My family makes frequent winter trips to the mountains into areas without cell phone reception. Seems strange to worry about losing cell coverage until disaster happens. A few years back while on an pre-dawn drive to a ski resort our van had engine trouble. Not a disaster, except for the fact the temp was only hovering around zero and we were miles from "civilization." Fortunately two skiers traveling the same county highway stopped to help us out--gave my kids their handwarmers and granola bars, drove my hubby to a town with cell coverage so he could call a repair truck, and then drove him back to our van.
Thank goodness for kind souls like the skiers who helped us!
Just in case you end up in a similar situation stranded in a car on a frigid winter day or night, pack a winter car emergency kit in your car. Here are a few items recommended by AAA with some items I added to the list:
- ice scraper and snow brush
- extra jug of wiper fluid
- several thermal blankets and warm clothing
- portable hand warmers and toe warmers
- small shovel
- bag of sand or cat litter for traction
- flashlight with extra batteries
- cell phone
- jumper cables
- several water bottles and a few items of nonperishable food such as granola, energy or candy bars
- rags or paper towels
- roadside flares
- first aid kit
- tire inflator (ie., Fix-A-Flat)
- quart of oil
- Leatherman Tool (or similar multipurpose tool containing pliers, wire cutters, knife, saw, bottle opener, screwdrivers, files, awl)
- help sign
