How to survive being stuck in a car during a blizzard

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

For most people who live in a country with 4 seasons, a blizzard is best experienced indoors, sitting in front of the fire with a warm drink and the company of loved ones. Situations when you're stuck in a car, whether near a city or in a lonely place, can quickly turn into a nightmare as cold, hunger, and thirst strike. You need to be calm if you want to survive in your car during a blizzard so you can use your car for your two main needs: shelter to get warm and enough water to drink. Providing additional necessities for situations like this will help to cope with these and other needs, such as eating, keeping the body dry, and being able to be free when the storm is over.

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Part 1 of 6: Prepare for a Blizzard

Step 1. Take care of your car

Before winter comes, or you plan to drive when it's snowing, make sure the antifreeze and water for the wipers are fully charged, your wipers are functioning properly, the tires are inflated properly and are still in good condition, and the brakes and battery are in good condition. Check your car to make sure that the car lights are still on and that the engine oil has been changed. Freezing temperatures and bad roads will greatly affect the mechanical function of the vehicle and how the vehicle performs on the highway.

Step 2. Don't drive if your gas is not full

When the weather is not friendly, make sure your gas tank is full or almost full. Since snowstorms usually last for about 72 hours, the more gas you have available the better in case you get lost. You'll need the gas to keep warm, make sure the car's gas hose doesn't freeze, the car battery doesn't die, and make sure you have enough gas to go after the storm is over, if needed.

Step 3. Purchase a storage and cooler container

When preparing for a situation like this, there are a lot of supplies to buy and keep in the car. Your top priority is supplies that can provide warmth, water, and food. In addition, some tools are also needed to get out of the blizzard. You'll need cooler boxes to store food and drink supplies, and durable, hard plastic storage containers for other supplies. The lid should be tight so that if you have to get it out of the car, the contents won't get wet.

Step 4. Gather items to warm yourself up

During a blizzard, and the temperature is below zero degrees, a person can only survive for 3 hours without shelter from wind and humid air (wind and humid air reduce body heat). Since your vehicle will be a shelter, it's a good idea to include additional items to a) keep heat from escaping the car and b) keep your body warm. For example, clothes and blankets will not generate heat, but they are very important because they can keep your body warm.

• Hypothermia requires only a drop in body temperature of about 2-3 degrees and is the leading cause of death from exposure to freezing temperatures. The first visible effect is the inability to think clearly.
• Put one blanket for each person traveling with you in the trunk or storage container, plus 2 more for other purposes. Wool dries quickly if it gets wet and warms more than other materials.
• It's a good idea to also provide a few additional sets of clothes and two pairs of socks for each person. Wool socks are the best choice.
• Provide waterproof scarves, hats, and gloves to keep warm areas of the body that are frequently exposed, such as the head and neck, and to keep hands from getting wet.
• Purchase 15 pairs of hand warmers for each person, you can buy them in the camping and hunting section of any hardware store.
• Take 5-10 newspapers, depending on the size of your car, to insulate the windshield. This will keep the car warm from the heat your body produces, the heat from the vehicle's engine if you start it, and acts as a shield against the wind.

Step 5. Prepare your water needs

A person can survive for 3 days without fluid intake, but it will not be fun. In order not to be dehydrated, a person should consume 64 ounces of fluid every day. A regular water bottle holds 15-16 ounces, so you'll need 12-13 bottles per person for a 72-hour supply. For a family of 5, 60-65 bottles of water are needed. This many bottles is simply impossible to carry in your car all the time. While plastic water containers can be used as a possible outlet, plastic will bend and crack when exposed to extreme temperatures. Therefore, you should do the things below:

• Provide enough bottles of water in the cooler for each person for one day. So you can fit about 20 bottles in the cooler for a family of 5 people. If there is still space, put in as many water bottles as you can.
• Since this amount won't be enough if you're stuck for more than a day, you'll need to melt the snow. To do this, you'll need: a drink can with a lid, some waterproof matchboxes, three 5cm diameter candles, and some metal cups.

Step 6. Prepare good food

Food is the body's fuel, supplying the energy needed to produce heat. When a person's body is exposed to freezing temperatures, more than half of the calories consumed will maintain a normal body temperature. Therefore, the colder the air, the more food is needed. Under normal temperatures, a person who is not starving will survive without food for 1-6 weeks, depending on several factors. In very cold temperatures, the maximum time is only up to 3 weeks.

