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Survival guide [6/8]: Getting around by car - Preparing for snow and breakdowns

It is very important to be prepared when you are in your car for a long trip or on a daily basis. Inclement weather, such as snow storms, or a mere breakdown, can leave you stranded in your car on the road for hours or even an entire night.

What should you do to cope with unplanned situations ? How to prepare yourself and have your vehicle equipped before a snow storm hits ?

Food and water

If you are stranded in your car on the road for a long time, to keep your morale high and your body warm, it is essential to have a warm meal and hot beverage handy.
Self-heating meals are sterilized meals, like tin cans, but they come in pouches. They are lighter than cans and not so bulky. They fit easily in your glove box. These individual-sized meals come with a heating element (flameless heater), just add 50 ml of water to activate the heating system. They don’t release any gas or smoke. Just crack the window a bit to let some fresh air inside.

These self-heating meals are the most self-sufficient solution available on the market and they can be stored at room temperature up to 3 years from manufacturing date. Actually, these foods are sometimes served on highways when thousands of people are stranded in their car in winterstorms, or used by civil authorities during rescue missions to feed people.

Water is essential for your body. Storing 1 to 1.5 liter of water in your car is ideal in the event of an emergency. Drinking water packed in sachets come with a 5-year long shelf life (compared to 2 years for bottled water) and they can be stored easily due to their compact size.

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Blankets and warm clothes

In cold weather, if you car fails to start, it is crucial to warm up your body with dry clothes or blankets. Especially if you travel with your family ! Survival blankets are ideal in emergencies, because they takes up minimal space.

And what about hand or body warmers for those who brave extreme weather conditions in the mountains ?

Our selection :

And these « little » extras :

  • A firt-aid kit, essential in all situations.
  • A snow/ice car emergency kit including a : Shovel, windshield scraper, brush, antifreeze and glass cleaner. A car kit to keep on hand between October and April depending on location.
  • Candles, glow sticks, matches and/or flashlights can prove more than practical : You never know ! The night might be long ...
  • If your car breaks down, you should always have a charger or portable battery for your phone in your bag or your glove box. That can prove very useful for preventing or for emergency information.
  • Body wipes
  • Some tools for your car such as jack, wrench, spare bulbs, multi-purpose tool or a battery with jumper cables to jump start your car are essential items you should carry in your car for road emergencies.