Being stranded in a snowed-in automobile is a survivable with a little planning and awareness
More storms, more droughts, and more drivers trapped in their cars in horrible blizzards, as hundreds of motorists in Virginia were this week, are expected in our climate-changed future. It's probably too late to do anything about climate change, but you can prepare for being trapped in your car during a snowstorm.
Plan ahead of time for the worst-case scenario.
You might be outraged by this advise if you're reading it after frantically Googling while stuck in your Hyundai by a winter storm, but you should have prepared before you went. Here's how it works:
- Prepare your car: Make sure it is in good working order, has the appropriate tires for winter driving conditions, and has a full tank of petrol. Charge your phone as well.
- Change your plans if inclement weather is forecast: Check the weather forecast and give impending snowstorms the attention they deserve.
- Prepare an emergency kit: If you're a good preparedness person, you'll have parkas, blankets, sleeping bags, boots, mittens, hats, flares, medications, wipes, a first-aid kit, a cellphone charger, an ice scraper, food (energy bars or other calorically dense choices), water, a shovel (for digging your car out), kitty litter (for melting snow on the ground for traction), and jumper cables. That's similar to packing for a camping trip, but if you have any trunk space, you can keep most of this in your car at all times and be ready for any calamity that catches you off guard.
- Before you go, tell someone where you're going and the route you'll be traveling.
What to do when you're truly stuck
- Don't worry: as long as you don't do something stupid, you'll be OK. In terms of survival scenarios, getting stranded in a car during a snowfall isn't all that horrible. It sure beats getting stuck in a snowstorm without a car.
- Check the exhaust pipe to make sure it's not clogged: When you first detect you're imprisoned, check the exhaust pipe to make sure it's clean. You don't want to perish as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Call 911 to notify the outside world that you are in crisis. Tie a brightly colored fabric or ribbon to your door or antenna. Raise your hood if the snow stops falling.
- Stay in your vehicle: A car is a good survival shelter—a man in Sweden survived in his car for two months with no food or water. It is not a good idea to go out walking in a blizzard. You will become disoriented, chilly, wet, and even struck by another car.
- Bundle up: With the additional clothing you packed, wear as many layers as you can. Make sure you put on a cap. Your head is where the majority of heat is lost (or so my mother used to say).
- Make the smallest possible space: If you have blankets or coats, make a tiny "fort" for yourself. It is simpler to heat a smaller place. You may line the windows with newspaper or leftover fast food bags that you never cleaned up. Some experts even advocate bringing a tea light or candle and lighting it to keep things warm.
- Start your car and leave the heater, hazard lights, and dome light on for around 10 minutes every hour, according to experts. Just make sure everything is turned off to reduce battery consumption. Some people recommend sliding down the window a crack while the motor is running to prevent breathing carbon monoxide. Aside from cold, carbon monoxide is the most dangerous gas.
- Don't play on your phone: I know it's tedious to be stuck in the car for so long, but only use your phone to call emergency services. However, don't be shocked if the authorities instruct you to "sit tight." That is exactly what occurred in Virginia. (Contrary to popular belief, you should not modify your voicemail to reflect where you are.)
- If you run out of water, drink melted snow: According to car survival experts reported in both the New York Times and the Washington Post, you can get some hydration into your body by drinking melted snow, although I like to imagine it won't go that far. I'm a believer.
#SarcasticGamer #SarcasticReview
SOURCE: lifehacker
What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment