I have updated this winter safety driving list. Based on suggestions from others. Thanks for add-ons

[usaf-vet]

Those of us that travel during extreme winter weather. (Stay home if you can)

Be prepared to have to spend the night in the car. You might be one of the hundreds that are trapped.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

1. put together a winter survival kit and keep it inside your passenger compartment. You may not be able to open the trunk.
1a. A small folding shovel to clear around tailpipe AND front grill. https://tinyurl.com/yc6hmsa7

2. Buy the best affordable outdoor winter-rated sleeping bag. Ice fishermen love these. https://tinyurl.com/trx82hyc

3. Add a warmer set of outer garments, bulky sweaters, pants, socks, winter boots, stocking hats, and gloves.
3a. Add #10 metal can to hold a candle...It can warm the interior of the car 10-15 degrees.

4. Take a supply of nonperishable food items—energy bars.

5. And of course water. (thaw when the heater is on). A urinal for waste. Female options https://tinyurl.com/2p9xtr62
Note from me" These work according to the experts in my house.

6. If you are taking a more extended trip, never leave without a full gas tank. Use caution running the car if you smell fumes. Crack a window.

7. A "tall" orange flag (bike stores) more than one person has gone off the road in then had the plow cover their car.
7a. Kitty litter in case you are stuck, always had sandbags for weight.

8. Hopefully, you will have cell service try and determine precisely where you are before calling for help. KEEP A PHONE CHARGER in the CAR.

9. Call a dependable individual and give them specific location details. Have them write them down and read them back.
10. Tell them to call the local police with details. Have them check back with you on a schedule.
11. STAY WITH YOUR CAR UNLESS YOU GET SPECIFIC directions via phone or car radio to do otherwise.
12. Do not fall asleep with the car running—carbon monoxide or running out of gas.

Finally, because of Covid, many rescue departments might be short-staffed, and your stay might be longer than you anticipated.

[Ocelot II]

1. If you live in Minnesota you will have most of this stuff in your car.

It's nuts to leave an urban area in the winter without these things.

[usaf-vet]

2. Ditto for Wisconsin.

[we can do it]

3. This link is wrong 2. Buy the best affordable outdoor winter-rated sleeping bag.

[usaf-vet]

7. Actually suggesting a sleeping bag has too many variables.

Actually, suggesting a sleeping bag has too many variables. Size, affordability, and temperature range, to mention a few.

Where I live, I would start with one that had a range running from zero to minus 20 degrees.
After reading about hundreds of trapped drivers in Virginia, I put together the list. In that part of the country, 0 to -20 might be overkill.

The link was intended to send you to the hand warmers. As I said, ice fishermen love these small, light, long-lasting, and activated by air. https://tinyurl.com/trx82hyc

They can be put inside gloves, boots, armpits (caution don't put them against bare skin). I have a pullover outer garment that my wife made four pockets in the lower back region to hold one each of these "Hand Warmers."

Sorry I wasn't more informative. I was trying to save space.

[lapfog_1]

4. do not follow google maps on non main roads.

especially though mountains or wilderness areas. Stay in Interstate or US Highway routes unless you know the roads... and stop and ask locals at gas stations about local snow conditions on the route you are taking.

[Farmer-Rick]

16. Smart comment

You'll never find my farmhouse by following Google directions. Even having the address is kind of useless in these back country roads. And you never know where they have decided to end plowing in really heavy snows.

[BSdetect]

5. Smokeless candles? Fumes could fill the car very quickly otherwise.

There are efficient little cooking devices that can heat soups, sandwiches etc Those run off the car power outlet

Some bowls, cups (several thermos with soup, hot water), utensils

Baby wipes or other types.

Napkins and dry towels

Torches

Flares

Battery chargers / packs

Zip locks, plastic bags

Hats

[3Hotdogs]

6. Emergency signal beacon.

Available, R.E.I. and elsewhere.

[usaf-vet]

9. I mentioned a cellphone app yesterday called Life360. Google it.

The inventor put it together AFTER Katrina. Realizing how many people got lost or separated from their families.

The latest version is now international.

We use it.

But I don't want to sound like a salesman. We use it period.

[3Hotdogs]

12. Wouldn't that need a cell signal?

The beacon works in wilderness or ocean.... as long as there is access to open sky.


I purchased a beacon about 7 years ago. It was after a road trip with friends to N.H. In the White Mountains, a woman lost control of her bike and went off the road..... probably broken leg. No cell service. A companion had to ride 1/2 hour to Conway to get help. Another 45 minutes before the 1st responders could get together and arrive at the scene. I worried about this and purchased a beacon.

Six years later, I was hiking in an area in N.J. that didn't didn't have cell service; Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We were on a bridge and a guy was flat out on the river bank below. I called, no answer. I set off the beacon and then decided to risk going down to the river to check on the guy. My friend set off to walk to where there would be cell service.

Guy was basically ok. Sleeping: just tired. So I left him to rejoin my friend and head off any emergency response.

On the way back, my cell phone went off. "This is Pensacola Naval Air Station responding to an emergency signal beacon. Is this ....?

While it didn't save a life, it was good to know that it works.

[usaf-vet]

13. Yes we have a SPOT for when we aren't in an area with cell. But considering we are talking about car

travel. We have never been where 360 hasn't worked and yes we have been in snow ditches. The 360 product is very affordable. That is all I want to say. It works for us. It may not work for everyone in every situation.

[Ohio Joe]

8. Always have cat litter in the car...

Not the absorbent kind (it just turns to mush) but the good old fashioned gravel bits kind. A handful under a tire will get you out when your tires just want to spin. I've been using it since I was a teen and it's never failed me.

[sl8]

10. I've had the opposite experience.

The cheap, old-fashioned litter is clay. Once it gets wet, it's nasty, slippery stuff.

I use sand.

[hlthe2b]

11. You forget one of the most important inclusions--one that baffles those not accustomed to heavy snow

and the potential to be stranded.

It was prominent in my list from last week (https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16210069) and is among the key lessons taught to state employees in WY, CO, MT, ND, SD, and nearby traversing the state/region in winter. I was always amused to see the recognition come over their faces at the reminder:

A very large oversized lidded coffee can or similar. (Think about it and how that would come in handy).

[burrowowl]

15. Yep! Always have emergency stuff in winter

always have water, lots in the summer!

[CloudWatcher]

14. ... and don't leave unsealed food packages in your car

If you live in bear country, don't leave food in your car that a bear can smell. Not unless you like
waking up to see just how much damage a bear can do to your car's interior while looking for that
last morsel.

[usaf-vet]

18. Excellent Point. Mine are in an old GI ammo can with some general first aide gear.

But still a great point for folks who don't have ammo cans. They use to be a dime a dozen. The last one I saw was a Chinese knockoff just under $20.00

[redstatebluegirl]

17. I grew up with that stuff in my car.

Raised in northern Illinois, right before winter my Mom refreshed all of the emergency kits in all of our vehicles including the farm trucks. Dad threw bags of sand into the truck beds for weight. Do not need it so much where we are now, but when we drive home we do it.

[littlemissmartypants]

19. Thank you. Bookmarked. ❤