Preparedness for when

BessieBooBoo

Confuzzled wrote: »

though i no longer drive i used to drive in weather as bad or worse than what we tend to get here in the uk every winter, i can't stress highly enough the need to have a blanket and a change of socks in your car. those space blankets fit in the glove box and work though i would keep a fleece blanket too out of personal preference.

also best to keep the emergency food/blanket etc IN the car rather than the boot unless you can access the boot via the backseat as if you wind up in a ditch and the boot is inaccessible or if the lock is frozen shut you won't be able to get to the things you so carefully prepared.

also it might be an idea to have some deicer not just in your home and maybe at work but also inside the car in case the boot freezes and you need to access the jack etc

a small bag of kitty litter or grit for traction is def good too

Hello Confuzzled

Thank you - forgot about de-icer!

Don't have kitty litter, but I think that's a good one....

So far we have:

Slow release snacks (Granola, Oat & honey biscuits, chocolate, must have!)

Juice (cartons)

Water (for car)

Hi-vis vest

Shovel

Tools

Fleece blankets x 2

A-Z map

Carpet (for emergency tyre grip)

Economy nappy bags for dog

Kitchen roll (usually to wipe dog!)

In my bag I carry small sewing kit, granola, credit card sized multi-tool, tissues, plasters, wipes, sanitising hand gel, small amount of emergency cash, painkillers, chewing gum, plus usual cards, keys, paper, pens. Hmmm may need bigger bag!

Will add to boot:

Spare socks, hats, gloves, scarves and water-proof anoraks.

Torch (we have a spare wind-up one with red flashing light on top and radio, plus audio alarm and normal torch function)

Small first aid kit

De-icer (although do have scraper, chamois leather)

Cat litter or similar....

Thank you to everyone who has posted suggestions, I now feel better equipped for the weather, and hope it inspires others to prepare better too....

BBB

GreyQueen

BBB that's a good list, I had a tiny addition in mind which might add greatly to your comfort; those hand held warmers.

Also, I read somewhere on a website about having to endure in your stationary car; get your feet up out of the footwell if possible. It's the coldest part of the car.

Hopefully you'll never have to endure it but better to be prepared than miserable, eh? Can recall in a bad snow spell several years back, people got stranded for hours. Some nitwits had gone out on unnecessary journeys without even a coat; they were wearing their car and it's heater.

westcoastscot

HariboJunkie wrote: »

What people forget up here is that even if we don't have snow directly, we can be easily cut off from the rest of the world when the Rest or Tyndrum is impassable and the snow gates are closed at Bridge of Orchy. But it's just the way it is and we're all used to it.

BUT... Where else do we get such a great life with so few people and such an abundance of unique wildlife and the best scenery in the world? I wouldn't be anywhere else...

ps.. the Rest is treacherous today so hope you're not heading to the big smoke. x

Yes keeping a store-cupboard is necessary up here for when the road is closed.

The Rest was bad this morning - was almost in the city when I came on the gritter - it was white all the way over!!! Had to be there for 10 so left at 7.30 - not pleasant but that's it done. I popped into Asda on the way home - there prices are half ours - no wonder our grocery bills are high when the garden lets us down!!!

I wouldn't live anywhere else either - have been hereabouts for almost 30 years now and it really is home

WCS
ps hope your OH gets home safe

tina_malteser

How about a duvet in one of those vacuum shrink thingys ???

Popperwell

Nice to see your quote Tina...I'd forgotten about that one;)

2tonsils

I thought you might like to see this report of snow in Russia yesterday....amazing photographs
http://rt.com/news/winter-snow-russia-weather-275/

sheahaveen

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Just thought I'd point you all into the direction of an online course I am enrolled on from the University of Pittsburgh, USA which is a free course entitled Disaster Preparedness. Its an 8 week online course, commitment is around 2-4 hours per week.

I checked out the link and enrolled the same upcoming one, plus 2 more (that'll be starting next week)!

:beer:

VJsmum

2tonsils wrote: »

I thought you might like to see this report of snow in Russia yesterday....amazing photographs
http://rt.com/news/winter-snow-russia-weather-275/

Amazing pictures - but don't they seem organised? Just cutting pathways through the snow and having it piled up on the side? We would have come to a complete standstill. I have seen similar things in the Rockies with snow drifting up to rooftops and just the tops of roadsigns poking through.

DDs school is shut again today, but DS has to go. I have to go to work and can't decide whether car or train is best.

BessieBooBoo

GreyQueen wrote: »

BBB that's a good list, I had a tiny addition in mind which might add greatly to your comfort; those hand held warmers.

Also, I read somewhere on a website about having to endure in your stationary car; get your feet up out of the footwell if possible. It's the coldest part of the car.

Hopefully you'll never have to endure it but better to be prepared than miserable, eh? Can recall in a bad snow spell several years back, people got stranded for hours. Some nitwits had gone out on unnecessary journeys without even a coat; they were wearing their car and it's heater.

Hello GQ

Thank you, I will add that to the list, and a very good idea about lifting feet up too. I hope I won't get caught out again, but, at least I will have the peace of mind that I will be ok if I do.

OH suggests adding oil and a litre of petrol too because of how quickly it was being used up to keep warm... Not sure it's that safe?

Best wishes

BBB

BessieBooBoo

tina_malteser wrote: »

How about a duvet in one of those vacuum shrink thingys ???

Hello TM

Like it! I was beginning to wonder if I was filling up the spaces in the car too much, with less room for shopping/people!

Thank you!

BBB