10 Things to Keep In Your Car During Winter

Here in Kansas City, it is 4 degrees and the roads are slick because of ice and snow.  Our staff reported seeing accidents on their way into the office today (people drive way too fast in icy conditions.)  We were talking about things that would be important to have in your car in case you got stuck during the winter.. and turned it into a blog post!

So here we go… ten things to consider putting in an emergency pack in the back of your vehicle during winter:

1. Roadside Emergency Kit: A compact roadside emergency kit costs between $30 and $50 and has a bunch of the essentials listed below.  It would be a great place to start!  (Roadside Emergency Kits on Amazon.com)
2. Blanket: If you are waiting in cold weather for help, you will want a decent warm blanket as an extra layer.
3. Snow Shovel: Get a short handled shovel to stow your trunk in case you need to remove snow from around the wheels of your vehicle. A metal shovel would be the most effective for chipping away at ice or hard packed snow banks.
4. Ice Scraper: These are cheap, light and incredibly handy.  We recommend getting one that has a scraper on one end and a brush on the other.  That way, if there is a pile of snow on your vehicle, you can brush it off before scraping.
5. Flashlight: We think this one is obvious, but most people don’t have a small flashlight in their vehicle.  A good bet is to buy one that you can crank so you aren’t worrying about keeping fresh batteries in the glove box. (Click here to see some hand crank flashlights on Amazon.com)
6. Hand Warmers: Available at camping stores. Smash the bag and the chemical reaction inside creates warmth to defrost fingers that may be trying to change a tire or fiddle with an engine.
7. Flares: These should be in your trunk in all seasons for putting next to your car if you are pulled over in distress. (Flares on Amazon.com)
8. Water and Protein Bars:  Another great thing for your winter survival kit would be a few bottles of water and some protein bars.
9. Matches: You never know when you will have to start a fire for heat.  These are cheap and take up very little space.  Odds are you will never use them, but if you needed them, you will be SO thankful you have them!
10. Whistle: It can be used to either signal for help to someone who can’t hear you yell, or to scare someone who may be trying to take advantage of your distress.

Is there anything we missed?  Let us know in the comments below!