From Cleveland Clinic
Winter driving can be unpredictable and grandparents, especially, should be prepared in case of an emergency.
Richard So, M.D., a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, says it’s important to have a kid-friendly winter car safety kit when traveling with children.
He said the kit should include supplies to last at least two hours in case of a breakdown – including something for an infant to eat and drink.
“If you have a little baby, I always keep a cooler,” he says. “You can put water bottles and some powdered formula or just even get some pre-made formula bottles in there. Putting them in the cooler keeps the liquids from expanding and the bottles from exploding.”
Dr. So advises caregivers who may be transporting an infant to plan ahead with pre-packaged formula in case of emergency. For toddlers, he recommends filling a cooler with juice boxes, crackers, and cereal to tide them over until they get home. Activities like coloring books and small flashlights can be kept in the kit to entertain kids until help arrives.
Dr. So says it’s also important to have blankets in the car to keep little ones warm if the car won’t start or if the heater isn’t working. And when it comes to keeping a baby warm, he reminds grandparents that puffy snowsuits aren’t recommended for young children to wear while buckled into a car seat, because it compromises their safety – but keeping one in the car can come in handy if there’s a roadside emergency.
“What I do with the snowsuit is, I put it in my trunk and I forget about it,” says Dr. So. “That way, if my car breaks down, I have something to keep my baby warm.”
Dr. So also recommends keeping extra gloves and socks in the emergency car kit to keep hands and feet dry in case kids jump in puddles or grab wet snow or slush.
