For some people, driving in snow is part of the job. Truck drivers, for example, are already used to having long drives in snowy conditions. Blizzards or winter storms are a different matter, however. No amount of experience will guarantee that you will survive a snowstorm. In case you are on the road when a snowstorm hits, here are some valuable tips you should know to help you get back home in one piece.
Prepare For Snowstorms and Other Emergencies
Even if you’re not planning to drive in the middle of a snowstorm, you should still be prepared for that scenario. Remember, an emergency on the road is not limited to flat tires, empty fuel tanks, and overheating radiators. You should also prepare for carjackers, car crashes, floods, fire, and other emergencies.
Stay Up-To-Date
Listen to the weather radio before heading out and while on the road so you’re aware of any coming winter storm. The information should help you decide if it’s still safe to proceed or not. If you continue to travel, keep your ears glued to the news. The sooner you know the developments, the better your chances of avoiding or surviving a snowstorm.
Aside from the car radio, you should also have a portable weather radio in your car emergency kit. The LifeShield Light & Communications Survival Kit by Frog & CO includes a Kaito KA208 palm-sized portable radio. You should be able to get some weather updates from the AM/FM stations.
Aside from the radio, the kit also comes with an LED flashlight, waterproof matches, 12-hour glow stick, and emergency candle, which you can use for light and warmth. The 100 decibel pealess whistle, meanwhile, is for calling out for help.
Bring Everything You Need
Build a car emergency kit so you’re better equipped to handle any trouble. Make sure it’s in your vehicle before driving away. Check the items, too, in case there are some that needs to be replenished or repaired.
Car Repair Tools
Your typical car emergency kit includes the tools you need for basic repairs. These include tire ring, jack, tire pump, tire pressure gauge, screwdrivers, wrenches, road flares, reflective triangle, and jumper cables. Don’t forget to check your spare tire, too.
Invest on a portable jump starter. This will come in handy if your car stalls and there’s no other vehicle you can connect your jumper cables to. The Pocket Jumper Pro Car & Truck Jump Starter by Frog & CO is capable of jump starting both gas and diesel vehicles up to 5 and 3.5 liters, respectively. Just make sure the Pocket Jumper is fully charged before heading out so that it has enough juice to jump start your car and charge small devices. Aside from these two functions, the Pocket Jumper also has a built-in 120 lumens flashlight and emergency light.
Car Emergency Kit
Aside from your car tools, you must build an emergency kit. This is similar to other emergency kits. The main difference is that it should be kept in your vehicle at all times.
Food and Water
Every emergency kit should have food and water. When you’re trapped in a blizzard, you don’t have the option of going out to get a bite to eat. If the situation takes too long a time to normalize, you could spend a day or more in your vehicle. You still need to eat and hydrate.
The LifeShield® Emergency Food & Water Kit comes with a pair each of 4.22-ounce water pouches and 2400 calorie emergency food rations. They may not be enough or look appetizing, for that matter, but this is a good start. Aside from what’s provided in the kit, you should also pack energy bars, healthy snacks, and other ready-to-eat food and water. In case you run out if clean water, the kit has a LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for good measure.
Items for Warmth
To survive a snowstorm, you need to stay as warm as possible. Keep extra winter clothes, wool blankets, sleeping bag, and thermal blankets. Hand warmers and body warmers are must-haves, too, along with other tools that help provide warmth. Consider the usual number of occupants in determining how many of these items you should keep in your vehicle.
The LifeShield Warmth & Outdoor Shelter Kit, available through Frog & CO, is a set of survival items that will help you withstand the cold and survive a snowstorm. The Tube Tent Lightweight Emergency Shelter provides cover from the elements if you’re forced to spend time out in the open. However, we must reiterate that you should avoid going out of your car during a blizzard unless it is REALLY necessary. And by that we mean, if your car is on fire and about to explode or something. Otherwise, use the tent inside as additional protective layer.
The kit also includes two Heat Pax Air Activated Body Warmers. Each one produces 155 degrees of heat for about 20 hours. The Tact Bivvy Emergency Sleeping Bag and Coghlan’s Emergency Poncho provide two more layers of protection from the cold.
The Tact Bivvy is made of HeatEcho reflective polyester film, which reflects 90% of heat produced by your body back to you thus keeping you warm. The orange stuff pack comes with a 10-inch para-tinder drawstring with an inner cord that can be used as tinder. Attached to the drawstring is a carabiner and 120 decibel whistle you can use to catch the attention of rescuers.
The orange pouch can also be used to draw attention to your whereabouts in case your car is buried under snow. Simply remove the drawstring then tie the pouch on your car’s antenna or on a nearby tree.
You also want something you can use to start a fire. This will come in handy if you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere waiting for rescue. Pack waterproof matches, lighter, ferro rod, and tinder in your emergency kit. You may not know it but you can make fire even on snow. Check the video above.
