What Should You Keep in Your Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit?

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Life is easier when you plan for an emergency before it happens. That's why it makes sense to keep a winter emergency kit in your vehicle.

The experts at The Old Farmer's Almanac recommend a few things to keep in your car in the event of a winter emergency. Of course, this is just a suggestion, so feel free to add to this list.

First, you need to stay warm if your car breaks down or if you need to go outside of your vehicle. So, keep a blanket and some warm clothing like a hat, scarf, coat, gloves, and boots in your car. That will keep you warm and protected from the elements.

Next, you want to be able to signal for help if you need it, and you want to stay safe and prevent another vehicle from hitting you or your vehicle. Flares and triangle-shaped reflectors should take care of that for you.

Also, a flashing light that you can put on or near your vehicle is great to have; just make sure you have plenty of batteries to keep it powered-up.

A crucial item is a quality flashlight. Don't be cheap when it comes to your flashlight—it could end up being your only source of light if you are stuck out in the middle of nowhere.

Make sure you have plenty of spare batteries for it, too. Even the best flashlight that money can buy is worthless if it has dead batteries and you don't have any fresh ones to put in it.

You can also opt for a hand-crank flashlight if you prefer; that way, you won't need to worry about batteries at all.

Jumper cables and a well-stocked tool kit will help you get on the road again. And don't remove that jack and spare tire from your vehicle to save space—bad idea.

Finally, a shovel and some sand or non-clumping kitty litter will help if you need to dig out or need some traction to get moving again.

And some bottled water will keep you well-hydrated until you are back on the road.

These are the basics that the experts suggest keeping in your vehicle.

Everybody has different needs depending on their situation, so use this list as a framework to build the winter vehicle emergency kit that will be right for you and your circumstances.

Until next time, stay safe and be careful out there.