• If an average person consumes about 2,300 calories per day, half of that will be eroded to maintain body temperature while stuck in a car. A person should consume about 3,500 calories (minimum) every day.
• That means you'll have to prepare tons of food for a family of 5 to stock up for 72 hours. To keep everything refrigerated, buy heavy, high-calorie, non-perishable foods, such as snacks, beef jerky, nuts, canned fruit, and chocolate.

Step 7. Gather other supplies

You'll need to collect items to get out of the car, to help other people find you, to get used to the weather and road conditions, to take care of essentials if you get stuck, and to improvise and fix unexpected problems. Once you've collected the supplies listed below, put them in a storage box. Check regularly to make sure everything still looks good and works.

• Beacon to show your location to rescue teams.
• A piece of red clothing material measuring about 30-120 cm.
• Transistor radio with multiple spare batteries so you can stay informed about the weather and road conditions.
• A flashlight with a bright light bulb and enough battery to use at night and to be a signal when looking for help.
• Jumper cables are needed when the storm has passed and your vehicle battery dies.
• Collapsible metal snow shovel.
• Tow rope to a) free the vehicle if it gets stuck or b) tie one end of the rope to the car and the other end to you in case you have to get out of the car during a storm.
• Compass.
• A bag of sand, salt, or sand that the cat uses to provide traction for the wheels of the vehicle if it gets stuck.
• Tire filling material.
• The scraper or ice scraper is long-handled and equipped with a brush.
• Toolbox in case of damage.
• Folding knife with can opener.
• A watch to know the time.
• First aid box.
• Emergency medicine supplies for everyone for 72 hours.
• A pair of tall, waterproof boots for motorists.
• Tissue paper and trash bags for hygiene.
• Feminine products, baby milk, diapers and swabs, if needed.

Part 2 of 6: Trying Not to Get Lost

Step 1. Pay attention to the weather

If a storm is coming and you don't have to go anywhere, stay indoors. Make sure you understand the difference between alert and alert status when a storm is coming. The alert status indicates that there is an approximately 50-80% chance that snow or ice or a mixture of the two will strike a certain area. The alert status means there is at least an 80% chance that a blizzard will strike a certain area. The alert and alert status indicates that heavy snow and strong winds of around 35 meters per hour, which will reduce visibility to less than 400 meters, are likely to hit an area within the next 12-72 hours.

• Remember: Even if you feel confident when driving in bad weather, many other drivers on the road are less experienced. Nature will also provide trials for experienced riders with its "surprises".
• If you plan to drive in a dangerous situation, always inform a trusted friend or family member about your planned departure and the route you are taking.

Step 2. Clear the snow that clogs the exhaust pipe

If you are stuck in the car and trying to get out of the car, you must first turn off the engine and make sure the exhaust pipe of the car is not clogged with snow; if clogged, your vehicle will quickly fill up with toxic carbon monoxide. To clean it, turn off the engine, put on gloves, and shovel as much snow as you can with your hands. If you don't have gloves, use a stick or something similar.

Step 3. Remove snow and ice from your vehicle and its surroundings

If you've been stuck in your car for a long time and decide to free your snow-covered vehicle, start by clearing the snow from the roof of your vehicle to the bottom. While cleaning, turn on the engine to start melting the ice on the front and rear windshields. Next, grab a shovel and remove as much snow as possible around the tires and on the sides of the vehicle. Also try to clear the road to make way for your car to exit. Finally, scrape your windshield. If you don't have a scraper, use a credit card or CD holder to help clean up any unmelted ice.

• If you don't have a brushed ice scraper to clean your car of snow, use a tree branch or newspaper (whatever you can find) to clean it.
• If you don't have a shovel, use whatever is available, such as hubcaps or a Frisbee in the trunk.

Step 4. Shake and push your vehicle

To free a stuck car, turn the wheel from side to side a few times to remove any snow that is blocking the road. If you have an AWD (all-wheel drive) or 4WD (4-wheel drive) vehicle, make sure all the wheels are driven. Enter first gear (or lowest gear in standard position), step on the gas slowly, and move forward; even if only a few cm. Then shift into reverse gear and step on the gas slowly to get rid of the snow behind the car. Keep repeating this process until you have enough room to step on the gas and go.

