Photo by Bruno Kelzer on Unsplash

When the cold weather descends there are a few extra precautions to take to make sure you and your family stay safe.

Blanket
Make sure you will be warm and comfortable by packing a thick blanket. You probably won’t be able to run the heater for the whole time if you are stopped for a long time, so you’ll need something to keep the warmth in.

Phone battery pack and charging cable
Portable phone charging packs are readily available these days and you can pick one up fairly inexpensively. If charged and in your car, in could mean a lifeline to emergency services in an emergency if your phone’s battery goes flat.

Snow shovel
Especially if you have been at a standstill for a while in heavy snow, a snow shovel may be essential to get you moving again.

Hat and gloves
If you are not in the habit of taking your hat and gloves with you when you go out in the winter, it may be worth keeping a spare pair in the car in case you end up in standing traffic in the cold weather. Keeping your extremities warm can be one of the hardest things when you have to switch your engine off for a long time. You could pop in a spare pair of thick socks too.

High visibility jacket and a torch
If it gets dark and you have to leave your car in order to get help, a high visibility jacket will mean people will be able to see you, and the torch will enable you to see your surroundings.

Emergency rations
Choose food that won’t spoil easily so you won’t have to replace it very often. Things that are nutritious and calorie dense are best in emergency situations. We have a range of long lasting, ready to eat food pouches on our website so you don’t have to worry about quick expiry dates.

Take care during the bad weather, and be prepared.

Photo by Vincent Foret on Unsplash

When heavy snow hits the UK, hundreds of people can become trapped for hours on snowy roads.

Follow our tips to help you make the best of these situations.

• Consider giving your car a pre-winter check. Make sure everything is in good working order and get any repairs done that you have been putting off.
• Keep an eye on the forecast. Prevention is better than cure as they say. If possible, avoid taking a trip when bad weather is forecast, or delay it until the outlook is better.
• If you are going on a longer journey, make sure you have a full tank of petrol or diesel before setting off. You may use more fuel than expected in the different driving conditions, and may be less able to easily find somewhere to fill up.
• Stock up on essentials in case you do get stuck somewhere in your car. People have had to endure days stuck in their cars in the snow, and while this hopefully won’t be the case for you, a ready to eat packaged meal, some emergency rations and bottles of water can be useful even if you are only stuck for a short time.
• Think about keeping warm in a stopped car. Put a spare set of warm clothing in your car, including gloves to keep your fingers warm. Food will help keep your core temperature up, and a thick blanket will help keep the warmth in.

We hope you will never be in a really dangerous situation trapped in the cold, but with some preparation we hope you can have some peace of mind if the worst case does occur. Preparation is never wasted though. Even if you only got stuck somewhere for an hour or so, a warm blanket and a snack are often appreciated!