It was a sunny November morning years back when Trisha and I drove to a medical appointment an hour north of home. By mid afternoon we found ourselves in blizzard conditions with one water bottle and one granola bar. That’s it.
Traffic had completely stopped. We couldn’t see anything beyond the hood of the car, and violent winds were rocking our SUV. For FIVE hours.
Yep. Seemed like forever. Didn’t even have an ice scraper. I rolled down the window using my library card to clean off the ice and snow, hoping I could see something. The wind snatched it right out of my hand. Good thing it wasn’t my VISA.
Fast forward several hours….. The storm blew through and traffic began to crawl. There were abandoned cars scattered along the road. We finally got home. We were only ten minutes away.
Ten minutes from home and FIVE hours stranded in a blizzard! It can happen anytime, anywhere.
Time to be a Boy Scout. Be prepared.
Items every family should carry in the trunk. — just in case.
Water – Have at least a day’s worth on hand.
Non-perishable Food – Trail mix, protein bars, raisins, crackers, hard candy.
Gas – Keep your tank at least half full.
Warm Layers – Pack a few blankets and an extra sweatshirt or jacket per person.
First-aid Kit – Include small and large bandages, gauze rolls, ibuprofen or Tylenol.
Flashlight with Batteries – Be sure to test them before a trip.
Flares – You can also opt for reflective triangles or a whistle to signal for assistance.
Car Accessories – Battery booster cables, traction mats, de-ice wind shield fluid, an ice scraper and small shovel. And don’t forget to check tire pressure and wiper fluid levels before leaving for a trip.
Dental floss – You may have a lot of time on your hands 😉
