ALT-4 What to Include in a Vehicle Winter Emergency Kit

Stories abound of drivers caught off guard in a winter storm - got lost in a blizzard - and did not survive.  Winter can be unforgiving and it does not care how much money one has, what kind of car is driven or who the driver is.  What  a driver knows is key to surviving being stranded in a car during bad weather.

One thing to contemplate if traveling during winter months is always expect the unexpected.  Being prepared should not just be the Boy Scout’s motto, but good advice for anyone.  Never assume that just because the weather forecast doesn’t call for bad weather that things can’t change quickly.

Some of the most important things to include in a car winter emergency kit are:

1.  A spare tire.  Of course this isn’t a staple of a boxed-emergency-kit, but it’s important to remember while traveling that one of the most common challenges winter driver’s face is a flat tire.  Depending on location, having a flat tire during bad weather without a spare can be deadly .

2.  A flare:  Car trouble can be dangerous to other drivers, especially in a storm where visibility is low.

3.  A flash light with good batteries.  Not wearing down the car battery by using the headlights (when the car is parked safely off the road of course) is important.  So having a good flashlight with working batteries is a must.

4.  Water.  The body can go for quite a long time without food, but it can’t survive long without water.  Never start out on a road trip without at least enough water to drink for three days.  Drink the water sparingly so it will last in the event help is slow coming.

5.  Emergency Mylar thermal blankets.  These blankets are very thin and compact and can be folded and stored in small spaces.  But when it comes to keeping the body warm they are invaluable.

6.  Medical kit.  The basics in a medical kit should include alcohol for cleansing, some kind of antibacterial cream like Neosporin, band aids, a fever reducer like aspirin, or Tylenol,

7.  High protein food source:  Protein bars, granola mix and trail mix with nuts are easy to store and high in nutritional value.  Again, depending on the location and duration of the situation, eat sparingly so the food lasts as long as it needs to before rescue.

8.  A cell phone and car charger. Having a cell phone and charger has saved many lives on the road.  However, if there isn’t a cell tower close by, the cell phone may be of little or no value.  Walking a short distance may make all the difference in the world, though,when it comes to reception, just don't wander off too far unless absolutely necessary.

9.  Matches or a lighter.  In rare cases, lighting a fire to keep warm may be the only chance of survival.  Although it’s impractical to carry kindling around, usually in emergencies people have things they would be willing to burn if their life depended on it.  Don’t overlook that book you brought along to read in your leisure time - a source of fuel for a fire, or that newspaper sitting in the back seat.

10.  A clear head.  The most important thing for surviival in a desperate situation during winter travels is not becoming so overwhelmed it's imossible to think straight.  After the initial fear wears off, stop, take a deep breath, and try to relax  Survival mode kicks in automatically when something ike this happens, and the wasted energy of panicing can be better used figuring out what to do next.

Of course, things like gloves are important and jumper cables in the event of a dead battery.  But being in a place with little traffic, a portable battery charger that can be hooked to cables can come in handy. For those who want to be even more prepared, there are websites that offer many tools for an emergency kit.  Some may sound like a good idea at the time, but will most likely never be necessary.  So if working from a limited budget think about what is vital for survival in the most dire of circumstances and what will most likely not be necessary for short term survival in the event winter driving plans take a detour.

Related Articles

• When to Change the Oil in your Vehicle
• Is Ethanol Damaging to certain Types of Vehicles
• Bmw Embraces Electric Cars with an i Series of Vehicles Begining with the I3
• How Electric Vehicles are Changing the Standard for 21st Century Automobiles
• Car Clocking and how to Avoid it when Purchasing a Vehicle