The Safety FactorCrime Prevention and Personal Safety

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If you have to wait in the cold, are you prepared?

When we put ourselves or our kids in the car, it is smart and safe to carry extra things for warmth, because it could be -40C with a windchill, and you could be stuck somewhere.

Too many news stories highlight how stranded motorists, only a mile or 2 away from safety, froze to death because they left their vehicle in search of help wearing minimal winter clothing. It is heartbreaking, but preventable.

This could happen to any of us at any time. Imagine these scenarios…

• A mom is running errands with her kids in the car. She isn’t far from home, but the car breaks down. Her cell phone works but help is at least 45 minutes away. It’s -25C and the nearest store is at least a 10 minute walk. There are no blankets or extra winter clothing in the car for her or the kids.
• Teens out for a drive in mom’s car skid into the snow. They are off a beaten path and the car gets stuck. The nearest house is far and they have no cell phone signal. They didn’t tell anyone where they’d be hanging out so their family doesn’t know where to start looking as the day gets darker and colder.
• You get a flat. Although you have a spare the lug nuts are frozen solid. You’re stuck. What do you do?
• A business man dressed for the office runs out of gas. The CAA guy says he’s on his way but it will be a while. He doesn’t have any winter gear, and he’s stuck on a busy road where there isn’t anywhere to walk to. The wind chill is terrible so when he gets out to flag for help he starts to freeze. There isn’t anything in the car to prepare him to be out in the cold.

Prepare for the worst. Always. Never leave your safety to chance.

And if you ever come across someone else who needs help, their rescue can begin with you opening your trunk.