If you should ever get locked out of your car, here are two tips that you might find helpful.
Search specifically for a locksmith in your local town or city
In order to gain access to your locked car, you will need to arrange for a mobile locksmith to travel to the area where your car is parked and change its locks.
When you use your phone to search online for a locksmith, it's important to include the name of the town or city where your car is parked, along with the word 'mobile locksmith' (for example, if your car is located in Hobart, you should search for 'Hobart mobile locksmith').
The reason for this is as follows; if you select a locksmith at random, instead of looking specifically for one that operates in the local area, the person you call may end up being very far away from where your car is parked. This could result in you having to wait a long time for them to reach you.
Having to wait an hour or two for the locksmith to arrive could potentially increase your risk of being hurt or falling ill. For example, if your vehicle happens to be parked in a neighbourhood that has high crime rates and you are forced to wait outside for a long time, you may end up being targeted by an opportunistic thief.
Likewise, if it happens to be a very hot day when you get locked out, and it takes a couple of hours for the locksmith to reach you, you could end up becoming severely dehydrated or developing heatstroke.
Conversely, if you limit your search to mobile locksmiths in your local area, the person you contact should be able to reach you very quickly. This short waiting period should help to minimise the risk of anything unfortunate happening to you during the time it takes for them to arrive.
Protect yourself from the elements
As mentioned above, having to stand outside on a hot day could put you at risk of heatstroke and dehydration (as well as sunburn). Being stranded outdoors on a cold or rainy day could be equally problematic, as it could increase your chances of developing hypothermia.
As such, if you get locked out of your car, it's important to take steps to protect yourself from the elements until the locksmith arrives.
If the temperatures are very high, you should try to find some water and shade. If you're in the centre of a town or city, you may be able to simply pop into a nearby cafe and sip on a cold drink in there until the locksmith reaches you.
However, if your car is located in a rural area and there is no cafes or shops nearby, you should look for a shady spot underneath a tree.
If it's extremely cold and there are no indoor places that you can wait, you should try to remain physically active until the locksmith gets there (by, for example, walking up and down the road on which your car is parked), as this will help to keep your blood flowing and prevent you from becoming dangerously cold.
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