I Learned My Lesson - Don't Get Caught Without This Car Survival

When we were traveling back from Buffalo on Christmas eve, we were caught in a pretty bad snowstorm that stayed with us across the state. Fortunately, we were able to get home safely but it was a very scary trip. From now on, I will make up two of these survival kits and put one in each of our cars...just in case. News 10 ABC listed a comprehensive outline of what you should have in your car at all times during the winter in case you are stranded or break down. Some of the items may already be in your vehicle, but experts urge you to have a tote containing all the items in one place so you can easily access them in case of an emergency.

Here is a list of the items for your winter survival kit:

First aid kit with pocket knife
a shovel
water
jumper cables
a flashlight (reverse the batteries to preserve them)
ice scraper and broom
snack food including energy bars (choose small packages of food to eat either hot or cold)
blankets or a sleeping bag
cat litter or sand for traction
emergency flares
extra hats and mittens
rope
fluorescent flag

With the extremely cold temperatures, it's important to have this kit in your car at all times even if you aren't traveling long distances, you could become stranded. It's better to be prepared.