Winter driving can be some of the most dangerous throughout the year. Frigid temperatures, sleet, snow, and black ice can quickly turn roadways from passable to hazardous.
Even the best-prepared motorist who has kept up with vehicle maintenance and checked weather conditions may find themselves stranded in their car.
Best Supplies to Keep in Your Car’s Winter Emergency Kit
Impassable roadways that block the quick response of emergency personnel and freezing temperatures can make getting stranded in winter at best uncomfortable and at worst deadly. While it is essential to have an emergency kit in your car year-round, winter can necessitate a different list of items.
Keeping a few crucial things in an easily accessible area within your vehicle can help you shelter in place or potentially get on the move again with safety. It’s best to keep the items in a location where you do not need to exit the vehicle. Slippery surfaces and low visibility put you in greater danger if you leave your car, especially on a heavily traveled road.
If you find you might be stranded for a prolonged time, repeatedly opening your vehicle’s doors will lose precious heat from the interior. Here’s the best list of supplies to keep in your back seat.
Food and Water
Pack up a small bag containing a few water bottles and non-perishable snacks to sustain you as you wait for a tow or for roads to become passable again. Trail mix and protein bars are a good option as they are more filling than other snack foods.
In the worst-case scenario, you’ll want enough snacks to sustain you for a few days.
Warm clothing and blankets
If you find yourself in an extended traffic jam from a winter storm, it may be some time before roads are passable again. You will be stuck for longer than you’ll likely be able to keep your engine running, and therefore you’ll be out of a heater.
Pack some warm winter accessories like hats, gloves, and scarves to bundle up close to your body. And consider throwing a spare blanket or two to hold in more of your body heat.
Candle Heater
A simple candle can make for a surprisingly good heating method in a vehicle’s confined space. Make sure to have a small non-flammable container like a small bucket to protect your interior fixtures and prevent a fire, and don’t forget to include a lighter with the candle.
This heat source can help you conserve gas, and gives you some light in the darker hours.
First Aid Kit
If the bad weather involves a physical crash that has left you stranded, having a few basic first aid supplies can help you tend to minor injuries while waiting for emergency personnel. If possible, you should keep extra medication for chronic illnesses that require it.
Charged Phone and Notepad
Even if it is just a prepaid cell phone to make emergency calls or a charging bank for your own, making sure you have a fully charged phone is essential. You’ll need to contact emergency personnel, tow trucks, and your friends or family while stranded.
Keep a paper notepad handy with a list of phone numbers for tow services or mechanics in the area. It’ll save time and battery power to have that information immediately available. You may need to write down additional numbers or incident information, so keep it handy.
Emergency Tools
Tools are a bit of a broad bucket here, but having a few essential items can help get you back on the move again when the weather and roads begin to clear again. These likely won’t be helpful until you exit the vehicle; most can be stored in the trunk with no issue.
- Jumper cables or emergency charging kit for if your battery dies.
- Shovel, a bag of sand, or tire chains can get your tires some additional traction, and can help save you time and money on a tow.
- Ice scraper and snowbrush to clear your windows when you can drive again can help you avoid dangerous obstacles.
Flares and Emergency Signs
Winter conditions can reduce visibility. If you know the ETA of emergency personnel, having flares or reflective signs can help them locate you and your vehicle more easily. Reflective signs, or even brightly colored flags or fabric, can make your car easier to spot for other motorists as well and can help prevent further collisions.
What to Do if You Are Stranded
If you happen to find yourself stranded, remember to stay calm and let others know where you are as soon as possible.
- Contact 911 if you have been in a collision and are injured.
- If you find yourself stranded, stay in your vehicle and buckle up. You should only leave your car if you can see a building you know you can take refuge in and that there is no risk of being struck by another vehicle.
- Bundle up, but keep moving in your seat to increase body heat.
- If you still have gas run your car for about 10min every hour if the sun isn’t out to generate heat. If it has continued to snow, check your exhaust pipe is clear first, so fumes don’t build up.
On the Move Again
After you have been stranded for a prolonged period, it is a good idea to have your vehicle checked to make sure there was no significant damage to internal components, especially if a collision, even minor, occurred.
See us at First Aid Collision if you find yourself on the wrong end of winter weather this year. We specialize in auto body repairs, from body rebuilds and windshield replacements to dent repairs and scratch removals. Conveniently located in Arden, NC, near main roads and off a major highway, I-26, we provide shuttle service to and from a car rental company.
With free estimates, contact us today to set up an appointment.