• If your wheels start to spin rapidly, take your foot off the accelerator and stop because you will sink your car even more.
• Ask someone who is riding in your car to get out of the vehicle, then grab hold of the inside of the driver's window, and help to push it.
• Do not allow anyone to stand behind the vehicle and push it as the car may slip and cause serious injury.
• If that doesn't work, find another way to make the tires less slippery. If you have cat litter, regular sand, or salt, sprinkle it around the front and rear tires, depending on whether your vehicle has front and rear tires. If your car is AWD or 4WD, sprinkle it on all four tires.
• If you don't have any of these materials, use a car mat, small stones or gravel, pinecones, twigs, or small sticks as a towing tool.

Step 5. Get out of the car as soon as possible

If a storm has just come and you can't start the car, try to get help by waving something at other motorists or calling the police. This situation will only get worse. But remember that your perception of distance will be fooled by the blowing snow. What we think is near is actually further away. So, you are only advised to leave the car if help is sure to arrive and within clear and definite visibility. Otherwise, you will have a good chance of surviving by using the vehicle as a shelter.

Part 3 of 6: Organizing and Using Shelters Wisely

Step 1. Do not leave your vehicle

If you can't get the car out of the snow, staying in the car is the best shelter you can find for now. One can only survive without shelter for 3 hours in very cold temperatures. Never leave the vehicle unless you see a building close enough to serve as a shelter or if you can still see clearly. Remember that your perception of distance will be fooled by falling snow and flying. Plus, snow can cover holes, sharp objects, and other dangerous objects, so going on foot is a high-risk decision during a blizzard.

Step 2. Provide information to the authorities with your cell phone

Generally, most people now have a cell phone that they carry with them everywhere. Before your phone battery dies, record your exact location using the GPS in your vehicle or cell phone, dial 911 (the emergency number in the US), and tell them your current location and who is in the vehicle. Be sure to include other relevant information, such as how much food and water you have, how much gas you have, and whether anyone in your vehicle has a serious health problem.

• If you have enough battery in your phone, call someone you think is stuck as well and will seek help from the authorities on your behalf to ensure you will be rescued, should you need it. Be sure to tell the person your location.
• Turn off your phone when you're done using it to save the remaining battery so you can use it for emergencies later.

Step 3. Make yourself visible to rescue workers

When a severe storm hits, sometimes thousands of people are nowhere to be found and trapped in cars. Some people will choose to leave their car, and others will choose to be silent. Since rescue teams will prioritize visible victims instead of the driverless car, you need to make it clear that you are still in the car. First wear boots that cover the bottom of your pants, then put on a hat, scarf, gloves, and a thick coat so you don't get wet (which should be avoided at all costs). Wetness in freezing temperatures lowers body temperature rapidly and you are at risk for hypothermia.

• Tie a red cloth around your vehicle's antenna as a sign for rescuers to see. If your vehicle doesn't have an antenna, find a place in your car that will make the cloth flutter or tie it to a doorknob directed to where help is coming.
• If you don't have a piece of red cloth, find something in your car that works. The rescue team will recognize that you are giving a signal and need help.
• If you are stranded or lost in a deserted area, make a large “HELP” or “SOS” reading to make yourself visible to search or rescue teams in the air. If you can find sticks or tree branches, use them to shape the letters. You may have to do it again after the snow stops falling.
• Sound the horn in Morse code to call for help or spell “SOS”, but ONLY when the vehicle is conserving fuel. Sound the short horn 3 times, then the long horn sound 3 times, 3 short horns, wait 10-15 seconds and then repeat this method.
• Open the roof of the vehicle when the snow has stopped falling to let rescuers know that you need help.
• Take turns just in case help arrives!

Step 4. Clean the exhaust pipe regularly

Even if you've cleaned the exhaust pipe while trying to free the vehicle, you'll need to do this more than once if it's snowing all the time and you can start the car for a few moments. Carbon monoxide poisoning can make a person sick or cause death through prolonged or brief but strong exposure to carbon monoxide. Initial symptoms are nausea, headache, and dizziness.

Step 5. Use gasoline as needed

How long you'll be stuck in the car depends on a number of factors, such as the ferocity of the blizzard, where you're trapped, the abilities of the rescue team, and the number of people who have lost their way. Therefore, it is very important to save car fuel. If help doesn't come right away and you're in a remote area, you'll need petrol to save yourself when the storm is over.

