Winter Weather Travel Survival Kit

If you travel in an area in which you could encounter severe winter weather you should be certain you are prepared. Keep a winter survival kit in the backseat or trunk of your car. If you become stranded the contents of this kit could be the only things separating you from certain death. The time to prepare for an emergency is well in advance of the emergency. Do not make the mistake of assuming it only happens to other people, or that there will be someone there to save you. As much as is humanly possible, keep your fate within your own control.

Your survival kit needs to include a variety of items. In a severe winter storm it is certainly possible to be stranded in your car for several days or more before rescuers can reach or even find you. When you become stranded, assume it will be for a considerable time and conserve your resources as much as possible. You should also not assume you will have power to your car. Break downs and accidents can leave you with no heater, radio, or lights.

Contents of the survival kit;
1) Cell phone and charger - while you may not be able to get a signal during the storm, after it clears you should be able to call for help. Use the charger for as long as the car battery lasts.
2) Flashlight - preferably a non-battery light which you can shake to power.
3) Blankets and or sleeping bags - while your car will protect you from the wind, it will still get very cold.
4) Knife and small tool kit
5) Basic first aide kit
6) A supply of non-perishable food
7) Water container
8) Small can and matches - you will need to melt snow to make drinking water. You can survive for more than a week with no food, but you will die of dehydration in less than three days. Drink plenty of water.
9) Road map and compass to help determine your exact location so you can tell rescuers where to find you.
10) Large empty can and a roll of toilet paper - while you don;t want to think about it, your bodily functions will continue and you will need a method to deal with them in a sanitary way.
11) Weather radio - if you can afford one, and I suggest you find a way to do so, purchase a crank powered radio. This will insure you always have a radio and many of these come with very helpful accessories. They can be used to charge your cell phone, some have built in TV's and some have two-way radios.
12) Extra clothing - such as thick socks and mittens (mittens keep your finger swarmer than do gloves).
13) Keep a supply of the "hot-pocket" packets in your kit. These packets contain chemical that when crushed and combined generate heat for several hours. One of these clutched in your hands can help keep you comfortable and can help after you have been working with melting snow or other items.

It is also advisable to keep several days supply of any prescription drugs you take in your car. A tow rope, booster cables, shovel and windshield scraper should also always be in your car. You should also always attempt to keep your fuel tank as full as possible. Try never to travel alone it conditions could get severe and always make certain someone knows where you were going and your planned route. This will provide rescuers with a starting point on where to find you. Above all, remain calm. If you have prepared properly, you will be able to survive until help arrives, with time to spare.