In this chilly month of February, we up here in New England, are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Blizzard of 1978.
As one of those who wound up driving on Route128 ( now known as Interstate 95) that morning, I thought it might be a good time to think about being prepared for such an occurrence in the future.
We hear about people who become stranded in their car during a blizzard or drive off the road due to slippery conditions during a storm.
If you find yourself trapped in your car during a blizzard, it’s important to know what to do. Do you call for help right away? Do you get out of the car? Do you leave the car? What supplies should you have just in case?
Remember that panic leads to ill advised decisions that could become fatal decisions. It is important remain calm and focused on survival until rescue.
Be Prepared With An Emergency Kit
There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for a snow-in situation. First, make sure your car is stocked with supplies in winter if you live in an at-risk area. An emergency kit stored in the trunk of your automobile will come in handy in the event of stranding or breakdown.
If you are planning to drive during a blizzard, fill your gas tank. Stop at gas stations along the way to keep the tank topped off. Fuel adds weight to your car, which keeps the vehicle centered on the road while allowing for better handling in icy situations. Fuel also provides energy to the car which will equal warmth if you are stuck off the road in cold weather.
Most safety experts recommend that you keep the following items in your car during winter:
- Warm, dry layers
- Blankets (“Space” blankets made of foil will help retain warmth).
- Hand warmers
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight (Keep batteries out of the light until needed)
- Signal devices like road flares or even a distress flare to let a search party know of your
location - Food that is easily digestible and easily stored, like granola bars
- A small shovel
Normally, we do not recommend product on this site, but Wise Company has designed an excellent emergency automobile survival kit. This is the link to Wise Company’s website for the kit; https://www.wisefoodstorage.com/car-emergency-kit.html
Have A Source Of Water
In case you find yourself stuck, it's essential to have enough water. Normally, it is recommended by health and safety experts for a person to drink at least two quarts per day. Ironically, in a blizzard, water in the form on snow is in abundance. You should plan to carry a metal container in your car to melt snow either on the dashboard or, if outside the car, on a fire. Always melt snow for water. Eating snow will burn energy and not quench your thirst.
Think out the problem
As stated before, if you are stuck in your car during a blizzard, remain calm and take stock of the situation that you are in. If you are stuck, make sure the car’s tail pipe is clear. If your pipe is blocked, and your car is running, you could get a backup of exhaust gases seeping back into the car. Carbon monoxide in a confined space like a car’s interior is life threatening.
If stuck on the road, make sure that your car can be seen with the use of road flares. If stuck off the road, make sure to clear the snow away from the car so you can get out of the car once the blizzard has passed in order to place road flares on the road.
Make yourself visible, and then call 911 if a phone is available. Then go back to the safety of your car.
Stay In Your Vehicle
Should you stay or should you go? The golden rule is to stay in your stranded vehicle, unless you're in sight of a building. In that case, seek alternative shelter.
The difficulty comes if you're in a white-out blizzard. Leaving your car could leave you disoriented, lose contact with the car and be lost out in the blizzard with little protection. The car is a safe place.
Stay Warm
If you're going to be inside your vehicle for a long period of time, warmth is paramount.
You will need those blankets to stay warm as the temperature in the car’s interior goes down over time. Move around in the car to exercise. Make sure to the clear the car’s tail pipe and then start the car every hour for ten minutes to warm up and melt water. Watch your gas consumption in order to prolong the ability to heat the car.
Don’t Drive In Storms
Finally, the best thing you can do to avoid getting stuck in a blizzard is to not drive during one.
Prevention is worth everything. So be safe. Stay home and put a fire in the fireplace and enjoy the day.
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