While we don’t have major amounts of snow in our immediate future, the week of November 9-13 is Winter Awareness Week in Wisconsin.
It’s important that as we head into the winter months, both you and your vehicle are prepared for the weather. Now is the time to get your vehicle winterized and make sure that it is loaded with a good winter weather survival kit. The kit should include the following…
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Extra hats, socks and mittens
- A flashlight, with extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- A Shovel, booster cables and a windshield scraper
- Water and high-calorie, non-perishable food (raisins, candy bars, energy/protein bars)
- Sand or cat litter to use for traction if you get stuck
- A cell-phone adapter
If you do get stuck in a storm, stay in your vehicle if possible – walking in a storm can be dangerous, as it’s easy to get lost of exhausted and your vehicle provides good shelter. If possible, call 911 and give your location and the condition of everyone in the vehicle. Do not hang up with the 911 operator until you know what will happen next.
Remember, most wintertime accidents happen as a result of driving too fast for the conditions. Over the last five years, Wisconsin has averaged 18,000 accidents each year during the winter months when roads are covered with ice, snow or slush.
