Winter Weather Prep Kit

Having a winter weather kit in your car can make the difference between being slightly inconvenienced and being in trouble. People who are unprepared for their car breaking down or being stuck could suffer hypothermia or find themselves very hungry while waiting to be rescued. A winter weather kit should be put together and kept in the car before the winter weather hits.

The Kit

A good winter weather kit for the car will have the following essential items:

• A bag of sand, cat litter or other small-particle item to provide traction for tires in the event the vehicle becomes stuck.
• A small shovel to remove excess snow that can accumulate around the tires.
• Windshield scraper to keep the windshield free of ice.
• Individual water packets to keep hydrated.
• Snack food with a long shelf life.
• Extra hats, gloves/mittens and socks to keep extremities dry and warm.
• Fleece or wool blankets for added warmth and comfort.

This is in addition to the emergency kit that is kept in the vehicle year-round and contains items such as a flashlight, battery-powered radio, batteries, first aid kit, tow chain or rope, booster cables, emergency flares and fluorescent distress flags. In today's high-tech world, it is also ideal to keep a car cell phone charger in the vehicle so there is a way to contact emergency personnel.

Communication

It is ideal to stay home during inclement weather, but if traveling is necessary, it is best to communicate to someone the destination, route and expected arrival time in the event there is an accident or the car is stuck along the way. Travel during the day, if at all possible, as there is usually more traffic passing that can assist if the car breaks down or becomes stuck in a snow drift.

Winterize the Vehicle

It is important to make sure the vehicle is in proper working order for cold winter months. Bald tires slide easily on icy roads, so make sure the tire treads are adequate for the standard winter road conditions. Windshield wipers should also be able to handle the snow and ice that can accumulate and prevent drivers from seeing the road. Checking the fluids, filters and gauges to ensure they are in proper working order will help avoid low antifreeze levels, lack of heat and congealed oil that can cause the car to break down while traveling.


Being prepared for winter weather driving is the best way to prevent a bad situation from being worse. Adding winter-ready items to the emergency kit in the car, winterizing the vehicle and communicating travel plans are easy steps to take to ensure the safety of everyone traveling with you in winter weather.