If you have gone off the road, run out of gas, had an engine failure, blown a tire, or any other roadside emergency in the middle of winter, follow these steps to stay as safe as possible.
- First. Call for help. In every scenario it is best to call the police/highway patrol as well as a tow truck so they can document the incident for your insurance agency.
- Second. Assess the incident. For a flat tire or going off the road with no damage to the vehicle, keep exhaust pipe is clear and keep the vehicle running. Keeping the heat running will make the wait much more bearable and much safer. However, if the exhaust pipe is blocked, exhaust fumes could make their way back into the car.
- For incidents that do have significant damage to the vehicle, turn it off to prevent further damage or harm.
- Third. Wait for help to arrive. Even if you have a spare in the back and are able to make it to a repair station. It is still best to have an officer inspect the area in case something on the road caused your flat tire.
Getting Stranded Without Heat
In cases where it is not safe to have your vehicle running after an accident, learning how to survive without a heater is imperative. The most first thing to consider is whether you can stay in the vehicle or not. Staying warm outside will be much harder than inside a vehicle. Being prepared is the best means to stay safe and comfortable while waiting for help.
If you get stranded with no reliable heat-source, your best option is to have stuff prepared. Emergency blankets or even just a regular, extra thick blanket, are great to have stored in the trunk if you car. Blankets are great ways to retain heat. Thermal clothing and winter jackets are good alternatives for a blanket.
How to Survive Without Heat
When you are stranded in a car without heat, follow these steps.
- Climb into the back seat, or make as much space in the front seat as possible.
- Use a blanket or layer winter clothes to try and preserve as much heat as possible.
- If you have multiple people, try and fit as many people under the blanket as possible.
- Curling up in a ball and trying to be as small as possible will also conserve heat.
If you can’t stay in the vehicle, try to stay under as many layers as possible. If help is going to take a long time, huddling in a group is a great way to conserve heat. Despite what you may think, exercising is not always helpful for keeping warm. Moving around and keeping the blood flowing will he helpful for staying warm, but anything more than that will make the situation worse. Exercising enough to sweat will end up making you colder once the sweat evaporates and can get your clothes wet.
