by L.S. Watts

Created on: January 15, 2011

When preparing your vehicle for the winter months, you should not only consider vehicle maintenance but consider packing your vehicle for emergency scenarios as well. Winter causes all sorts of problems for vehicles as well as the roads traveled on. Preparing for emergencies can make a big difference in surviving.

Some emergencies can be as simple as a stalled vehicle or being stuck in the snow and ice. Other emergencies can be an accident in which you will have to possibly wait extended periods of time before assistance arrives. Regardless of the severity of the delay, there are some items to pack in your vehicle or the trunk of your vehicle that will be helpful in any given scenario.

Warm Clothing - Having a spare set of warm clothes may come in handy if you become stranded for any length of time. Snow and ice is wet and it is never a good idea to stay in wet clothes. It also a good idea to have extra hats, gloves, and scarves handy in case of travel delays. Hand warmers are great to have in your vehicle.

Bedding - Keeping spare blanket or sleeping bag in the vehicle may come in handy if you become stranded for a long period of time or just waiting for assistance to arrive. This will provide you an extra layer of warmth to prevent your body temperature from dropping.

Food - Storing nonperishable, easy to open food in the vehicle is a great idea to have on hand if you are waiting for assistance for a long period of time. Some food suggestions include energy bars, dried fruit, and nuts. Make sure you rotate the food each week. You wouldn’t want to find yourself stranded with a stale energy or granola bar.

Water - Keeping bottle water on hand is great too. Just be aware that it may freeze overnight so this is something to add as you leave the house unless you plan for a way to melt the water. Some people have stored water in a cooler to keep it from freezing due to outside temperatures. If ice does form, some people use their vehicle’s heater to melt the water.

Flashlight - No matter what the season, keeping a flashlight in the vehicle is a smart idea. This is a handy tool in almost any occasion. But if you have a light colored vehicle and it has just slid into a ditch, not many people may see you because you blend in. Flashlights can be used to signal to people that you need help. You could even choose to pack a lantern style light in addition to the traditional style flashlight. If you are looking for more of a hands-free light source, consider

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