Fix a flat (not the product, but the process)
Last Sunday En and I were out for a quick walk after dinner. We didn't get more than three houses down the street before we heard a car coming down the street making a great ruckas. Shortly afterward it became apparent what the noise was: the left rear tire had no air at all and was flapping around. Subsequently we smelled it as well -- the odor of burnt rubber blanketing the street. It was obvious that either the driver didn't know or care about the problem.
We looked at each other for a moment then waved our arms furiously to get their attention. It work and the white Acura came to a stop.
Running up we found a young lady that didn't know she had a problem. I have all the requisite tools in the garage so I offered to show her how to change the tire (ok, for the pedants out there, it's a wheel with a tire mounted, most people don't change just a tire) Thankfully she agreed (I hate to watch something get destroyed, and the wheel would certainly be damaged in just a few more minutes).
Pulling up to the garage she was quite nervous - I'm guessing the stranger danger phenomenon was programmed into her as well. We introduced ourselves while I got the tools out. Katelyn was coming home from work and had a year's worth of locker crap in the trunk. After unloading we found that she in fact did have a spare tire that she didn't know about. Looking at the tire it was easy to see why it was flat: I could stick my fingers through holes in the sidewall of it! She said there was a bubble in the sidewall in the morning and then it just went flat. I'm guessing the tire got all cozy with a curb the night before and that was the root cause of the problem.
Changing the wheel was easy with the right tools. Having a proper set of tools (not the crap that comes with the car) makes the job a breeze, thought the crap tools are serviceable as well. As an added bonus I inflated the spare to the proper pressure as well since it was only half-way there. ("I knew I should have gotten that spare tire fixed!")
Hopefully she learned how to do it for next time. In a nutshell, here's the process:
Car in park and hand brake applied
Get out the tools and spare tire
They might be in the trunk, under the back of the car/truck, under a rear seat. The manufacturers can get tricky with where they put it!
Jack up the corner of the car a bit
Make sure you jack the car up at the right spot! Look under the car for some odd protrusions near each corner; those are likely the jack points that are connected to the frame. If you have any doubt, check the owner's manual (i.e. don't sue me!)
Break the lug nuts/bolts free. If they are stuck it helps to put the wrench on so you are pulling up rather than pushing down; you can lift with your legs a lot better!
Jack up the rest of the way
Remove bolts/nuts
Take off old wheel and put on the other one
Replace the bolts/nuts
Torque them as best as you can
Lower the car most of the way
Tighten them again (the added friction between the tire and ground helps to prevent the wheel from spinning). Put a little of your weight into it, but don't jump and up down on the wrench.
Lower all the way
Check the pressure in the tire and adjust as necessary if you have a way to do that
Stash the flat tire in the spot the spare was and put away the tools
Done!
Upshot: I've had people help me when I needed a hand. The biggest thing is the time I was stranded in Red Bay, Labrador and the Earle's helped me out with a room after the "incident" last year. Ya got to pay it forward. It makes you feel good if nothing else.