• If the vehicle is full of gas, run the engine for 10 minutes every hour. While doing so, open one of the windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If you run out of gas, start the engine 1-2 times every day for 10 minutes so that the car battery doesn't die and the fuel line doesn't freeze. Take advantage of the sun's heat and run the engine at night so you can warm up.

Step 6. Use energy wisely

You have limited energy and you have to balance your needs with the supplies you have. Your main source of energy is car gasoline which provides power for the lights in the car, headlights, and so on. If you're getting ready, you'll need to bring a flashlight, matches, candles, batteries, and radio. To save fuel, use one or two energy sources at a time. For example, use a flashlight when a candle is burning to melt snow. Make sure you turn off all objects that have a battery after you use them.

Part 4 of 6: Warming Up During a Blizzard

Step 1. Remove clothes and blankets

To maintain the heat generated by the body, wear as much clothing as possible. Ideally, each person would put on a layer of dry clothes and socks, then put on a warm coat with a hat, scarf, and gloves. Otherwise, tuck your socks into your pants and tuck your sleeves into your gloves, if you have one. Keep it hot no matter what. If you have a knife or other tool such as a screwdriver, a sharp pen, or a piece of plastic or metal from your car, cut out the seat mat, floor, or roof of the car and roll up in it to maintain body heat. Also take advantage of the car carpet in any way.

• Lie down and place maps, papers from your glove compartment, newspapers, paper towels, or handkerchiefs, etc. under your clothes for insulation.
• Use the wool blanket you prepared to keep yourself warm
• Use hand warmers in a rationed manner, but use them strategically. Put them in gloves and pockets when needed. Also put in socks, in hats, near the ears, and so on.

Step 2. Cover up unused space and close windows tightly

Remember that your car is your shelter or "home". Just as you close your house tightly to protect yourself from winter weather and close all the doors in your basement when a big fire breaks out, it's a good idea to keep cold air outside and warm air inside your vehicle. First of all, fill up the empty space in the car. For example, if you have an unused blanket and a large SUV, tape the blanket from the roof to the bottom of the car at the very back to cover the area behind it. Glue newspaper to the window for insulation.

• If you don't have a blanket to block the unused space, use whatever material you want. You can cut the seat cushion and place it in the right location to reduce space in your vehicle.
• If you don't have newsprint to block the window, look around you. Do you have magazines, tissue paper or handkerchiefs, or textbooks in your child's possession? You can also use a car carpet. If there's no tape, is there any tape, gum, or hot glue?

Step 3. Seek warmth from the heat of the other person's body

If you're not alone, someone beside you will be warmer than anything! He may be shaking a lot, but 36-37o C is still warmer than the air around you. If you're together in a tight space, you can add heat to the area by hugging each other. Make a "cocoon" around you with blankets, coats, or whatever else you can find to warm yourself up.

Step 4. Move your body

Movement of the body can increase circulation that generates energy so that your body will stay warm. In fact, your body gives off 5-10 times more heat when you are active. In a situation like this, especially if you don't have food to replenish your energy, too much exercise is also impractical and unwise. However, you still have to move your body. As you sit, move your arms and legs in a circle, flex your fingers and toes and stretch your arms and legs.

Part 5 of 6: Addressing Food and Water Needs

Step 1. Allocate food and water supplies

You should drink 5 ounces of water every hour to avoid dehydration, or about half a cup of coffee or about a third of a bottle of water. You should also have a snack every hour to supply your body with the energy it needs to produce heat. Use a watch, rather than a cell phone or an in-car watch that relies on the vehicle's battery, to stay up-to-date with the time. If you don't have a watch, try to measure the time by looking at the movement of the sun in the sky.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol accelerate the adverse effects that cold weather has on your body, although both caffeine and alcohol seem to help keep you warm.
• Your goal is to regulate body temperature, fluid levels and blood sugar as much as possible and to make your supply last longer.

Step 2. Melt the snow to make water

If you have a limited number of water bottles or no water supply, you will need to melt the snow. But, first of all, never eat snow, even if you are very thirsty. Eating snow can lower body temperature to dangerous levels. If you've prepared beforehand, you'll have a coffee can, a waterproof lighter, and some candles. To melt snow, fill the can about to and light a few matchsticks or candles. Place the candle or lighter under the can. Don't fill cans with snow.

