vehicle for the cold
THE WAR AMPS
Child amputees
have a vital safety
message for
motorists:
It’s a well-known fact that every
year a large majority of the more
than 15.5 million vehicles on the
road are caught unprepared for the
first blast of really cold weather.
Don't be caught unprepared for the
first blast of really cold weather.
Don't be caught unprepared.
Spending a little bit of time and
effort now, can save you time,
effort, frustration, and even money
later on.
Here is a quick list of things to
check before that first nasty blast of
winter:
Cooling System
If it hasn't been done in a while,
flush out your cooling system with
a good chemical cleaner and put in
fresh anti-freeze. Remember to use
the anti-freeze in its proper
proportions. Pure anti-freeze (most
often made of ethylene glycol) does
not cool or protect as well as the
proper mixture of water and anti
freeze which is described on the
anti-freeze container. And don't
forget to check containers, belts,
hoses, the pressure caps and
thermostat.
Battery and Electrical System
If your battery is more than a few
years old, have it checked. Cold
weather is hard on batteries. Be
sure connections are clean and
tight. Corroded or loose
connections can give the symptoms
of a weak or dead battery.
.Engine
Is it time for a tune-up? Faulty
wiring, wom spark plugs, a sticking
choke or emission control devices
that need attention, can all lead to
hard starting. A diagnostic check
up of the engine can be a good
winter pre-investment.
Oil and Filter
Dirty oil can give you trouble in
the winter. Now's the time to
change it. Change the oil filter too!
And don't forget to check the other
filters on your car, including the
fuel, air and transmission filters.
(The transmission filter should be
changed with the transmission fluid
when it is changed during regular
preventative maintenance.)
Tires
For every 50°C of temperature
drop, your tire pressure decreases
by one pound. Tires which are
under-inflated by only eight pounds
can reduce gas mileage by five per
cent and cut tire life by 25 per cent
or more. Check your tire pressure
regularly.
DRIVESAFE!
Champs know that
safety
is no accident,
i a
For more information, or to order your
DRIVESAFE windshield sticker,
or key tags, contact:
The War Amps
National Headquarters
2827 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1V 0C4
Tel.: (613) 731-3821 (Ottawa)
or use E-ZEE ACCESS:
Tel.: 1-800-250-3030
Fax: 1-800-219-8988
Internet: http://www.waramps.ca
Charitable Registration Number: 0286831 09
CARTER'S WEST END GARAGE
AND BODY SHOP
EXHAUST AND BRAKE COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR
SPECIALISTS AND PAINTING
WHEEL ALIGNMENT & BALANCING
TOWING
OWNER-OPERATOR
HARVEY CARTER
215 HURON ST., BOX 728 PH: (519) 482-9363
CLINTON, ONT. NOM 1L0 FAX (519) 482-3534
( DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE -
COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES
MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
Owned and Operated by
Dan & Heather Snell
RR 3, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1HO
(on the Westfield Rd.)
DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician
523-4356
Jeff Cook
Licenced Class 'A' Mechanic
Box 608, Clinton, ON
JC AUTO REPAIR
238 Albert St. (Hwy. #4 N.) CLINTON
(519) 482-1143
~ Repairs to all makes of cars and trucks. ~
WINGHAM V
Certified Used Cars & Repairs to
all makes and models
QUAKER
L STATE.
Box 874 North St. W.
Wingham, Ont NOG 2W0 519-357-3022