Winter driving brings the risk of being stranded - how prepared are you? (Photo: Can Stock Photo)
In winter, there is a very real risk of being stranded in snow in your vehicle, as has happened on several occasions so far this year. Being snowbound can constitute a life or death emergency, but it is one that can easily be anticipated and mitigated through proper planning and preparation.
National media reported yesterday that a section of the Trans-Canada Highway between Strathmore and Bassano, Alberta, was closed due to blowing snow and cold temperatures, which stranded several people in their vehicles.
Last month, 300 vehicles were stranded on Highway 402 in and around Sarnia, Ontario. One person was found perished, and the Canadian Forces were called upon to assist police in clearing vehicles and residences that were left cut off by a snow storm.
If most drivers were to survey their trunk and glove compartment for “emergency supplies” they are likely to find a car owner’s manual, spare fuses, and perhaps booster cables.
But being snowbound in a vehicle for 16-24 hours requires some thought be put into these three critical survival priorities:
- Shelter
- Sustenance
- Sending for help
Shelter
A vehicle provides shelter from biting windchill, but not much else. Cars are not normally designed as dwellings, and are poorly insulated, and made of metal, which loses heat rapidly. Even a small heat source can provide comfort and guard against hypothermia and exposure. At least one candle is a recommended part of a car survival kit, and of course waterproof matches to go with it. It is very important to provide fresh air when burning a candle inside a small space, and a window must be opened slightly to ventilate deadly carbon monoxide created by burning any combustible.
Candles are normally used only as a last resort, as keeping the engine running for intermittent periods will also provide heat. However, as many experienced residents of prairie provinces can attest to, in very cold weather fuel lines can freeze quickly and engines may not start once turned off.
Blankets are also essential, and the more the better. Proper wool blankets can be had at any army surplus shop for a reasonable price, and are far more useful and retaining heat than camping store “survival” blankets that double as foil reflectors, although having both may not be a terrible idea.
Sustenance
Food and water are rarely considerations for healthy adults during short period survival situations. But children, the elderly, or those with special diet or medical considerations require food and water, especially in hardship situations. As the body digests food it creates heat energy. High-sugar, high-calorie foods convert into heat energy more quickly than other foods, and so snack bars, dried fruits, and other non-perishables should always be part of a car survival kit.
The survival rule with water is “ration sweat, not water”. In a vehicle during a winter emergency, water should be consumed before it freezes, when it may not be possible, or energy efficient to thaw again.
Sending for help
Never leave a stranded vehicle in the winter. Ever. Survival experts always recommend staying in your vehicle, even during lengthy emergencies. As was seen in Sarnia last month, police and military searchers established a rescue plan which included ensuring every single vehicle was checked for occupants.
The only person to have died in that incident was a lone male who attempted to walk from his vehicle only a few hundred metres into the city, through a farm field. In an open field in the snow, it is very easy to become disoriented by blowing snow, even in sunny conditions. Walking through deep snow uses a lot of energy and without proper clothing, hypothermia can set in quickly. Once hypothermia sets in, the body shuts down blood flow to extremeties as an emergency measure, to conserve heat. But only gross motor functions continue, and confusion and unconsciousness can set in quickly. Death may occur in a matter of minutes.
It is imperative to stay inside the vehicle. The exception to this rule is if you are fairly sure that your whereabouts are unknown by anyone, and rescue is unlikely. In this rare and exceptional case, attempting to find help may be the only option. This is not usually the case on a major 400-series highway in Ontario, which are patrolled fairly regularly by police and provincial transport authorities.
Obviously if one is stranded and has a means to communicate, such as a cellular phone or HAM radio, they should immediately inform someone of their situation, including their location, any medical issues, and supplies on hand. This information allows rescuers to prioritize their resources. For example, if they know a vehicle contains a person who has plenty of food and heat, they may wait a bit longer to make contact while they investigate vehicles with unknown occupants, or those with medical emergencies or no supplies on hand.
