Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost are the keys to safe winter driving.

Before embarking on a winter trip, have a mechanic check your vehicle's:

• Battery
• Antifreeze
• Wipers and windshield washer fluid
• Lights (including hazard lights)
• Exhaust system
• Heater
• Brakes
• Oil level and grade

Install good winter tires and make sure they have adequate tread. Some jurisdictions even require that vehicles be equipped with chains or snow tires.

Before leaving on your winter journey:

• Map out your trip carefully and plan to travel during daylight.
• Try to take at least one other person with you.
• Dress warmly, wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing.
• Pack an emergency kit, containing:
  • High-energy food and several bottles of water
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Blankets
  • Sleeping bags
  • Matches
  • Extra set of mittens, socks and wool cap
  • Extra clothing, including an old pair of boots
  • Bag of sand for wheel traction
  • Small or folding shovel
  • Booster cables
  • Set of tire chains or traction mats
  • Emergency "help" sign and/or brightly colored cloth to use as a flag

If you become trapped in your vehicle during a blizzard:

• Stay put. Don't leave the car to search for help unless help is visible nearby. Display a trouble sign or hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna.
• Turn on the ca'’s engine for about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning, though. Open a window slightly and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Do minor exercises to keep up circulation, but avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle. Cold weather puts added strain on the heart, and heavy physical activity could trigger a heart attack.

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