Winter Driving and Surviving

Here are some winter driving and preparedness tips I found.  I thought they'd be worth passing along. . .

Winter Driving Safety

Here are some suggestions for a winter car kit from the AAA:

• flashlight
• flares or reflective triangle
• distress sign
• telephone change
• first aid supplies
• basic tools
• a fully charged cell phone

Other recommended items are:

• boots
• hat
• coat
• gloves
• jumper cables
• carpet strips, sand or kitty litter for traction
• ice scraper and brush
• blanket
• chocolate candy (my favorite part)

• I also think it’s a good idea to store at least a couple of sleeping bagflashlight
• flares or reflective triangle, (or even some bright pieces of fabric that could be put on the vehicle to make it stand out, if stranded.
• distress sign
• telephone change
• first aid supplies  
• basic tools
• a fully charged cell phone

Other recommended items are:

• boots
• hat
• coat
• gloves
• jumper cables
• carpet strips, sand or kitty litter for traction
• ice scraper and brush
• blanket
• chocolate candy (my favorite part)

I also think it’s a good idea to store a sleeping bag or two in the car.  

How to Survive a Winter Storm...

Outside

• Seek some form of shelter immediately. Blowing winds can cause the wind chill to reduce your core body temperature to dangerous levels. The risk of frostbite and hypothermia increase every minute you are exposed to the cold weather.
• If you are wet, try to get dry. Lighting a small fire will not only provide warmth, but will enable your clothing to dry out.
• Deep snow can actually act as an insulation from the wind and cold temperatures. Digging a snow cave can actually save your life.
• Stay hydrated, but do not eat snow. You need to melt snow before eating it. Your body must still heat the ice and melt it. Instead, gather snow in some sort of vesicle and attach it to your body for a slow melting process. A canteen inside your coat, but not directly next to the skin will speed the melting process.

In a Car or Truck

• Never leave the vehicle. If you are stranded, the vehicle offers a form of protection from overexposure to the cold. A single person walking through the snow is also harder to find than a stranded car or truck.
• It is okay to run the car for short periods to provide some heat. Remember to crack the windows a small amount to allow for the circulation of fresh air. Dangerous exhaust fumes, including carbon monoxide, can build up very quickly. This is especially true if the tailpipe is buried in the snow.
• Keep yourself moving. A car offers little room for you to keep your blood flowing, but exercise is a must. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and move around as much as possible at least once an hour. In addition to keeping your body moving, keep your mind and spirit from wandering too far into gloom. While potentially dangerous situations are not a time of joy, keeping yourself from added stress will allow you to make smarter decisions when necessitated.
• Make the car visible for a rescue. Hang bits of bright colored cloth or plastic from the windows. If the snow has stopped falling, open the hood of the car as a signal of distress.

At Home

• If the electricity goes out, use an alternative form of heat with caution. Fireplaces and kerosene heaters can be dangerous without proper ventilation. Keep children away from any alternative heat source.
• Stick to one room for heat and close off unnecessary rooms in the house. Make sure there are no air leaks in the room. Keep sunlight streaming through the windows in the day, but block all windows at night.
• Keep hydrated and nourished in case the heat is out for an extended period. An unhealthy body will be more susceptible to the cold than a healthy one.
• Pets must also be protected from the cold. When temperatures drop below freezing, outdoor pets should be moved indoors or to a sheltered area to protect them from the cold.