Emergency Response Gear To Carry In Your Off-Roader During Winter
October 17, 2022
Winter Emergency Response Essentials For Your Off-Road Rig
Old man winter will soon be starting to wreak havoc across the Northern regions of North America, and one thing we know for sure (and from experience) is that if we're not preparing our vehicles with essential emergency gear and supplies, or maintaining them for the demanding and treacherous conditions that lie ahead, it could leave us in a very serious situation.
So today, we want to take a look at the three most important categories of surviving winter travel: Emergency Response Gear, Vehicle Maintenance, and Survival. Let's jump right in and check out the best things to keep with you once winter arrives, so you can make sure you're prepared for anything that comes your way.
Table Of Contents
-Windshield De-Icer & Washer Fluid
More Winter Tips: What Are Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Tires?
Should You Always Keep Winter Essentials In Your Vehicle?
First and foremost, you should know that most of the items that we're gonna go through today aren't necessarily meant for winter - these are all important items that can be carried with you year round. Also, keep in mind that these items can be carried along even in a daily driver, not just in a weekend warrior vehicle - the mentality is that it's always better to have something and not need it than need something and not have it. With all that in mind, we'll be taking a look at all the emergency response items you should be bringing along.
Top Emergency Response Gear For Off-Road Vehicles
First Aid Kits
First, you should always have a first aid kit in your rig. Now, we're not referring to a typical household Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid kit, but an actual emergency kit that is better known as a trauma kit. And these trauma kits are designed to be used in severe, life-threatening situations, like a vehicle collision - they can get a bit pricey, with some retailing for around $250, but for that cost you'll get some of the most extensive, thorough, and high-quality kits out there.
That doesn't mean, though, that this is the price you should be expecting, as there are less pricey kits that look to be just as thorough and complete as top options from My Medic and others. EVERLIT, for example, offers a variety of 250-piece first aid kits for $43 on Amazon, and even their trauma kits retail only at around $50.
With that in mind, just know that having a trauma kit and not knowing how to use it can be just as unforgiving as not having one at all. If that's the case, we'd definitely recommend seeking out emergency first response training courses that are available as well, and you can find an opening near you at emergencyfirstresponse.com.
Emergency Blanket
Along with having a trauma kit, if the kit doesn't already have an emergency blanket, it would be a good idea to carry one, not just for survival, but for when the body is losing or has lost a lot of blood, and goes into shock as core temps begin to drop. This can happen in warmer summer-like temperatures as well, but gets expedited by the already-freezing winter temps. An emergency blanket will help keep the warmth in and the cold out, which can be a lifesaver.
Seatbelt Cutters
Now, here's a scenario that, if you've never been in this situation before, you might not know even happens. Let's say we're involved in a serious car accident and the vehicle ends up on its roof - assuming we're all wearing our seatbelts, we're gonna be hanging upside down in our seats and suspended by the seat belt. Because all our body weight is putting pressure on the seat belt and the seat belt latch, there's a good chance that we might not be able to unlatch it - so, the next step would be to cut the seat belt.
A quick Google or Amazon search will bring up plenty of purpose-built seatbelt cutters, and most of them will have a glass breaker on it as well. In a rollover accident, there's a good chance you'll have to cut the seat belt, but there's also a good chance that the doors aren't gonna open either - breaking the glass might be the only way to escape, so make sure you have a good method for doing so on hand.
Shop Winter Tires In Our Store!
Fire Extinguisher
Even worse than being trapped is being trapped while a fire breaks out in or around your vehicle. But a great way to give yourself the absolute best chances at surviving a vehicle fire is by having a way to extinguish the fire - even if it's not your vehicle that's on fire and it's someone else's, having a fire extinguisher or a couple extinguishers along with you can really make or break your chance of surviving. A class rating of A, B, or C, or any combo of the three, in a five-pound extinguisher is an excellent way to be prepared year round for emergency situations.
Light Kits & Flares
The next item to have along with you is a way to visually notify other drivers coming towards you that there is an emergency or disabled vehicle, especially if you've been involved in an accident. This can come in the form of wax colored roadside flares, quality roadside emergency glow-sticks, or even emergency LED flashing light kits. Any one of these can easily be found with a quick Google search.
Even a flare gun isn't a bad idea to carry along with you, just in case you end up getting stranded in the middle of the woods, but having a way to warn others of an upcoming emergency or signal others from miles around is another great way to keep yourself safe.
Windshield De-Icer & Washer Fluid
Another huge problem in winter, especially during ice storms or severe blizzards, is having your windshield and windshield wipers build up with ice and snow, causing you to lose your ability to see clearly through your windshield. Having a good deicer or deicing agent, along with a good ice scraper, plus making sure your wipers are in good condition, is a great way to keep your windshield clear.
When ice does end up building up on your windshield and wipers, a good idea is to pull off the next side road or parking lot, if possible, and always pull off the road in the right hand direction - you never want to stop on an icy slippery road to wait for traffic to turn left. Once you're off the road, run your defrost on high heat and high fan to start melting all the built-up ice and snow. Then, use your ice scraper and deicer to clean off all the ice off the windshield and wipers.
One other thing to keep in mind is that when ice starts to build up on the wiper arms, it starts to prevent that arch from being able to apply an even pressure to the windshield, and that causes the wiper blade to only contact small areas of its swipe. A good tip here is to use a 90% or higher isopropyl rubbing alcohol to help melt the ice - plus, it'll clean off the rubber on the wiper blades.
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Now that you know all the most important winter emergency kits to carry with you, it'll make things much easier to have that peace of mind when you head out for the roads or trails when the temperature starts to drop. Be sure to check out our accessories store today and grab anything you need to handle the upcoming season - we're always happy to help you find what your rig needs for the road ahead!
