With snow storms happening in places that generally see little snowfall, it’s safe to say Mother Nature remains an unpredictable entity in our lives. Unless you’ve lived your entire life in an area that experiences regular storms in winter, you might not have everything you need in your vehicle to handle every possible driving scenario or emergency. Even if you know winter weather well, you should review this list of essentials to ensure adequate preparedness:
Ice and Snow Removal Aids
Many people who live in cold-weather regions don’t keep basic ice and snow removal tools in their vehicles. They waste a lot of time and risk physical injury trying to remove precipitation from their vehicle’s exterior with nothing more than gloved hands.
Always invest in ice scrapers, snow-removal brushes, a collapsible-handle shovel, and a collapsible brush. Also, always store a lock and windshield deicer spray and an anti-fog spray in your vehicle. These items can make it easier to open an older, manual lock vehicle, unfreeze wipers and keep windows clear.
If your budget allows, invest in hood, windshield, and rear window covers. They can help you effortlessly remove ice and snow by simply pulling each cover away after a storm.
One Tool You Can’t Live Without
Although you must pay a sometimes-expensive upfront cost, it’s essential to keep in mind that certain types of equipment are worth their weight in gold in winter. A portable automotive battery charger is critical during cold winter weather. Freezing temperatures put a higher-than-normal drain on your vehicle’s battery.
If you purchase a trickle charger, you can protect the battery entirely by keeping it on the charger all night. If your vehicle doesn’t start while you’re out and about and have no way to jump the battery, an automotive battery charger with its own independent battery can recharge it as long as the fluid hasn’t frozen. It takes time, but you can also use the charger during the downtime to charge a cell phone if it has a USB port. Some models also offer a “jump” mode that makes it possible for you to jump the battery the same way you would with another vehicle. If the charger has an outlet and the battery has frozen, you can even use it to plug in a portable mini heater to keep warm while you wait for a tow truck.
Emergency Food and First Aid Kits
It might seem obvious that you should always have certain items in your vehicle that can help you and your passengers, if applicable, stay safe and healthy during emergency breakdowns and vehicle accidents. Yet, as with ice and snow removal aids, drivers often don’t maintain any emergency kits. These stashes don’t need to be stored in anything fancy. You can use a duffel bag or plastic tote that has a lid.
Given that a vehicle can stop working in winter at any moment, you must guarantee that you have enough food and liquids to prevent hunger and dehydration. Invest in non-perishable products like trail mixes, granola and nutrition bars, fruit cups, canned foods, chocolate, hard candy, water, and nutritional meal beverages. Additionally, store two refillable water bottles, portable utensils, straws, napkins, paper towels, wet wipes, small trash bags, and a multi-tool knife that features a can opener in your vehicle.
A first aid kit should contain all of the items you might need for emergencies that can happen at any time throughout the year. These include bandages and liquid suture adhesive, sterile gauze, antibiotic ointments, pain relievers, thermometer cold packs, non-latex gloves, tweezers, bulb suction device, splints, a whistle, and a breathing barrier. It should also contain a portable crank-style radio and winter-specific emergency medical items, such as a portable reflective insulating blanket, one or more regular blankets or a sleeping bag, extra clothes, especially gloves, hats and socks, shake-activated heat packs, candles and matches, and a portable mini heater.
Other Winter Automotive Essentials
Lastly, you should own items that can help you resolve certain automotive emergencies so that you don’t need a tow truck in winter or give you a better chance of being seen if you find yourself in a ditch, off the beaten track, or on a country road at night. If you live in a region where the temps drop extremely low, then invest in an engine block heater to keep the vehicle engine from freezing up when you’re not using it. In some areas, winter tires with studs are also considered essential to prevent accidents while driving.
No matter where you live, always inspect your spare tire every year before winter and invest in a new one, if necessary. Also, store antifreeze, road flares, a fire extinguisher, a flashlight, rock salt or sand, and kitty litter in your vehicle in a bin or crate.