Every car should be stocked with anemergency kit, just in case you encounter hazardous winter roads.To find out exactly what belongs in it, I calledTod Pritchard, the public information officer for Wisconsin’s emergency-preparedness campaign. Here are his top gear suggestions, plus a few of my own.
Flashlight
“Most of us don’t carry a flashlight in the car,” Pritchard says. “But light becomes a major issue if you'restranded at night.” An inexpensive flashlight or headlamp will do the trick, but we like the $60 ,because it runs oneitherAAA batteries ora stockrechargeable one. With those two options, you should never be stranded without a light again.
Warm Clothing
Most of us don’t dress for a winter emergency everytimewe walk out the front door, so it’s always good to have extra “oh-shit” clothes in your car. I like to carry a blanket, gloves, and an extra jacket at all times. Pritchard always packsa pair of snow boots in his vehicle, too:I personallylike ($120) because they’re waterproof and rated to 40 degrees below zero.
Cellphone Charger
If you get strandedoff the side of the road, you’ll need to call for help. Make sure your phone always has enough juice by carrying a spare charging cord plus a cellcharger that works in acar. I like the ($40), asit plugs into my cigarette lighter and has two ports, letting mecharge my phone and another gadget (like theBD headlamp)simultaneously. It also has an internal battery that's good for one complete phone charge.
Food and Water
“Have some food that you don’t need to refrigerate or heat up,” Pritchard says. Also, carry at least one liter of water per person. For food, I like the ($39for a case) because they’re delicious but also pack350 calories in each serving.
First-Aid Kit
I like to carry a basic first-aid kit with bandages and pain medicine.Pritchard also suggests that people who needdaily meds pack along a few extra doses. “If you don’t [pack extras] you all of a sudden aren’t just talking about a car in a ditch situation:it’s a medical emergency,” he says.
Shovel
There’s nothing more useful than a shovel when your car gets stuck in the snow. If you don’t have room to carry a full-length garden shovel, check out something like the or pick up a folding modelat your local army-surplus store.
Chains
You’ll rarely use chains, but they can be a game-changer if conditions get rough, especially if you havea two-wheel-drive car. They’ll help you get un-stuck—or just ensure youget past that highway-patrol checkpoint on the way up to the ski hill.