Extreme Cold Emergency Kit Essentials for Highway Trips

If there’s something I could be better prepared for, it’s extreme cold. I’m guilty of running the recycling out in house clothes and sneakers, my vehicle has never been “warmed up” in its life, and I shove my hands in pockets instead of finding a pair of mitts roughly 50% of the time. Call it denial, call it Saskatchewan tough, but if you’re headed on the highway in these conditions and continue livin’ that ill-equipped-for-winter life, all you can call it is ignorant. A few moms in a chat group I’m in were discussing the topic and came up with a great list of things to pack for winter road trips and I thought, this is information that deserves sharing. If you are headed out of town, have a read and see if your checklist is complete, even if you’ve bought a ready-made kit. These are the extreme cold emergency essentials for highway trips:

• Blankets

• Thermal foil blanket (use on window to insulate if you’re really stuck)

• Spare mitts/toques and clothes

• Ice scraper/snow brush

• Candles and tin can

• Small first aid kit

• Cones

• Road flares

• Lighter and matches

• Slippers

• Snacks and bottles of water

• Cellphone charger

• Something for traction: sand kitty litter

• Jumper cables

• Tow strap

• Kleenex

• Instant heat packs (Hothands or reusable)

• Small shovel

• Flashlight, preferably one that has a strobe setting

• Extra batteries

• Multitool (like a Swiss army knife)

• Duct tape

• Clear plastic that could be used for broken window

And remember to let your family or friends know when you’re leaving and approximately when they can expect you. Thanks to Kerianne for starting this important thread and Anna, Dianne, Nicole, Dominique, Rhona, Jessie, Bridget, Lecia, Jen, Alley, Chelsy, Niamh, Natasha, Pam, Stacy, and Rienne for their ideas. Please be careful out there and give a lot of room between yours and the car in front of you. I realize I sound like such a mom but, you know, I am one.

xo