Winter Emergency Car Kit

The first week in 2022 drivers on I-95 in Virginia were stranded on the freeway for over 24 hours because of a heavy snowstorm. Many had very little to no emergency supplies with them. While it was a rather unpleasant night, luckily there were no reported deaths or injuries.

It’s easy to dismiss the expert advice to have emergency winter supplies in our car. However, this overnight adventure in Virginia is a glaring reminder of why we should always be prepared.

Here are some items to consider including in your emergency winter supplies:

• Backpack (experts recommend storing all your emergency supplies in a backpack, should you need to leave the vehicle for any reason)
• Folding shovel
• Ice scraper
• Water
• Energy bars
• Emergency or wool blanket
• First aid kit
• Pocket knife
• Flashlight
• Hand warmers
• Extra gloves, hats and scarfs
• Any necessary medication (this would be for those with diabetes or other conditions that require daily medication)

This is just a starting point. There are many other items you could include depending on the needs of those in your family. For younger children, you may want to consider coloring books and crayons.

Some other items you might consider adding:

• Extra windshield wiper fluid
• Cat litter (This can be used to help give your car traction if you become stuck in snow)

Take some time to make sure you have these critical supplies and then spread the word to others.