TAG | health services
The expenses involved in keeping our vehicles running after a volcano ash fallout can be astronomical. Vehicles are often essential equipment in our mobility, and therefore using precautions in maintaining their mechanical soundness will be crucial in having transportation. Just scratching our windows if we don’t keep wiping the blades with water is one of the many concerns. This is a good time to be a mechanic or mechanically inclined.
-use a cloth and water to frequently wipe down the blades in order to avoid scratching the windshield.
-The alternator will need to be cleaned with compressed air at the garage, every 500 miles or so for a few months, depending on the severity of the ash fallout and dust spreading.
-Wheel brake area will need to be cleaned every 50 to 100 miles during dire road conditions from ash fallout, again with compressed air.
-Have the air filter in the vehicle cleaned. You can also help clean it by blowing air from the inside out. Talk to a mechanic about cleaning it effectively however. And if you don’t have an air filter, you shouldn’t be driving the car.
-One of the more costly expenses due to the frequency needed, will be changing the oil and oil filters. This means you may need to change them every 50 to 100 miles, or every 400 depending on the severity of ash fallout. You do not want the engine ruined.
Stock up on water and cloths for the car, as you will need these to keep the windshield area and wipers cleaned.
-As with anyone involved in this type of cleanup, filter masks, respirators, goggles, and hats or another type of head cover will be not only helpful, but for most of those items, crucial in keeping your health.
Don’t travel unless absolutely necessary. Every department in towns and cities will be dealing with the same transportation issues but on a larger scale. Services will not be available or not available with the speed and efficiency you are accustomed to, so response times for police, ambulance, coast guard, military utilities and other government offices will be very slow or non-existent for a while so patience and innovative alternatives may be necessary.
