Many of you have undoubtedly heard or read about the recent snow storm in the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern part of the U.S. that fouled up a number of heavily traveled highways and caused many motorists to be stuck in their cars overnight with below-freezing temperatures.
Waiting in the frigid weather for the roads to be cleared, many of these folk intermittently started their engines and ran their heaters in an attempt to keep warm. Of course they had to be careful not to burn too much gasoline … which meant the benefits were often short-lived.
However, above and beyond keeping warm, some of these motorists (especially those with children) had an even bigger concern. They had no food or water.
While snow storms may not be a problem where you live, there are other conditions/hazards — flooded roads, downed trees, accidents, etc. — that can create serious delays in one’s travels. In most instances, such obstructions are cleared within a few hours and you’re able to continue on your way. However, there are no guarantees since each predicament is different. You could very easily be stuck for an extended period of time.
This is why it’s vitally important that you always carry food and water in your car.
It doesn’t need to be any more than a couple of protein bars and two to three bottles of water per person, but every individual that drives a car should have some type of food and water available in case of emergency. PLUS, if you take scheduled medication, I’m sure you recognize how important it is to carry an extra dose with you at all times.
Further, in the wintertime, it never hurts to throw in an extra jacket or sweatshirt (maybe even a blanket). Just in case.
Life is unpredictable. We never know what’s just around the corner. For our own sake and for those we care about, it’s always a good idea to Be Prepared.
P.S. If I’m preaching to the choir, all the better. But if you’re someone that hasn’t given much thought to these extra precautions, perhaps it’s time you did.
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Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
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