Picture this: You are leaving work after a long day and the snow plow has passed and covered your car in a mountain of snow. It’s cold, you don’t have a shovel, and you’re hungry. What do you do?

While we may not be able to predict the weather, we can take measures to stay safe in it. Canadians are familiar with the unpredictable driving conditions that winter brings. No matter how hard you try, or how safe you drive, there is always the possibility that something could go wrong in an instant. With unforeseen changes in weather, it’s important to have basic winter survival knowledge, which includes a winter car survival kit. Below you will find our top 3 items to help you stay safe and warm on the road in case you get stranded this winter.

Water & Non-Perishable Food Items

Should you find yourself in an emergency situation, having a couple of bottles of water on hand will help to keep you hydrated while you wait for assistance. Energy bars are a great snack to ward off hunger, and help you to remain alert and aware of your surroundings.

Gloves, Hats, Scarves and a Blanket 

If you are on the side of the road and have to change a tire, look under the hood, shovel, salt or scrape ice, you are going to need to warm up afterwards. Having extra hats, scarves and gloves along with a blanket will be a game changer. It’s important to bundle up and keep dry and warm to avoid frostbite. Another great tool to stay warm is Hot Paws hand warmers & toe warmers which warm up as soon as they are removed from their packaging and last 6-12 hours! 

Shovel and Sand

While these two items might make you think of the beach, they are actually very useful in the snow as well. Sand will help provide traction on ice to get your tires moving, and a shovel is great if you are stuck in a pile of snow and need to dig your tires out. 

Other supplies for a safe winter in your car include:

First aid kit                                                     
Cellphone charger
Snow scraper and brush                               
Flashlight
Windshield washer fluid                                
Matches
Traction mats                                                 
A candle with a deep can to place it in when lit
Battery pack/Jumper cables                          
Flares or reflectors

Once you have your winter car survival kit assembled, we suggest putting it all together in a box, and placing it conveniently in your trunk for the winter. While we hope that you will never be in a situation where this becomes a necessity, having your survival kit packed and ready will ensure that you are prepared to stay warm and comfortable until help arrives.