When winter, cold, and flu season approach, it’s a comfort to know you’re prepped for the unexpected.  Here are a few tips to keep you healthy and ready.

Get the remedies in-house

Make sure you’ve got white rice, soft tissues, cough drops, zinc lozenges, ColdFX, plain saltines, ginger ale, Gatoraid, Pedialyte—or whatever you need to get through a stomach flu, head cold or bronchitis.  You can freeze the sports drinks/rice/saltines and just keep the rest ready if you need them.  Check to see if your emergency prescription or over-the-counter meds are still fresh so if you get hit fast, you’re ready to relax, not drag yourself out shopping.

Stock your cupboards

If it snows, the power’s out, you’re ill, or if you’re just dog-tired from holiday celebrations—get some basic food in the house so you can prep a quick meal that’s soothing and nourishing.  Whole wheat pasta, sauce, brown rice, basic bouillon for broth, appealing canned soups, canned beans, tuna, peanut butter and frozen bread–or whatever means comfort, ease, possibly prepping without power, or can last in your kitchen.  This way you’ll only have to shop for the fresh items and know you have a stocked larder to fall back on.

Shine a light

Place flashlights in key places to be easily reached in case of power outage; next to your bed, just inside the door, in your basement.  There are also great outlet emergency lights—and emergency flashlights that start working when the power’s out.

Power it green

From crank radios, to battery chargers and trickle power stations, you can power your emergency and entertainment electronics, greener.  Use your rechargeable batteries in your emergency radios and battery powered alarm clocks when the power’s out.

Drive safely

The most important car safety tool a woman can have is a roadside assistance plan.  Whether it’s from AAA or your auto maker, get one now and drive with 100% back up.

Also good to have is an emergency kit in your trunk–AAA sells one with heavy duty jumper cables and reflective triangles—or you can easily make one up yourself.  In your kit, it’s beneficial to have an emergency blanket or two, with an extra hat and gloves and maybe even a couple of granola/energy bars, water, kitty litter/salt or a rug remnant for traction on ice. Have your battery checked, oil changed and tires rotated.  Adding a winter gas additive to your winter fill-ups helps cars that sit outside in the cold.

Sisters are doing it for themselves–especially in an emergency or when we’re ill.  What do you do to make sure you’re comfortable if you’re ill or in an emergency?