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10 Winter Must-Haves in your Emergency Car Kit

Winter is quickly approaching as the weather dips below freezing. Before winter takes hold, you should start thinking about creating an emergency car kit! Since you never know what can happen on the road and emergency car kit helps you to be prepared for any situation. Below are ten items that are recommended to have in your kit during the winter.

The top 10 winter items:

1. First-aid kit

A first-aid is a great item to have in your car. You can use it if any of your passengers get a minor cut or a more severe injury.

2. Jumper cables

Jumper cables are a great addition to your emergency car kit! If your battery or someone else’s battery dies you can quickly fix the situation with a pair of these.

3. Blankets and extra warm clothes

In Canada, most places experience fridged winters, by having items such as warm clothes and blankets you can save yourself from hypothermia if the worst ever occurs.

4. Windshield scraper and brush

A great tool to have for the ice and snow storms.

5. High-calorie non-perishable items

If you were to get stuck in a blizzard, it is essential to have enough food for everyone in your car. Packing non-perishable food items, such as peanut butter and protein bars.

6. Road salt or cat litter

Why would I ever need cat litter? I don’t even own a cat.

If your car gets stuck in the snow you can use road salt and cat litter to gain traction. All you need to do is sprinkle some around your tires and you should be free!

7. Flares

There’s nothing quite like bright lights to get people’s attention. That’s why flares are a great way to help people find you if you get into trouble.

8. Water bottles

Hydration is key! That is why you would always carry one bottle per seat you have in your car, the more the better.

9. Cell Phone Charger

A cell phone charger that plugs into your vehicles lighter port is essential. This way you can charge your phone to contact a towing company or other someone for help!

10. Flashlight

Lastly, a flashlight to light the way. If you ever get stuck in the dark or need to look at your engine, a flashlight will do just the trick. Just make sure you have enough batteries!

Now that you’ve gone through the Top 10 items you need for winter in an emergency car kit you are ready for your next adventure! It’s always best to stay safe and that why we love to provide our clients with tips and tricks to keep them out of trouble.

Are you paying too much to auto insurance? Let us help you find the best deal with our online quoting tool. Insurance Man will match you up with a company that meets your specific needs.  Click here to see how you can save! 

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Regular Post
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Your step-to-step guide to closing your cottage for the winter

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With fall quickly coming it’s important to start thinking about closing your cottage for the winter. Forgetting to properly close your cottage can result in expensive and unnecessary claims.

  1. Drain your pipes 

    When the cold weather comes around it is important to turn off your water and drain your pipes to make sure that they do not freeze. Freezing could cause costly water damage to your cottage.

  2. Inspect your roof

    Snow and ice will build up during the winter, that is why you should check your roof before the cold weather sets in. Snow buildup can cause roof leaks and can even cave in, so do a proper inspection and replace anything that needs to be fixed.

  3. Keep the pests out

    Nothing is worse than finding critters in your cottage. Check for any openings that a small animal could squeeze through.

  4. Unplug

    Major appliances should be unplugged to prevent electrical fires or other issues.

  5. Remove fire hazards

    Find any items that could be a fire starter; this might be paper products, old rags, or chemicals.

  6. Deep clean

    Clean out your fridge, cupboards and pantry. This will make sure that animals and insects are not attracted to food inside your cottage.

  7. Off or on?

    Should you shut the power off at your cottage? If you are worried about freezing pipes, have a septic tank, or a water back-up-system it is probably best to keep the power on. Set your thermostat between 7° and 10°C, this warm enough to keep the cottage and pipes from freezing. If you are able to turn the electricity off turn then turn off the thermostats and turn main power source.

After reading these tips you should be ready to close your cottage for winter! Before leaving always make sure that doors and windows are locked, and curtains are drawn.

 

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home Insurance, Insurance Tips
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Off to school insurance tips for students and parents

With fall coming around, so is the start of the school year! That means that thousands of students across the country are off to university or college. Heading back to school can be a stressful event for both the students and parents. Although, by being properly insured and following a few Insurance Man tips students can welcome this new chapter in their life with open arms! 

That’s what insurance man likes to call a job well done!

Campus coverage basics

Students who live on-campus

Students who are living in dorms or ‘residence’ for their first year are likely covered by their parent’s home insurance policy. Although, it is important to be aware that some policies might limit the amount of coverage offered!

Students who live off-campus

Students who live off-campus and are full-time students are also covered by their parent’s insurance. The amount of coverage and the maximum age of the student differs from company to company. Check with your insurance broker for details of your own home insurance policy. 

Students eligible for auto insurance discounts

Most companies offer discounts on auto insurance if the student is residing away at school for the year. The distance from school to home will determine eligibility for the “student away at school” discount.

Taking precautions on campus

Leave the valuables at home

Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry! That is why when deciding what to pack for University or College students should avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. Leave the expensive jewelry, watches and electronics at home where they will be safe.

Create an inventory of what you brought to school

While packing for back-to-school make a list and take pictures of everything that is being brought! That way it can be looked back on if a loss occurs and will make it easier for an insurance claim to be settled.

Always lock your dorm room

Dorm room thefts are bound to happen at University or College. Which is why students should lock up even if they are just leaving for just a short period of time. Students living with roommates should also make sure that they are doing the same. 

Don’t leave your valuables unattended

Valuable items, such as laptops and phones should never be left unattended.  Never leave laptops at the library, dining hall, or other public places. 

Keep the flames out

Candles and cooking-related fires are a leading cause of many campus fires. While cooking students should always keep eye on their food to make sure that it is not burning! The same goes for candles, never leave a candle burning while you are out of the room or gone to class. The candle might smell good but a building fire doesn’t! 

Insurance Tips
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