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When the snow starts falling and the frost and ice isn’t melting, it is time to get yourself ready for winter. One of the most important things to have is a winter survival kit for your car – please look at the one on our website to give you an idea of the things you need to make a kit. Remember it only takes a few minutes for the warmth of a car to plunge into deadly below zero temperatures.
If you find yourself stranded in your car during the winter, use these tips with your survival kit to stay alive until help arrives.Have a way to signal someone for help from the car. A mobile phone will work great if you have a useful signal. A flashlight can be used to signal in the dark and aid in reading car manuals. To save on batteries it is also a good idea to use a wind up torch.
Include food and water in your survival kit. This is important to keep up your energy if you have to remain with your vehicle over a prolonged period. This does happen in remote places in severe weather. Nuts, dried fruit and candy bars will provide nutrition and energy. Bottled water will keep you hydrated. If you know that you might be encountering bad weather pack a flask of hot tea, coffee or soup in the car.
A tow rope will be handy for yourself and others if you get stuck in a snow drift. A normal piece of rope is good to tie to your door handle if you need to clear snow from your exhaust pipe – it will stop you getting lost in a blizzard and will also help you pull yourself up if you fall over.
If your car will run, check that the exhaust pipe is clear of snow or any other blockage before running it for heat. If your car can provide you with heat run it for 15 minutes after every 30 minutes to conserve petrol. When you’re warm enough if there are sticks or branches nearby take several of these and place them in front of your front tyres and behind your rear tyres. Push the sticks as close to the tyres as you can. Start your car and attempt to drive forward. If the traction does not catch attempt to drive backwards. If you have room to carry a small bag of cat litter in your car this can provide traction for getting out of a slippery spot.
If you are still stuck or unable to start your car, stay in your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. In the event that you can’t run your car for heat or you get low on petrol, wrap up in large plastic rubbish bags from your survival kit. Cut holes for your head and arms in one rubbish bag, and wear it like a shirt. Slip your lower body into the other rubbish bag without making any holes. The bags should be worn over your cloths and under your sweater/coat/blanket. The bags will help you retain body heat.
Include items in your survival kit which can heat up the car. To warm up a car that has died by the side of the road in a blizzard, certain items are proven to be effective. A large metal coffee can is the perfect size for a roll of toilet paper. If you find yourself stranded, place the roll in the can and pour some isopropyl alcohol (usually used as a solvent or cleaner) on it. Place it in a safe place towards the middle of the car and light it. Be sure that you have a window cracked open. The cold is going to enter anyway and you want what little smoke there is to exit the car. This will produce a clean flame that will burn for hours and provide enough warmth to keep you alive until help arrives. Pack candles. Another way to warm up the interior of a car in freezing weather is with a medium candle placed in a metal coffee can. Again crack a window. The warmth of one candle can raise the temperature enough to keep you alive. Two candles in two cans are even better. Of course the extra jackets, blankets, hats, gloves, socks, and long underwear that you packed in your winter survival kit will also help.
Above all, keep calm and use your common sense!!
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