If you drive in an area that gets heavy snow and ice in the winter, you know that you need to be careful about what you pack in your car every time you leave the house. You can’t just have your cell phone and expect that help will arrive. If you get into an accident or get stuck in snow, help could be many hours away depending on the weather and how many other people need help. If the help gets stuck as well, or is busy helping a long line of people all struggling with the weather, you may be sitting for a long time.
You need to have an essential emergency kit that includes things for your car and things to keep you comfortable in the winter. These items can help you stay safe and warm during the wait for help, or potentially even help you fix things on your own. Wondering how you can build a kit like this of your own, so that you can drive comfortably all winter long? Here are a few winter driving kit essentials to always have on hand as soon as the cold weather hits:
Items for the Vehicle
The first thing you need to pack is a collection of items for your vehicle. These should include things like:
- Jumper cables or a spare battery charger, to get a boost if your battery dies
- Windshield wiper fluid, to ensure that you can brush away snow or falling ice
- Antifreeze for your radiator, to keep the engine from overheating or being damaged by freezing fluids
- All the tools you need to change a flat tire, including a spare, in the event that the weather gets the better of a tire
- A vehicle fire extinguisher, just in case any overheating gets critical
- An ice scraper to get snow and ice off the windows
- A shovel and either sand, road salt, or kitty litter to help your car gain traction on ice
These are items that ensure that your vehicle will be able to face the most common issues of driving in the winter – namely, that the view is obscured, the battery has lost charge or that fluids have frozen in the car. Consider what you typically have the most problem with based on your car and weather, and put anything you need to tackle those issues in your winter emergency kit. Remember, you can’t count on help getting to you in terrible conditions, so be sure you consider how you can get yourself out of a jam.
Items for You
The other part of the picture when it comes to a winter essentials kit for the car is yourself and your passengers. You need to make sure that you can stay warm, fed, and hydrated while you wait for help in an emergency. You may want to bring:
- Extra clothes, especially socks, gloves, and a hat, so that you can stay warm and dry.
- Lots of blankets, or an electric car blanket to keep you warm.
- Water bottles for hydration.
- MREs or other prepared food that won’t spoil to prevent hunger if you are stranded for a long time.
- A first aid kit, to ensure that you stay injury-free. Bandages, antiseptic, and any medications that you need to survive should be included in this kit.
- Hand warmers that can make your pockets very warm for about 24 full hours.
- A flashlight that can help you change tires or just feel not so alone in the dark while you wait for help.
These are things that are meant to keep you alive and mostly comfortable while you wait for help. Your primary concerns are heat and hydration, though food could also become an issue. You may also want to pack things like extra identification and an emergency credit card if you are concerned that you are travelling too far from home.
Items for Extreme Emergencies
In addition to the items above, it’s always a good idea to think further ahead and formulate a plan for what you might do in extreme emergencies. If there were ever an accident that caused very unusual circumstances, you may not want to be without:
- A flare gun with flares
- A battery-operated radio that can transmit as well as receive
- A tow strap
- A basic tool kit for repairs
- Extra oil and all other car fluids
- Portable phone battery
- Security chains for your tires so that you can drive in ice or snow
- Cones to put on the road around your car
- Owner’s manuals for your car
- Strobe light or battery powered light
- Extra batteries for the flashlight and other items
These are items that you’ll likely only need in an extreme emergency. While they may not be necessarily required items, they are definitely going to give you peace of mind as you drive in the ice or snow. And when you do need them, you’ll be happy that you took the time to add them to your kit.
Car Kits Make It Easier
If you loved the idea of all the things listed above, but aren’t sure that you can collect all those things before the next big snowfall, you can also order pre-packed car essentials kits for winter. These kits carry most of the essential items that you’ll need for winter driving. If you prefer to have something in the car fast while your busy life continues, you can have these kits delivered to you in just a couple of days, so that you don’t even have to worry. Here’s a great example from AAA, which includes 65 items meant to help you survive a breakdown or accident in the winter.
Summary
The best winter car essentials will vary depending on what type of driving you do. If you drive long distances in the winter, you’ll need more items than if you don’t leave your town much. The key with building an essential winter driving kit is to determine your needs and the probable issues you’ll face. For example, you may know that you’ll need something to warm you while you wait for help, and something to drink. You may also know that you need a certain medication every day at the same time. However, you may decide that you don’t drive far enough away from home that you wouldn’t just walk back home in the event of a breakdown – so instead, maybe you just need a spare pair of warm socks and winter gear, and a really good shovel.
You do want to make sure that you’ve got items on hand for your car, however. Extra fluids, extra sources of power, and tools to help you get the snow and ice off your car, are all very important for keeping the vehicle running smoothly. Additionally, you may want to add some winter-specific extras, like winter chains for your tires, a way for someone to see you so they can find you, and more. If you bring a flashlight, be sure you have extra batteries.
Once you have your essential winter kit all packed up, put it in your car and leave it there! Don’t raid it for something unrelated, or take it out to make room for groceries. As long as it is still snowy and icy outdoors, you need this kit to stay with you for emergencies. Be sure that you check your kit every few months to replace expired products and refill anything that got used before. Use these tips to build your own winter essentials kit.
