With colder weather fast approaching, now is the time to get prepared. So when it comes to putting together a car kit for the winter months, what types of things do you need to consider?
For any type of preparedness, it’s best to start by thinking of the types of situations you could get yourself into. When the weather is cold and snowy, we need to consider preparedness for a variety of situations:
- If you are in a car accident
- If you get stuck in traffic for an extended period of time
- If your car gets stuck the ditch
- If you get snowed in or your car doesn’t start
We may think that it is easy to call a tow truck for help, but on busy snow days, it can take time for a tow truck to arrive and you could potentially be stuck for a few hours.
There are some items that are always good to have in your car kit:
- Basic first aid supplies with seatbelt cutter
- Flare (or LED flare)
- Jumper cables (to help yourself or others!)
- A wind up flashlight
- Cell phone charger/backup battery
- Fire extinguisher (if you are trained to use one)
When we add the cold and poor weather conditions into the mix, we need to add to that basic kit:
- Hats
- Mittens
- Scarves
- Blanket
- Emergency candle
- Tow strap
- Shovel
- Sand, salt or cat litter (non-clumping)
Even if you are going from one parking garage to another and you don’t feel you need to dress for outdoor temperatures, it is important to have warm clothes in your car in case you get stuck.
The items mentioned above are for the average family, travelling in mostly urban areas. If you live in a remote area or do a lot of travelling where help may be further away, it is a good idea to add food that won’t spoil (like granola bars), and water in a plastic bottle.
When you’re driving in the winter months, it is that much more important to keep your cell phone charged and your gas tank full, just in case.
If you take the time to be prepared, you’re in a good spot when you get into a tricky situation, and you are also in a position to be able to help someone else if they get into one!
Need some help with putting together an emergency kit? Reach out to us, we would be happy to work with you.