Be Prepared: Winter Emergency Kits

Don’t Get Stranded on the Road: Get Your Car Winter Ready

According to a CarMax survey, three-quarters of American drivers are unprepared for winter weather. In the Northeast, which often experiences the worst winter weather, only 35 percent report that they drive with a winter emergency kit.

Getting Ready

Before heading out on any trip, make sure your vehicle is running properly by having it inspected and serviced. Make sure young drivers know what to do in case of emergency.

Pack a Kit

Get these supplies together for a car emergency kit. A winter emergency kit should include:

1.    Flashlight
2.    Jumper cables
3.    First-aid kit
4.    Flares or hazard triangles
5.    Warm clothes, gloves and a blanket
6.    Ice scraper
7.    Snow shovel
8.    Kitty litter—for traction on slick roadways
9.    Extra washer fluid
10.   Food and bottled water
11.   Cell phone car charger

It’s a good idea to have these supplies when you are renting a car, too; if you are driving to a ski resort or other wintry location, you don’t want to get stuck without a shovel.

This list was offered by CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars.

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Judy Antell

Judy Antell, who is TravelingMom.com's Free in 50 States editor, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and three daughters. Between road trips to visit colleges, travel sports and seeing East Coast sights, she spends a lot of time on the road for a city girl.

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