Health Feature Articles
Are You Road Ready?
Karma Metzgar, C.F.C.S. Former Northwest Region Regional Nutrition Specialist, Nodaway County Extension Center, University of Missouri Extension
When chilly temperatures arrive, it's time to ensure
that your car is winterized. Along with the blankets,
candles, matches and snow shovel, don't forget the food!
While we may not be going far on our destination, it is
those "close calls" that tend to get us in gear and
prepare for the worst. It's best to have supplies packed
and never have to use them than to wish you had.
Let's start with food. If you are stranded during
cold weather, you will require energy to stay warm and
to stay awake. Foods that are good for your survival kit
are dry cereal, nuts, boxed juices, dried fruit,
crackers, and hard candy. These foods tolerate variable
storage temperatures, yet are good to eat most any time.
Other supplies that are good to pack are moist wipes,
waterless soap or instant hand sanitizer, plastic cups,
plastic sandwich bags (to serve as a dish) and large
garbage bags for trash. You also might want to stick in
some of the single-use hand warmers, which could keep
hands and feet warm for up to 10 hours. Check in the
hunting section of stores for these products.
If you have a cellular phone in your vehicle, keep a local phone directory with you. While many people use quick dial and rely on memory for numbers, when you are shaken or frustrated, you may confuse them. There are several numbers you should write down and put in your vehicle either inside the cellular phone, in a phone directory, or put in the glove box.
These are emergency numbers for help. If your county or the location where you are has 911, use it. If you have a cellular phone, *55 is reserved as a help line. Or you can call 1-800-525-5555 for assistance in Missouri.
If you are concerned about road conditions, call the
Missouri Highway Patrol's winter road report at
1-800-222-6400 or visit the Missouri Department of
Transportation's web site at:
http://www.modot.org/. This site is updated during regular working hours and
more frequently during severe winter weather. This site
is a real help when deciding on travel or meeting plans!
Another weather related web site is the National
Weather Service at:
http://weather.gov/.
What other items do you need to have in your vehicle's survival kit? Besides food, here is a basic list of items to get you started.
Survival Kit Items: shovel; blankets or sleeping
bag; candles for light and to provide warmth; can with
sand or other container for burning the candles;
matches; metal can to melt snow; plastic garbage bags or
sheet of plastic for body wrap; extra warm clothing,
gloves, headgear and footwear; flashlight and warning
flares; extra coffee cans for wastes; sack of dry sand
or pet litter to provide traction under tires; box of
tissues or paper towels; toilet paper; transistor radio
(so you don't run your car battery down); new batteries;
booster/jumper cables; tow chain; ice scraper and/or
snow brush; and a tall flag often used on ATV's or
bicycles, particularly if you are stranded in a hidden
area.
If you do become stranded, don't panic. Stay in your vehicle. If you leave your vehicle, you may get lost, especially if visibility is a problem. To avoid carbon monoxide build-up in the vehicle, clear snow from the exhaust pipe and open a downwind window for ventilation. Run the motor and heater only when necessary. It's important to keep fresh air circulating. While a vehicle can be restraining, try to move limbs and muscles and stay awake.
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Last Updated 05/05/2009
