by Gary Maclean

Created on: November 23, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2011

The winter months can bring some beautiful yet often dangerous weather and road conditions. For those of us in areas of the country, or the world for that matter, that go through snowy winter seasons, it's important to be prepared. In almost every winter region, there will be stories of people freezing to death because they did not anticipate car trouble. If we intend on driving anywhere during any type of winter weather, we need to have a good, simple survival kit ready and waiting. 

It's not like we need to prepare for a month trapped in a glacier, although that does happen. We do need to be ready for the inopportune flat tire or empty gas tank, in the country, in weather that cannot, or should not, be walked in. Typically, if we can plan on a survival kit that will hold us over for the night, we should be OK.  

The first rule would be to not travel, by yourself, in those areas that are more than just inconvenient. If you insist on going places where everyone knows civilization is not to be found for miles around, then you need to bring an extra car battery and have your cell phone and citizens band radio, primed and ready. The emergency kit I am going to describe is not meant to take care of you in those conditions. It is intended only for those accidental slides into the ditch and other mild inconveniences. 

Car emergency kits are available already packaged. They generally contain a little bit of everything. Prices range from about $30 to upwards of $80. What these kits generally do not take into account is your ability to do some of the tasks the contents are intended to perform. Can you tune up a vehicles engine? Are you capable of patching a radiator water hose? Would you be able to change a flat tire? These kits are fine but I think you can do yourself a favor by putting something together from things around the house. 

Just in case your un-planned for situation causes any sort of harm to any of the passengers, your kit should also include a well stocked first aid kit. I highly recommend purchasing a first aid kit that has already been put together for you rather than trying to assemble one yourself. Mainly, because they are so economical; first aid kits will range from between $5 and $15. They will be nicely stocked for all your medical needs.  

You should concentrate on an emergency winter survival kit that is not provisioned to allow you to build a new vehicle out on the road, but one that will allow you to

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>