Binghamton Winter Preparedness: Keep An Emergency Kit In Your Car

Winter In the Southern Tier can be challenging. During the last storm, I saw 3 spun out vehicles on back roads. None of them, I guarantee, had a car emergency kit. How do I know? They didn't display that the vehicle was disabled.

First off, you need to know what to put in your emergency kit. Here are the essentials according to State Farm:

1. Jumper cables
2. Spare tire
3. Hazard triangle/road flares
4. Flashlight
5. First aid kit
6. Water
7. Blanket

Those hazard triangles/road flares are the one item that is overlooked by motorists when putting together a kit. You need these to alert drivers that you are in trouble. They prevent you being hit by an unaware driver.

I don't think I need to explain the other items. Another thing you should think about is a portable cell phone charger that doesn't require the use of your car battery. In case you get stranded in the middle of nowhere, you should be able to contact help.

Another thing I keep handy is a spare change of clothes, including heavy socks. This takes Mom's advice of "wear clean underwear in case of emergency" to a new level.

To help avoid using your kit, make sure you have winter maintenance done on your vehicle and always be extra attentive while driving.

Happy Southern Tier winter!