Essential Winter Survival

With major snowstorms hitting several areas of the country over the past week or two, there are some major tips to keep in mind while out in the cold or traveling. You don't want to be caught stranded in a snowstorm or a blizzard, but if you are, be prepared for the worst!

Drive Carefully! The number one thing that motorists can do if out driving in the snow and ice is to drive cautiously and carefully. In the winter weather, you should leave at least three times your normal room that you usually have between you and the car in front of you. The same rule also applies to stopping distance. It is best to allow three times as much stopping distance as is normal for dry conditions. This way, in case your car does fishtail or almost take a dive off the road you'll be able to recover before you actually have to stop.

However, if you do get stranded somewhere, do not panic! Help is just around the corner, but in the meantime, it would be good to have a few items on hand just in case it will be awhile until help arrives. Carrying a spare blanket in the back of your car or your trunk will provide warmth in case you are traveling without a coat or warm clothes.

Also putting a shovel into the back of your vehicle would not be a bad idea. If you are stranded on the side of the road and snow is coming at you fast and heavy, you'll be able to dig yourself out before it's too late.

Jumper cables and a self-sustaining battery are next on the list. Just in case your car decides to take a cold spell and not start during your next startup, you'll have these items on hand if you need extra power for your car. A self-sustaining battery can charge to your lighter if you have one; these are an excellent product to have on hand if there is no one else available to use their vehicle as a jumper.

Extra food and miscellaneous consumables need to be in the car at all times. This would include food, such as crackers, cereal, bagels, chips, and maybe some other snacks that you can pack. Water is also a definitely a must, although putting it in a type of thermos would be your best bet. Otherwise, if it is just in a regular cup or carrying case, you'll run the risk of letting it freeze! But having extra food on hand will give you plenty to eat in case you do have a real emergency and need to survive for several days at a time.

A few other winter survival items that you should include in your pack are bandages, an extra pair of gloves, a hat, scarf, earmuffs, and even a change of clothes. If you do get too cold you can pile on whatever you have in the back of your vehicle!

The important thing to remember when driving in wintertime is to slow down (if you have to drive at all), be careful on the road, and always remember to have those simple essentials with you in your vehicle at all times! Practicing all of those things will ensure that even if you do get stranded you'll be set without worry!