• Make sure the car windows are slightly open when melting snow because even the smallest candles and matches can still emit carbon monoxide.
• If you don't have this supply, look around you. Are there any metal or plastic items that can be emptied or disassembled to use as a snow bin such as a plastic bag from the convenience store or even your glove holder?
• When starting the vehicle, point the heating hole towards the snow to melt it. If you run out of gas, put less snow in the container and leave it in the sun or a warmer part of the car to melt.

Step 3. Store water in a safe place

Bottled water can be stored in the cooler. If you don't have a cooler but do have a bottle, wrap it in a blanket or other material. The melted snow can be stored in an empty water bottle or whatever is available. If the water still feels like snow, place it in the sun or near a heater while the engine is running. You can also store water in a tightly closed container and bury it about 30 cm under the snow. Even though the air above the surface feels very cold, the air under the snow is insulated, which will help the water not to freeze.

Step 4. Look for food if possible

Remember, you can survive freezing temperatures without food for up to 3 weeks as long as you're not dehydrated and have good shelter. It won't be much fun, but you can only survive for 3 hours in freezing temperatures without shelter. Check your car for food you forgot, like a snack tucked in between your seats or a pack of sugar you've kept in your bag since lunch last week.

• If you find something, don't eat it all at once, no matter how hungry you are. Eat only small portions at a time and chew slowly. This will make you feel like you've eaten a lot.
• If you suspect that someone in your car is hypothermic and isn't thinking clearly, be on the lookout for them to starve too. Do not let him leave the vehicle in search of food.

Part 6 of 6: Weighing Options when the Storm Passes

Step 1. Consider road conditions

If you're still lost when the storm has stopped, you'll have to make a decision about when and how you're going. Much of this will depend on your location, the length of time you've been stuck in the car, and your physical condition. If you have a transistor radio, or enough gas to listen to the radio, try to determine road conditions and whether certain roads are closed or not.

Talk to other people if you get stuck on an overpass, for example. If you still have a cell phone battery, call a friend or relative for help and ask what was done to clear the streets and find you

Step 2. Decide whether you will leave if you are stuck around other people

If you're in a city or on an overpass and lots of people are stuck in their cars, you're more likely to be rescued when the weather improves and the rescue team is more maneuverable. However, if a large number of people are also trapped, the rescue process can take a long time, and you won't have much time. If you decide to walk out and find a safe place, go with someone else if possible. Leave a note in the car explaining where you are going and go there, so that rescue workers and your loved ones will be able to find you if they catch sight of your vehicle first. Wear layers and carry as many supplies as you can without going overboard.

• If you have enough gas and feel like you won't be stuck again, try starting your vehicle.
• If you choose to stay in the car, make sure the rescue team knows that you are still in the car.

Step 3. Choose to stay or leave if you are in a remote area

Extremely cold air puts more stress on the heart, and activities such as shoveling snow, pushing a car, walking through snowdrifts on the ground for long distances can cause heart attacks and make other health conditions worse. If you are in a remote area, in good shape, and are sure that you have enough gas to get to the next gas station, hotel, or similar, try to walk to a safe place or do whatever you can to make yourself comfortable. seen by the rescue team.

• If you are still, make the letter "SOS" on the snow surface and place a twig on the letter. Use the CD or break one of the mirrors to look around as often as possible. The mirror will reflect the sunlight and the air rescue team will recognize it as a signal.
• If you can make a bonfire and the snow has stopped, start making one and keep it burning-especially at night-to warm yourself and signal rescuers.
• If you decide to walk, leave a note with your location and go there, don't stray from your goal. Wear layers, bring as many supplies as possible, make sure you leave in the morning and take frequent breaks to drink and eat something.

Tips

• If you're in a desperate situation and you have to leave the vehicle without boots, use something to tear the seat surface, wrap your legs and secure with tape, rope, or other material.
• Cables from vehicles can be used in a variety of ways to secure items, but be careful which cable you use.
• If you're stuck with someone else, talk about anything that has nothing to do with the issue. If you're alone, make a joke, read a book if you have one, or have your new project step by step in your mind. Morale is one of the best assets in a crisis situation.
• If there are pets in the vehicle, it is crucial to let your pet out when needed and dry when re-entering. Cover your pet, if you can. If you travel a lot with your pet, include the equipment in your inventory as well.