The QuickHeat Rechargeable Hand Warmer with Portable Power Bank is perfect for the cold season. This little device provides up to 140 degrees of heat for 2 to 4 hours. The hand warmer also doubles as a powerbank you can use to charge your phone and other small devices. Since its battery life is limited, you need to use it wisely. Think of the QuickHeat hand warmer as just a supplemental heat source since it may be your only way of charging your phone.
Other Car Emergency Kit Essentials
Snowstorms are just one of the things you need to prepare for when you’re on the road. Lots of things can happen between point A and point B. It’s therefore important to have other survival tools that can help you when things go wrong.
Some pieces of survival gear you need in your emergency kit include a flashlight, portable lantern, portable stove, cookset, multi-tool, duct tape, window scraper, road maps, and compass. You’ll also need a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter so you can quickly get out of your car in an emergency. A first aid kit is also necessary along with a fire extinguisher.
To give you a head start, you can invest on a Redfora Complete Emergency Car Kit. The company is known for their emergency kits so this could really help you out in building your own. The kit for two people comes with food bars and water pouches, pocket tissues, emergency survival blankets, body warmers, and ponchos for two people.
The survival tools include a multi-function shovel, bungee cord, duct tape, and flashlight. Items specific to the needs of your vehicle include a tire pressure gauge, oil funnel, tow rope, jumper cables, reflective triangle, road flare, and a safety vest. They even included a note pad, pencil and survival playing cards.
Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter
You owe it to your family to be careful when you’re out. To ensure that nothing untoward happens, you need to keep your vehicle in tiptop shape. You also have to prepare it for different conditions. In this case, make sure your car can take on winter.
Regular Maintenance
Any car owner knows the importance of regular maintenance. Your car will last longer and perform better if you do regular inspection and maintenance. Check the oil every day before using your vehicle. You should also know how to change oil yourself. Other tasks you should be familiar with include changing antifreeze, inspecting your battery, and keeping your heater and defroster in proper condition.
You also have to regularly take their vehicle to a professional for maintenance. When winter comes rolling in, you should pay the mechanic another visit. Winter is a dangerous time for drivers and passengers alike. Roads are slippery while visibility may be low, especially during winter storms. Have your mechanic do what’s necessary so your car is fit for driving under such conditions.
Check Your Tire
Even if you visit the mechanic regularly, you should also know how to inspect and winterize your car. First order of business is to check the tread. Put a penny in the tread groove. If you can see Abe Lincoln’s whole head, the tread is no longer adequate. Replace the tire immediately.
Another option is to use snow tires. As the name implies, these tires are design specifically for winter roads. Check the air pressure, too. It’s dangerous if the pressure is too low, especially with the state of the roads during winter.
Driving In Snow
First of all, why the heck are you out on the road during a snowstorm? If you hear of any news about an approaching winter storm, you should cancel any trip you have planned and stay indoors. If you’re already on the road, seek shelter immediately. Wait for the snowstorm to pass then wait a little longer until the roads are safe to drive on.
If you’re worried about your family, there is little you can do but remind them to stay indoors where it’s safe. If you keep driving, you’ll only put yourself at risk and make your family worry even more. Since it can’t be helped that you’re away from them, the best way to keep them safe is to prepare them for anything that may happen while you’re not home. That said, you should still know how to drive safely during winter.
Wear Your Seatbelt
Every time you get on a vehicle, put your seatbelt on immediately. This is a no-brainer. Car accidents are more common during winter because of slippery roads and poor visibility. Not to mention, people are stressed out because of the pressure that comes with the holidays.
Drive Slowly
Unless you have a death wish, you should drive slower during winter time than you usually would. This is especially true if it’s been snowing and the roads are not as safe. If snow and hale is pummelling you, drive slowly until you find shelter or a safe spot to park. Be careful when you step on the gas and brakes. Sudden acceleration and stops can result in a tailspin.
Focus On the Road
It’s easy to get distracted when you’re on the wheel. It gets even worse when it’s snowing. As you drive slowly, keep an eye on the road. Watch out for black ice or transparent patches of ice that can be deadly if you fail to spot them on time.
If you start sliding after hitting black ice, don’t panic. Don’t step on the brakes. Instead, hold the wheel straight while taking your foot off the gas. If you start spinning, turn the wheel towards the direction of the spin. Do so until the car slows down and you regain traction.
Be Wary of Other Vehicles
Even if you’re careful, you can’t say the same with other drivers. Turn your headlights and fog lights on. Use your signal lights and make hand gestures to communicate with other drivers. Maintain a significant distance between you and the other driver. In case something goes wrong, you should have enough space to avoid possible collision.
When You’re Stranded
If driving further is no longer an option, you should find shelter immediately. Once you find one, grab your emergency kit and head inside. Close all doors and windows and stay as far from them as possible. Find cover and use a blanket or any large piece of clothing to protect yourself from the cold and broken glass.
It’s better to be stuck in a building than trapped inside your car during a snowstorm. However, you should scrap your search for a shelter if the situation gets bad real fast. In whiteout conditions, you can barely see anything. This may spell disaster.
Find the nearest exit or pull over on the side of the road. Turn your hazard light on and wait until the snowstorm passes. In case you’re unlucky enough to be in the middle of nowhere during a blizzard, it’s vital that you know what to do to survive a snowstorm.
