Things look like they’re about to get seriously cold for a lot of the United States, with the National Weather Service warning that most states will have low temperatures below freezing in the coming weeks. Before things get too icy, make sure you’ve taken the necessary precautions to prepare for the intense cold. This is a list of items you do not want to leave in your car during freezing conditions.
The extreme cold can negatively affect your medications efficacy. Especially insulin, which is susceptible to extreme temperatures while also being incredibly important to the person it’s prescribed to. Not all medications are impacted by extreme temperatures, and if you have any questions about your medications be sure to contact your pharmacist or doctor to learn more.
“The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service warns canned food can also swell in freezing temperatures. However, if you leave a canned item in your car, you don’t have to automatically toss it into the trash. If the can has not rusted or come apart at the seams, the USDA recommends letting the canned item thaw in the refrigerator before opening. If the product’s appearance or smell isn’t quite right once open, then toss it. They add wrapping the item in plastic can prevent animals from later getting into the spoiled food.”
This one came as a surprise to me, but apparently extreme cold can affect instruments made of wood, so be sure to remove your guitar or your kid’s violin or clarinet from the car before the temperatures drop too low.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but canned for bottled liquids expand when they freeze. If you leave a can in your car during a deep freeze, it’s likely to expand and potentially explode in your car. Save yourself the clean-up and remove these items before it gets too cold.
Extreme temperatures aren’t ideal for handheld electronics, especially devices with lithium-ion batteries or LCD screens. Apple recommends avoiding iPhone use at temperatures below freezing, but we have many more devices than just our phones. Don’t forget your bluetooth headphones, tablets, fitness trackers, cameras, or even bike lights. To learn more about how cold weather affects personal electronics, check out this really cool article in Wired.
If you’ve got an emergency pair of cheap sunnies in your car then you don’t have to worry, but if you have an expensive pair that you care a lot about, make sure to bring them inside before a freeze. Extreme cold can damage the coating on the lenses as well as impact the integrity of the frames.
According to Family Handyman,
“Aerosol cans, such as those that contain hairspray or spray paint, shouldn’t be kept in extremely cold conditions. Exposure to either heat or cold temperatures can destabilize the pressurized cans. Cold can make the cans crack or even explode.”
While it is incredibly unlikely that your gasoline will freeze, it’s best to keep your tank over halfway full to use in emergencies. You can add fuel-line antifreeze to prevent your fuel lines from freezing over if that’s a real concern for you.
Much like other liquids, eggs expand when they freeze, resulting in a cracked shell and a sticky mess. Make sure you take all of your groceries into the house to prevent nasty messes.
Take your scrapers and brushes out of your car before the storm hits so you can use them to clear your car if you need to drive. Ice storms are notorious for coating cars in a thick layer of ice and making access nearly impossible, so keep your scrapers in the house so they’re ready to go when you need them.