A winter driving survival kit for your vehicle…and for you!
When you speak with many experts in most any field, they’ll tell you preparation is an important part of success. That’s no different when it comes to winter driving survival. I often speak of how to drive in poor winter weather, but this time it’s more about preparation.
Many drivers will often put some form of winter driving survival kit together, but I’m here to enhance it – if you’re up for it. Let’s start by splitting the kits into two groups; one for the vehicle and one for the driver and passengers. Let’s start with the vehicle kit.
To ensure you’re prepared to dig out your vehicle and keep you moving along, here’s what’s recommended to have in your vehicle kit. Start off with an ice scraper with brush, small shovel, booster cables, salt/sand mix, extra washer fluid, a flashlight, flares, liquid flat tire repair, a tow rope, fluorescent vest, lock de-icer (kept in your winter coat), a small tool kit and a squeegee. These are all vehicle related and can help you get unstuck, clear your vehicle in one way or another and also flag down any other motorist to provide help.
Most of these can easily fit into a duffle bag. The rest can sit on the floor of your trunk or cargo area. There’s also products that attaches to the back of the seat in minivans, SUV’s or crossover vehicles that can secure them and not create a distraction for the driver. Not bad, huh?
Now let’s look after you, because you’re important. Here are a few ideas to help you personally if you get stranded or to help better prepare you get your vehicle unstuck. Start off with the following; extra pair of gloves/mittens, extra winter hat, extra socks, two plastic bags (to put your dry feet in then into your boots –keeps your feet dry and also acts like an insulator), a candle with lighter or waterproof matches (for a little warmth and to melt snow if needed), container for the candle (such as a clean soup can with no sharp edges), first-aid kit, extra batteries for the flashlight (kept out of the flashlight in case they leak), scarf, long underwear (for those really cold nights), blanket, hand/feet warmers, dried foods for protein, a book (it may takes hours before you’re rescued) and finally; toilet paper (because sometimes you really, really need to go).
Most of these items you can find around your home so they won’t really cost you much. They also aren’t very large items so they can fit easily into a small bin with a lid. This too can easily fit into your trunk or cargo area.
I know this seems like a lot of things and perhaps they are. But if you’re leaving the city/town limits and get stuck in an area that may not have help nearby, these things can not only help you free yourself and allow you to continue on your way, but can also help you feel more comfortable while you’re waiting until help does come your way.
**For more winter driving tips, check HERE**
**If you would prefer to listen to a suggested list of items, here’s a short episode of the “Speed Bumps” podcast describing it!
Great Article, i was looking for a blog that had some kind of suggestions for the people in the car. It’s important to remember if your car won’t start you won’t have heat and in severe cold weather you could wait hours before help arrives. Better to be prepared rather than a statistic. Remember to pull off the road and stay in your vehicle until help arrives as long as it is safe to do so. You are safer in your car!