Winter Car Kit, Midwest Edition

Every winter in the Midwest, people get stuck: a whiteout on the interstate, a slide into a ditch on a county road, a pileup that closes the highway for hours. The ones who come through it fine are the ones who had a kit in the trunk. Put yours together now, before the first storm.

01The core kit

• Warmth: wool or fleece blankets or a sleeping bag, extra hats, gloves, socks, and boots if you commute in dress shoes.
• Hand and foot warmers (the air-activated kind).
• Water and food: a few bottles of water (store them where they won't freeze solid and burst, or leave room in the bottle) and high-calorie snacks: granola bars, nuts, peanut butter crackers.
• Light: a flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries.
• Phone power: a charged power bank and a car charger cable.
• First-aid kit and any medicines you need daily.

02Get-unstuck gear

• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Compact shovel
• Sand, kitty litter or traction mats for traction under your tires
• Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
• Tow strap
• Reflective triangles or flares to warn other drivers

03Small things that matter

• Brightly colored cloth to tie to the antenna or door so rescuers see you
• Paper map if cell service drops
• Whistle
• Extra windshield washer fluid rated for winter

04Keep the tank full

Keep it at least half full all winter. A full tank keeps fuel lines from freezing and gives you heat if you're stranded.

05If you get stuck

1. Stay with the car unless help is visible and very close. A car is easier to find than a person, and it's shelter.
2. Call for help and tell them exactly where you are.
3. Keep the tailpipe clear of snow. A blocked exhaust can push carbon monoxide into the car.
4. Run the engine about 10 minutes an hour for heat, with a window cracked slightly, then shut it off.
5. Turn on the dome light when the engine runs so you're visible, and save the battery otherwise.
6. Move your arms and legs to keep blood flowing, and stay awake if you can.

06Before you leave

Check the forecast and road conditions, tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive, and don't push through a storm when you could wait it out.

A plastic bin of gear in the trunk is cheap. A night in a ditch without it is dangerous. Pair this with your home plan: see why it's often best to stay home the first 72 hours.

Source (1)

Ready.gov: Winter weather.

Photo: Car into ditch bad winter weather hwy 404 south near stouffville rd Jan08 by Theonlysilentbob, CC BY-SA 3.0.