WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — All over the country it is hot.
Whether you are braving the scorching temperatures to get your workouts in or the heat has got you laid out, one thing is certain — you probably do not want to deal with the temperature on the side of the road.
About 40 people this weekend in Monroe County did, after their Megabus broke down on the side of I-75 on Sunday.
"You know if you're not properly equipped with hydration or some type of something to keep the sun off of you then you're in for a bad day," Warner Robins Police Officer Greg Martin said.
It is the kind of day Gary Hickman would rather avoid.
"We're on our way back from Florida, we went down to see our son," Hickman said.
Hickman, his wife, and his dog were stopped at a Perry gas station when 13WMAZ caught up with them.
They are headed all the way to Ohio and they hit the road prepared.
"I have an emergency kit," he said.
Hickman said the kit is full of emergency items like jumper cables to restart a car battery and flares to signal for help in case of a breakdown.
Martin says the Hickmans have the right idea.
"Especially for long trips, always have something like that," he said.
Martin says there are simple steps you can take to make it less likely you'll need an emergency kit.
According to him, most breakdowns stem from one of two problems.
"Generally, nine times out of ten — especially on the interstate or something like that — you see a car on the side of the road it's because it's either got a flat tire or it's overheated," Martin said.
Martin says a simple tire pressure check before hitting the road can help drivers avoid most of those issues.
He suggests checking under the hood to make sure all the car's fluids are topped off to avoid engine overheating.
Having a backup plan is a good idea too. Martin says keeping a couple gallons of bottled water in the trunk is helpful.
"If you do break down on the side of the road, you got it for drinking," he said. "Or you can put it in the vehicle if it's an overheating situation."
Martin says you can usually pour some water into the radiator for a shot term solution to engine overheating.
It is important to wait until the engine has cooled down before you do that though. Waiting 20 to 30 minutes should do the trick.
This method will usually cool the engine down enough to let you drive a few miles to a safe area.
Martin also says it is a good idea to check the engine's fans and belts for cracks before leaving on a road trip.
If you do end up stranded on the side of the road and you can not get help quickly, Martin says you should call 911.