These past few weeks have been cold. Overnight temperatures in the teens and sometimes even in the single digits. Who wants to be stuck in the cold off guard?

As we are in the middle of winter and battling through a cold stretch it is important to be prepared for ALL conditions. Not just for your home, but also in your car. If your car suddenly dies, would you be prepared to wait for help in below freezing temperatures, perhaps even in the dark? Having a kit tucked away in your trunk or back seat is important so that if needed, you can survive until help arrives. Get yourself a good container at your local hardware store and keep everything you need to get you through an emergency.

Battery charger for your car with jumper cables

The first thing you will want to put in is something to keep you warm. Having an extra jacket, blankets, or even a down sleeping bag in your car can save you from getting frostbite or even hyperthermia. Keeping your body temperature warm can save your life. I am sure you have a spare jacket or extra blankets in your linen closet that you can throw into the container.

Another thing you should have is some food and water. Preferably, you should choose non perishable food that you can keep in your car, but also good to keep a couple snack bars in your school or work bag as well when you travel.

Most people have a mobile phone with them in the car. Make sure you have a way to charge it even if your car isn’t running. Having a mobile battery backup is important just in case things take longer or you have to stay overnight. Many places sell a car battery with power ports and jumper cable set so you can restart your engine without another car as well. That’s another thing to consider, jumper cables.

So far you have warmth, food, water, and extra power for your phone. Those things are a great first step in creating an emergency kit for your car or home. But what if something else happened to you or it's dark. That leads to the next set of items to keep in your kit.

A flashlight. If it’s dark outside then there's nothing better than light. If you do keep a flashlight then make sure you have batteries or a way to charge it with your battery pack via USB.

A first aid kit. You might be stuck, but you or the people you're with might also be hurt. Having a basic first aid kit to stop bleeding and minimize further health effects is important until help arrives.

Lastly, keep chains, a shovel, and some sand or cat litter in your car to help you get unstuck and gain traction on snowy and icy roads. There are things you can do to prevent getting stuck like having proper tires and driving slower, but accidents can happen so it’s important to be prepared for the worst.

Being able to stay warm and call for help is the first order of business and then being able to care for any injuries and getting unstuck with tow ropes and chains is the next. So during this winter keep warm and take the necessary precautions to stay safe in the event of an emergency at home or on the road.

What to Keep In Your Winter Preparedness Kit

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