Gabriel Gonzalez

Student Life Editor

It has been a bipolar fall, but that’s coming to an end. Nature seems to finally have gotten its act together and is bringing the temperature down, much to the chagrin of summer lovers. But that’s life. Seasons come and go, temperatures change and we just have to adapt. Here are some tips to keep out the chill of the coming cold.

For the commuters out there, the biggest problem is that commute; obviously. Whether it be ten minutes long or sixty, cars are practically refrigerators when fall turns to winter. They are basically hollow metal boxes on wheels. Not only is there discomfort, there’s inconvenience. Often it takes many minutes to properly warm up a vehicle before it is a comfortable temperature to drive. There’s a pretty simple fix, though. One that I’m sure many of you out there are aware of: just start it five minutes earlier. This is more for the health of the vehicle than for you, but we’ll get there.

Here are a few other things that everyone should do to prepare their vehicle for the winter months:

• Keep a small broom, shovel or scraper in your vehicle to clear the windshield and side windows if they frost over.
• Store a flashlight (with fresh batteries) in your car for use in low lighting.
• Put a few blankets in your trunk in case you break down and the heating isn’t available.
• Wear gloves; the wheel gets cold.
• Stockpile drinks or snacks.
• Keep an extra set of clothes in the trunk for layering or to replace current wear that may become wet or otherwise unusable.
• Switch out summer tires for winter ones to provide extra traction when it is needed.

With these, making it to school should be a breeze.

Simple tips to keep warm that apply to all students regardless of commuter status are:

• Invest in some hand warmers when the protection of gloves (which everyone should use) proves too little. They are inexpensive and surprisingly efficient.
• Layer up. Essentially, try to use coats and jackets and sweaters that can easily be removed in hotter environments, just so your not dying of heat stroke in the middle of a lecture.
• If you like hot coffee or hot tea, keep it on the go in a heat-trapping thermos for easy access. If you don’t like hot drinks, preferring room-temp or cold, keep your thirst in check until you are back inside.
• Keep moving. A brisk walk not only reduces the amount of time you’re stuck in the cold, but also activates your muscles to create warmth. It’s a win-win.
• Check the weather for news before making plans.
• Don’t come to school if you feel the weather has made your route unsafe. It’s not worth it.

As far as what you need to know about keeping warm, that’s really all it takes. With this article, you should have a pretty good idea on how to prepare.