Preparing a Winter Emergency Kit

Canadian winters can make the roads completely unpredictable. Whether you’re on a regular commute or a first-time road trip, roadside emergencies can happen at any time, especially with layers of snow and ice and variations in visibility working against you.

To help you navigate unexpected situations on the road, keep these items in a winter emergency kit, which you can store in your vehicle all season long.

winer car emergency kit - trousse d urgence d hiver pour la voiture

Safety & First Aid

If you need to pull over to manage an emergency on the road, having tools to see your surroundings and be seen by other vehicles is critical.

Keep a set of portable lights in your winter emergency kit to see both in and outside your vehicle. To make yourself visible to other drivers, get some safety triangles and, if you’re going to be off‑grid, some road flares. In case anyone is hurt on the road, keep a first aid kit in your vehicle.

Prime-Lite 2 Piece Roadside Assistance Light Set

15.69 $ 13.99 $

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Grote Triangles Flares Reflectors Emergency

74.39 $

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Clearing Snow & Ice

A snow brush is a winter car essential. This’ll help you clear snow off your vehicle between journeys. And don’t forget gloves: you’ll be thankful you packed a pair of insulated gloves in your winter emergency kit to keep your hands warm as you do this.

If you leave your car parked for a while and need to clear it before driving again, some de-icer can speed up the process. A pair of ice cleats can also come in handy if you have to get out of your car in an icy area.

Mallory Combo Pack Snowbroom And Snowbrush

24.49 $ 20.79 $

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Rain-X Rain-X De-Icer, 500g

12.49 $ 8.59 $

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Battery Support

A common winter mishap is a dead battery. Keep some battery boosting items like these in your winter emergency kit:

You don’t need all these supplies, but having at least a booster pack, jump starter, or set of jumper cables is wise when your battery is up against winter temperatures. Check out this article to read about the differences between jumper cables and booster packs.

Any other battery-related items you have can be stored at home for battery maintenance.

Carlyle Jump Starter 12V 325A

351.99 $ 199.99 $

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Temro Battery Blanket

45.69 $ 39.09 $

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Minor Repairs

Repair tools and backup products can help you manage minor vehicle issues and get you back on the road safely. Consider adding these items to your winter emergency kit:

 

If you have a more serious repair, call for roadside assistance.

NAPA Tire Repair Kit

13.19 $

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Prime-Lite Edge Multi 16 In 1 Multi Tool

38.79 $

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Navigation

With snow obscuring your vision, it’s possible you could take a wrong turn when driving a new route. Make sure you’re prepared for detours with navigation materials like these to get you back on track:

  • road maps
  • compass
  • GPS

A portable power bank will also be useful if you need to contact roadside assistance from your mobile device.

Extra Comforts

If you have to wait for help in a winter emergency, you’ll be thankful you packed things like body warmers and heated cushions. Non-perishable snacks like dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, and crackers will also keep you more comfortable.

Olympia Body Warmer

1.99 $

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Olympia Heated Cushion Ihot

39.99 $ 29.59 $

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Preparing Your Car for Winter

Some roadside incidents are unavoidable, but you can minimize your chances of certain winter mishaps by preparing your car for the season ahead of time. Before the first snowfall, go through this winter car maintenance checklist so you can tackle the road with confidence.

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