Winter weather has arrived and Bruce County shares this reminder with the public to be prepared for winter storms with an emergency kit in your vehicle.
“Being prepared for winter weather includes being prepared while you are travelling,” says Ray Lux, Bruce County’s emergency management co-ordinator. “First-responders may not be able to get to you right away due to call volume or weather conditions. Be prepared to keep yourself and your family safe and warm until help can arrive.
“Motorists can be prepared with a vehicle emergency kit filled with items that will keep you more comfortable and safer in the event you get stranded due to closed roads or while waiting to be pulled out of a ditch.”
What to include in a winter weather emergency kit for your vehicle:
Blanket and warm clothes, i.e. hats, gloves and a scarf
Snacks and water
Flashlight and extra batteries
Whistle
Cell phone charger
Portable snow shovel and ice scraper
Basic First Aid supplies
Additional items could include:
Booster cables
High-visibility vest
Reflective safety triangle
Tow rope
It is also recommended that if you are heading out of the house, even just for a short trip or errands, that you dress for the weather. If you don't want to wear that heavy winter jacket or those winter boots, at least take them with you. Having them in the event of an emergency, will keep you more comfortable and safer while waiting for assistance.
Prepared emergency kits for vehicles can be purchased at a local store or on-line. Building your own kit is also an option. Discover more about emergency preparedness at www.brucecounty.on.ca/getprepared.