Tips On Being Stranded In Snow

Winter is a phenomenal time of year in Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois, especially when a fresh layer of snow covers everything. Winter can also be a rather hazardous time of the year. If you plan on traveling during the long cold winter, it is good to be completely prepared for winter driving and to have winter car supplies in your automobile. Regrettably, being stranded on the side of the road in severe winter conditions isn't unheard of. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois has provided these guidelines to help you in case you ever find yourself in that situation.

Should You Be Marooned While Driving In Winter:

1.   Call 911. If you've got access to a mobile phone, call 911 to get help. When you talk to authorities, be ready to:

• Describe the location, condition of your fellow travelers and the difficulty you're experiencing.
• Listen for questions.
• Follow any instruction. You may be told you need to stay where you are to guide rescuers or to return to the scene.
• Don't hang up until you know whom you have spoken with and what'll happen next.

2.   Stay in your vehicle. Walking in a storm could be very risky. You can easily lose your way, wander out of reach, become worn out, collapse, and risk your life. Your car or truck itself is a great shelter.
3.   Avoid overexertion. Attempting to push your automobile, trying to jack it into a new position or shoveling snow takes great effort in storm conditions. You may risk heart attack or another injury.
4.   Calm down and think. The storm will end and you will be discovered. Don't work enough to get hot and sweaty. Wet clothing depletes insulation quality making you more vulnerable to the effects of hypothermia.
5.   Keep clean air in the automobile. It is a lot better to be chilly or cold and conscious than to be comfortably warm and slip into unconsciousness. Freezing-wet or wind driven St. Louis area snow might plug your vehicle's exhaust system causing dangerous carbon monoxide gas to enter your car.
6.   Do not run the engine unless you're certain the exhaust pipe is free from snow or other objects. Keep your radiator free from snow to prevent the engine from getting hot. Run the engine at ten minute intervals for heat.
7.   Switch on the dome light after dark, but only when running the engine.
8.   Keep your blood circulating freely by slackening tight clothing, changing positions frequently, and moving your legs and arms. Huddle close to each other. Rub your hands together or put them under your armpits or between your legs. Take off your shoes occasionally and massage your feet.
9.   Don't expect to be comfortable. The goal is to survive until you're found.
10.   Make yourself noticeable to rescuers. Tie a bright cloth to your antenna or door handle.

When you get free from danger, your motor vehicle may have some cosmetic or internal damage. If so, think about taking your automobile to Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, IL. They have auto body experts ready to take care of any damage that your car might have incurred.