Checklist for a Winter Survival Kit

Fargo, North Dakota – Now is the perfect time to put together that winter survival kit for your car if you’ve been putting it off. In the coming week, temperatures and wind chills will be dangerously low for anyone planning to be outside, according to Valley News Live First Alert Meteorologist Lisa Green.

She’s put together a list of goods you might want to carry in case you encounter difficulties while driving.

The Department of Public Safety in Minnesota has provided the following checklist:

The following can be kept in an empty three-pound coffee can or any other container of a like kind with a plastic cover:

■ Small candles and matches
■ Small, sharp knife and plastic spoons
■ Red bandanna or cloth
■ Pencil and paper
■ Large plastic garbage bag
■ Safety pins
■ Whistle
■ Snacks
■ Cell phone adapter to plug into lighter
■ Plastic flashlight and spare batteries Reverse batteries in the flashlight to avoid accidental switching and burnout. Warm batteries before using them.
Store safety items in the passenger compartment when severe winter weather threatens in case the trunk is jammed or frozen shut.
Choose small packages of food that you can eat hot or cold. Making a Winter Driving Survival Kit Suggested food items:
■ Raisins in small packets
■ Semi-sweet chocolate in pieces for sharing
■ Miniature candy bars
■ Chewing gum
■ Wrapped hard candies
■ Food bars
■ Canned soup, meat and poultry
Store bulky and heavy items in an accessible place:
■ 30-foot cord to use as homing line when you must exit the vehicle
■ Booster cables
■ Basic tools
■ Sand, cat litter or other grit in a plastic milk carton
■ Shovel
■ Tow cables or chain
■ Sleeping bag or blankets
■ Road flares and reflectors
■ Snowmobile suit and heavy boots
If you become stranded, and you have a cell phone, call 911 to summon help. In other states, you may be able to dial 911 or 0 to reach an operator. When you talk with authorities:
■ Provide information on your location, condition of all persons in the vehicle and the problem you are experiencing
■ Follow instructions; you may be told to stay where you are and wait for rescuers
■ Do not hang up until you know who you have spoken with and what will happen next
■ If you must leave your vehicle, write down your name, address, phone number and destination. Place the piece of paper inside the front windshield for someone to see