When you are taking a long driving trip during the winter, it is best to be prepared for any emergency. Across different areas of the country, you may experience winter weather ranging from rain to snow and ice. Getting stranded in severe weather systems can often be prevented by checking the road conditions and weather forecast for the areas you are traveling in ahead of time, but even the phone-in road condition numbers for each area are not always accurate, You can be hit with a sudden dangerous weather front and it is a good idea to travel with supplies in case of bad weather. Plan ahead and be safe.
Things You'll Need
- First aid kit
- Personal medications
- Blankets
- Pillow
- Warm clothes
- Warm shoes
- Gloves
- Hat
- Scarf
- Jacket
- Change of clothes
- Extra socks
- Towels
- Food
- Liquids
- Bottled water
- Themos of hot drink or soup
- Flares
- Flashlights
- Matches
- Heavy leather work gloves
- Snow chains
- Coilapsible shovel
- Emergency road sign
- Cell phone
- Car cell phone charger
- Maps
- Addresses
- List of emergency numbers
- Pad of paper and pen
Tips For You
- Make sure you have a first aid kit in your car. Also, carry any personal medications you need with you. If you get stranded somewhere and need to take daily meds, you don’t want to be stuck without them.
- Pack blankets and a pillow. This bedding will help to keep you warm in an emergency. You may not be able to keep your car heater running, so you need to be able to stay warm. The car will protect you from the direct elements but the temperatures may drop to below zero, so you'll welcome the extra protection.
- Wear warm clothes and shoes. Bring along gloves, a hat, scarf and a change of clothes, especially socks. If you have to be outside at all if you get stranded, you don’t want to be wearing wet clothing that will dangerously lower your body temperature. Bring towels to dry off with if you get wet.
- Bring food and liquids with you, including bottled water. Make sure there is enough to last you at least 3 or 4 days, in case you get stuck somewhere. Pack a variety of food, such as fresh fruit, sandwiches, hard boiled eggs and dried goods like nuts, dried fruit, pretzels and so forth. Bring a couple of thermoses full of hot coffee, soup, cocoa or tea.
- Be prepared for emergencies. Make sure you have flares, flashlights and matches and even toilet paper. Bring a pair of heavy leather work gloves with you for changing tires, putting snow chains on or digging in the snow or mud. If you are going into snowy areas, bring the correct sized chains for your car and pack a collapsible snow shovel. They don’t take up a lot of room and you can dig yourself out of the snow or free your tires from snow drifts if needed. Also, carry an emergency road sign that you can stick in your car window if you get stuck somewhere.
- Keep your cell phone with you and make sure it is fully charged. You can buy a car charger for your cell phone and keep the phone plugged in while you drive. If you get stranded somewhere and the car won't start, use the cell phone sparingly to call for emergency help and to let people know where you are. You may hit areas where cell phone access is not an option. Be aware there many areas of the country where the cell phone won’t pick up a signal.
- Bring along all necessary paperwork, like maps for any route you are taking, addresses and phone numbers, such as to your insurance company, family members, emergency contacts, local highway patrol and road access numbers. Let someone know where you are going and which routes you are taking before you leave. Also, keep a pad of paper and a pen handy and bring cash and credit cards.
