6 Essential Items for Your Car's Cold Weather Kit

If you drive in the winter months, you need to be extra prepared. Here's what you should have in your car's cold weather kit...

Hot Packs ~
By now everyone has seen those chemical reaction packs that are popular with hunters. You just give them a squeeze and a shake, and they radiant heat for up to 14 hours. These amazing inventions are perfect for your car's cold weather kit! In an emergency, every little bit of heat counts. I have personally spent a night stranded at the side of the road in subzero temperatures with these hot pack in my socks saving me from frostbite. They are great little packets of insurance,and they're small. Stick a dozen with your car's cold weather gear. You'll be very glad you did.

Blankets ~
You simply cannot have too many blankets when you live in a cold-weather area. Whether you're wrapping up someone who had to strip out of wet clothing, or bundling up for a night spent roadside when the weather won't let you continue, good blankets can save your life. Shivering uses up calories, so warm people are going to survive longer. Be sure there is at least one blanket per seating position of your vehicle through out the winter months. If your car is at all finicky, or you have delayed maintenance issues, fill up all the extra space in your trunk and lay a few extra blankets across the back seat too.

Cell Phone ~
If you end up stuck in your car in the winter, you do NOT want to try to walk for help in most cases. Staying put, and calling for help is your best plan. Even if you don't normally carry a cell phone, consider getting one of the emergency-only models to keep in your car's cold weather kit. That'll let you call 911 if you need to, so that help can come to you while you stay as warm as possible in the car.