Stay In the Car
Don’t leave your vehicle unless there’s a safer option such as a nearby building. Don’t take the risk of abandoning your car to look for help or seek shelter, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the territory. Your car is a good enough shelter compared to being out in the open.
Be Visible
Tie a bright-colored piece of fabric on your car’s antenna. It’s a good idea to have an Orange Help Flag, which is specifically made to get the attention of other people in case you’re in trouble. If you don’t have one or anything similar to it, you may be forced to use one of your clothes. This can be risky since you need all the layers of clothes you have to fight off the cold. As such, you can just cut of a small piece but it may not be that visible because of its size.
If your car doesn’t have an antenna, tie the orange flag at the highest part of your car as possible. Don’t forget to raise your wipers. You can tie your bright cloth here, too.
If snow isn’t falling that much, you can gather some branches and other materials to spell out the word “help” or “SOS.” You can also stomp it out on the ground. Once you’re done, return to your car so you can stay warm. Every once in a while, use your horn to signal for help. Learn how to do SOS in Morse code using your horn and a flashlight.
Contact Someone
In any kind of emergency, you need a way to call for help. Always bring your phone and make sure it’s fully charged before leaving home. Bring a powerbank and a charger, as well.
Once you’ve settled in your car, call someone to inform them of your predicament. Notify the authorities and then your loved ones. Tell them where you are exactly and if you have companions. Give them landmarks so they can easily find you if you need to be rescued. Provide other relevant details such as the make and color of your car, amount of gas you have left, and how much food and water you have.
If you have a GPS tracker or a GPS app on your phone, use it to pinpoint where you are exactly the share that information with the authorities and your family. The Spot GEN4 Satellite GPS Messenger sends motion-activated track updates so others will know your location and if you’re on the move or not. It also sends out pre-programmed text messages accompanied by your coordinates to your family. In case of emergencies, you just need to push a button and the Spot GEN4 will send your GPS coordinates to responders specific to the area where you are.
Stay Warm
Wear all your extra clothes, socks, scarf, hat, and gloves. Cover yourself with wool blanket and other items you have in your car emergency kit. If it gets too cold, use your Quick Heat hand warmer or Heat Pax body warmers.
If it has stopped snowing but you’re still stuck, you can build a fire. Use the fire to boil water if you have a portable stove and cookset. The fire itself will help keep you warm.
Place large stones near the fire to heat them up. Wrap the hot stones with a piece of cloth then bring them inside the car. This should keep you warm, especially at night.
Heat can escape through the floor of your car. Make sure you have car mats. You can also use your seat cover and other items to insulate the floor.
A little exercise should keep you warm, as well. However, do not overexert yourself. If you do, you risk hurting yourself more. If you have companions, huddle together. Use each other’s body heat to stay warm and survive snowstorms.
Run Your Engine Occasionally
You’ll need to run your engine every 10 minutes or so. Aside from helping keep you warm, running the engine also prevents the battery from dying and the fuel line from freezing. Check the exhaust pipe first before turning the engine on. Clear any snow that has clogged the pipe. You risk carbon monoxide poisoning if the pipe and the engine is running is blocked while you’re inside.
Conserve your fuel. Even if you have to run your engine periodically, you must be wary of the amount of fuel you have. It would be wiser to run the engine during the evening when it’s dark and really cold.
After the Snowstorm Has Passed
Once the blizzard has passed, you will be tempted to drive out of there immediately. Think twice before you do. First, survey the situation. Check if it’s safe to go back on the road. Also, your car may be buried deep in snow that you can’t simply drive away.
Wear traction cleats before going out of your vehicle. The ground will be covered with snow and probably ice so it’s easy to slip and hurt yourself. The Frog Tracks Stability Hiking Traction Cleats by Frog & CO has spiral metal coils to provide traction and grip on different terrains aside from snow and ice. It also helps secure your footing on soil, mud and wet grass so it’s a good thing to have when hiking.
Since your car will likely be buried under snow, you will need to do some digging. Make sure you have a portable shovel in your vehicle at all times. The Stealth Tact Shovel Modular Multifunction Entrenchment Tool, also by Frog & CO, is mainly a folding shovel made from lightweight aircraft aluminum and 440C steel. The 12-in-1 multi-tool also functions as a hatchet, saw, knife, glass breaker, hoe, screwdriver, hex wrench, bottle opener, fish scaler, fire starter, and a watertight container. In other words, the Stealth Tact Shovel is a definite must-have in order to survive a snowstorm and other emergencies.
After shoveling the snow, place some sand or cat litter along the path of the wheels. This should provide some traction for the tires. Make sure to include a bag of sand or cat litter in your winter emergency kit.
If you are able to drive away, contact the authorities and your family once more. Give them an update on your situation. If you’re still stuck, wait for help and do your best to stay alive.
Gentleman Pirate Club is dedicated to helping you survive snowstorms and other emergencies. Follow and visit us regularly to get your dose of survival tips and hacks among other important pieces of information.
