What to put in your winter vehicle emergency kit

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) - It’s Winter Weather Awareness Week which is a reminder of the importance of preparation ahead of the cold and wet season to come.

The Stevens Point Fire Department recommends drivers prepare a vehicle emergency kit to keep inside their vehicles for the season.

“Some food, some water, a reflective vest, gloves, extra clothes, a blanket, a cellphone charger, a winter scraper, a first aid kit, a jump pack, and some sort of abrasive material like sand or oil dry, and a flashlight with some extra batteries,” Stevens Point Fire Department Lieutenant Benjamin Schultz explained.

Each item can help drivers stay safe in unforeseen events. Non-perishable foods, water, extra clothes, and a blanket will keep you comfortable if you are stuck out in the cold.

“The one that’s probably the trickiest is water,” Lt. Schultz said. “Water will freeze if it’s in your vehicle, right? So that’s something you’ve got to bring in your vehicle and take out every time, but everything else can stay in your vehicle — nuts, granola mix is all very shelf-stable no matter what temperature it is.”

A winter ice scraper is essential. As is an abrasive substance like kitty litter, salt, or sand to help your car get the traction it needs to escape a slippery situation.

“Most important is traction. Most often as a stalled vehicle, it’s important to have some sand or some oil dry in your vehicle so you can throw it underneath your tires to try to gain a little bit of traction that way,” Lt. Schultz said. “It’s important to use your shovel or your ice scraper to scrape away some of the snow so the tires are on the ground, and when the tires spin, it melts the snow and creates ice, which creates them to spin faster and easier. So we put some oil dry down, you should have better traction that way.”

A jump pack could help kick-start your battery if it dies due to the cold weather. Some have charging ports to keep your cell phone charged as you are waiting for help to arrive.

“Most batteries do not like cold weather. Unless you’ve got a brand-new batter, chances are it’s going to end up taking a lot more energy to start. So one thing we see quite possibly is a stalled vehicle, and having a jump pack gives your battery a little extra boost it needs to start on those cold mornings,” Lt. Schultz said. “It’s very important, because now you’re not waiting for that tow truck to come, or somebody to look for a pair of jumper cables.”

Visibility items like a high-viz vest and a flashlight will keep you safe as the amount of daylight hours dwindle.

“If you’re stranded on the side of the road, traffic can’t see you as well, and also with the length of nighttime we have here, it’s important to be seen when you’re on the side of the road, so I like keeping a reflective vest with me,” Lt. Schultz said.

Lt. Schultz said each of their station vehicles is equipped with a kit because it could help anyone. He also says being prepared can help people avoid needing a kit altogether.

“With the first snowfall and the first icy weather, leave with plenty of time so that way you can take your time, travel slow, increase stopping distances, and just be more cognizant of your speed,” Lt. Schultz said. “As long as you’re safe and slow, you’ll get there in a timely fashion that won’t require using any of this.”