Simple Car-Care Kits Help Ensure Summer Fun (NAPSA)—Family road trips can provide special memories for years to come—but you don’t want those memories to include images of you or another family member struggling to changea flat tire on the side of the road or waiting for roadside assistance. So, as you’re making plans to hit the highways, consider taking a few minutes to assemble a carcare kit. According to the car-care experts at Shell Lubricants, adding a few basic items to your summer road-trip shopping list can help ensure a safer, less stressful getaway: 1. Bottled water—Helpful if the radiator runs low on fluid, or to help avoid dehydration if you’re stranded during intense heat. 2. Flares—Essential for your safety and that of other drivers if you experience car problemsafter dusk—andso that tow trucks and other roadside assistance vehicles can locate your car more easily. 3. Reflective triangles—To be used during day or night to warn oncoming vehicles, in addition to the flares. Reflective triangles are required in some states. 4. Flashlight (and extra batteries)—For after-dusk safety and for shedding light on a variety of problems, including malfunctioning engine parts under the hood. 5. Jumper cables—You may be able to count on fellow travelers to jump-start your vehicle with theirs, but come prepared with your own jumpercables. 6. Tire inflator—A quick, convenient solution in a ean (such as Fix-A-Flat) for a flat tire...no tire jack or spare tire required. You can be on your way in minutes and havethe flat tire repaired or changed later. 7. Duct tape—The ultimate solution for quickly repairing a BN i) With a car-care kit, you may be able to resolve many minor car problems on your own. ruptured hose until you reach the nearest service station. 8. Blanket and terry-cloth or paper towels—The blanket can be used to slide under the vehicle to further examine a problem, and the towels are a must for quick clean-ups or for handling hot metal surfaces. 9. First-aid kit—A kit stocked with an assortment of band-aids and other essentials for minor cuts, scrapes and insect bites. 10. Cell phone—TIf all else fails, call for roadside assistance. Cell phones help ensure safety by allowing you to stay with your vehicle. If you’re prepared, you can resolve many minor car problems on your own. According to the American Automobile Association, 3.6 million people call for roadside assistance each year due to flat tires. With a tire-inflator product stored in the trunk, temporarily repairing most flat tires is a snap for any motorist.
