Winter is here, which brings its own share of fun and frustration in equal measure. As the cold winds blow through town and snow starts to fall more often than rain, the roads become more difficult to traverse. Heading to work or the store becomes more difficult while visiting family or friends any distance over 10 miles can be a stressful ordeal. On top of that, depending on the weather, disaster can strike at a moment’s notice. A patch of ice catches your car by surprise or your tire loses traction in the snow and suddenly you're stranded on the side of the road.
Keeping yourself and your family safe in the winter is the most important thing you can do, which is why creating a winter emergency car kit is so necessary. This way, if anything happens to you or your loved ones on the road, you have some form of recourse. Anything that improves your odds of rescue or survival against the winter elements is a win for you and your family. In order to prepare your car for winter, your kit should include a few vital components to cover any potential problem you could encounter in your driveway or on the road.
Ice Scraper/Snow Brush
It wouldn’t be a winter emergency car kit without the handy, usually 2-in-1, ice scraper and snow brush. One of the most useful tools you can have in your vehicle, these multipurpose tools keep your car clean when the snow starts to pile up.
Typically, large volumes of snow will result in ice forming on your windshields as the lowest layer of snow begins to melt. If this is left long enough, it can take ages to warm up the car and get all the ice melted. If you have to get somewhere in a hurry, like work, it can be a frustrating experience. The ice scraper will speed up the process and keep your windshields clear.
On the other hand, unearthing your car from the snow can be a hassle without a brush. Doing it by hand is time consuming, so why not use a tool to get it done quicker? Not only can you quickly clear away snow for visibility, but you can clean off the top of your vehicle to prevent the formation of dangerous ice. Ice on top of your car can fall off while you’re on the road and potentially damage vehicles behind you if you aren’t careful.
Sand/Cat Litter/Salt
Cold weather brings snow and snow is notorious for having poor traction. If you don’t have cold weather or all terrain tires, you’re at the mercy of mother nature. If your tires can’t find purchase, they’ll end up spinning without actually going anywhere.
This is why a proper car snow kit isn’t complete without a bag of sand, cat litter, or salt. If possible, you can mix salt with your sand to get a better mixture for traction. Sand and cat litter are gritty, easily transported substances that can be poured under your tires in a pinch to give you enough purchase to move again.
Salt similarly can be used to magnify the sun’s warmth and melt surrounding snow enough to give you space to move. It also doubles as another way to gain enough traction to get unstuck. You can read up on additional tips for checking your tires and staying safe during inclement weather conditions through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
First Aid Kit
Since danger can strike when you least expect, coming prepared is in your best interest. Depending on where you live you could run into a deer, get into a fender bender, or slide off the road and get injured. When this happens, help may not arrive until a few hours out, especially if the weather is bad.
Scenarios like this are why it’s important to keep a first aid kit handy. You can easily disinfect and treat cuts and bruises or fix slightly larger injuries with traditional first aid kits to buy yourself more time for first responders to reach you. Treat your injuries, stay warm, and sit tight until help arrives. Among the things you should always have in your car, this is one of the most important.
Blanket
Speaking of staying warm, your car is just a metal case with wheels. Most cars don’t have any form of insulation, so if you get stranded on the side of the road, you have to rely on the on-board heat to keep you warm. What happens when the car runs out of gas or the battery dies?
Having one or two blankets in the trunk or backseat can save your life if it’s cold enough out. Since it can potentially take hours for emergency responders to arrive, you can stay warm if your car shuts off for whatever reason. If you’re low on gas, you can also turn off the vehicle and still stay warm despite losing the heat.
Jumper Cables
A common emergency in winter weather is your car battery dying. Cold weather causes the chemical reaction in your battery to conduct slower, which leads to your vehicle stalling out or dying. This can happen before you even get on the road or during transit, with either occasion being unfortunate for everyone involved.
If someone stops to help or you manage to call in roadside assistance, it’s in your best interest to have a pair of jumper cables to help get your car up and running again. Leaving it up to chance that your rescuer has a pair on them is reckless and could leave you just as stuck as before, but with the added frustration of being so close to rescue yet so far.
Cell Phone Charger
One of the most frustrating emergency situations is when you end up stranded on the side of the road with no way to call for help. You didn’t forget to bring your phone, you simply didn’t charge it earlier. You figured 20% was enough to get you to the store and back, but now that you’re in a pinch, you wish you would have taken the time to charge it beforehand.
Prepare your car for the worst that winter has to offer by bringing a spare phone charger. It can be a lifesaver in a pinch and generally useful for long trips. Don’t get stuck on the side of the road without a life raft when you could have a simple charging cable stashed away in your glovebox.
Your Winter Car Essentials
Stay safe and be cognizant of the weather. All it takes is one small mistake for you to end up stranded on the side of the road and nobody wants to end up in that scenario. Take time to invest in setting up your winter road trip essentials, find somewhere to store them in your vehicle, and drive with the peace of mind you deserve. If you need any assistance, the Eureka Fire Protection District is here to lend a hand.
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