Dear Heloise: I have seen tips for a winter kit to keep in your car in case you get stuck. May I add another important item?

I would keep a large candle about the size of a coffee can and something to light it with in your car. You would be surprised how much heat it will put out in a closed car. Make sure you crack a back window, though. This way, you don’t need to start your car and waste gas to keep warm. — Jim B., via email

Jim, well, that may be one way to stay warm; however, if a driver is stranded, it might be a better idea to have a thick sleeping bag in the trunk. They can crawl inside and probably be a little safer than having a flame inside the car with them.

If a sleeping bag isn’t possible, then use a couple of blankets stored in the back seat or the trunk. Make sure to also store a bag of dry, clay kitty litter to use for traction under the tires in the snow. — Heloise

IN ICE AND SNOW, GO SLOW

Dear Heloise: Every year, there are accident on icy roads that could have easily been prevented if people would remember to either use chains or snow tires on their vehicles — or simply drive slower! Where is anyone going in the world that is more important than their lives? Slow down … you’ll get there.

As a police officer, I’ve seen too many accidents because someone was in a hurry. This includes the guy who caused but also survived a three-car accident. Sadly, his wife and three daughters didn’t. He was driving well over the speed limit according to all the witnesses. — A Reader, via email

LIFE SKILLS

Dear Heloise: A few years ago, my son handed me one of his shirts and said, “Mom, two of my buttons came off. Sew them on for me, will you?” I said, “No, you’ll sew them on.”

We had an argument about gender roles, and I told him that hand-sewing is a life skill, not a gender role. I wanted my four boys to learn how to take care of themselves rather than depending on a woman all the time.

Now they know how to do laundry, cook, clean, and hand-sew buttons on their shirts. Making boys learn and do these chores helps them to live in the real world as adults. When they get a little older, I hope they appreciate the skills they’ve learned to do because their mother insisted they learn how to do these things. — Linda Y., Amarillo, Texas

Linda, I agree with you. It’s important for everyone to master simple chores, and this also includes girls learning how to change their car’s oil, mow the lawn, and more. The more you know, the better off you will be, and the safer you will live. — Heloise

WHAT’S THE PASSWORD?

Dear Heloise: Three days ago, we got a call from someone who said they were our grandchild and that they had been in a terrible accident.

They needed money, or the hospital would not help them. My husband calmly said, “What is the password?” We had taught our grandkids to use a password if they need money or help right away. The caller hung up. — Paula S., in Connecticut

USPS WEB ADDRESS

Dear Heloise: In case of potential scammers, your readers should know that the United States Postal Service’s web address is www.USPS.com. However, they usually send emails only in response to a request or action, such as a change of address. — W.C., via email

ID IN YOUR LUGGAGE

Dear Heloise: In regard to the hint you received suggesting that you should put a business card in the ID tag of your checked luggage, you should also put some sort of ID inside of your luggage. I’m a retired airline employee, and if the tag comes off during transit, there’s no way to find the owner. — B.T., in California