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If winter weather leaves you stranded, a well-stocked emergency kit will be invaluable.

To help you build your winter car emergency kit, I asked the most qualified people I know: my own mechanics, brothers Philip, Nick and Carmen Campione, part of the third generation of the family-owned AC Auto Repairs in Philadelphia. They provided helpful information with out overloading me with car terms I didn’t understand and didn’t try to talk down or upsell me on anything. (An added bonus: They gave me coffee and candy during our interview.)

From rubber tire traction pads to car escape multitools, the Campione brothers broke down the practical items that should live in your trunk. Some are snow-specific, but they recommend you keep others with you all year.

In addition to building an emergency kit, the biggest winter driving safety tip Philip Campione had was ensuring you have a full tank of gas whenever you hit the road. The weather can be unpredictable, and you want to ensure you have plenty of fuel, especially if you’re driving long distances or on the highway. He also recommended checking the weather before trips and trying to stay off the road or modify travel plans as much as you can during storms. 

The Campione brothers recommended keeping an emergency escape tool in your car all the time, but especially in the winter when the chances of accidents can be higher. "People don't realize how hard it is to break glass," Carmen said. Philip added that in a moment of crisis, your seatbelt may lock and you may struggle to get out of it.

If you're in a bad accident, your car ends up in water or you have a totally electric vehicle with door handles that may malfunction during an accident, a multi-tool like this one from Swiss Safe can help you get out of the car with a Tungsten steel hammer to break windows and an emergency seat belt cutter.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors and in a two-pack).

Philip and Carmen recommended keeping a set of traction track mats in your car, especially if you live in a city or park your car on the street where it could be blocked in by plowed snow. Carmen specified you'll want to grab rubber mats, not plastic ones. "Rubber is better than plastic because plastic can shoot backward and doesn't flex as much," he said.

Get them from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in three sizes).

Carmen recommended keeping extra road salt with you in the car. "If you're stuck on ice, nothing is going to help you out but salt," he said.

"God forbid your car shuts down or dies, you want something to keep warm," Philip said. 

This military-style wool blanket measures 64 inches by 88 inches. It's machine washable and will keep you warm even if it gets wet.

Get it from Amazon for $42.99 (available in 11 colors).

Philip recommended getting a portable battery pack that lives in your car. Though you may already have a charging cord plugged into your car, if your battery dies or something happens to your vehicle, a portable charger will ensure your phone has juice. This one can be charged while you drive and can supply power to your phone as well as tablets, laptops and even Nintendo Switches to keep little ones calm and entertained during a potential emergency.

"If you break down, you want to be visible," Philip said. He recommended keeping flares as well as reflective triangles in your car to ensure your visibility in the dark or in bad weather.

Get them from Amazon: the flares for $17.99+ (available in five set sizes) and a three-pack of triangles for $21.99+ (available with or without stands).

If you're driving in the winter, you're likely already wearing warm clothes, but Nick suggested having an extra layer or extra warm clothes for you and your kids when driving in the snow. If there's a bad crash or you're stranded for hours in the cold, you'll be happy to have "something you wouldn't wear in public but wouldn't mind wearing when you are cold," he said. 

These insulted, water-resistant coveralls have adjustable wrists and are made from warm, quilted material. They come in seven colors from men's sizes medium to 3X.

Though he's never used them personally, Philip said he's heard good things about these portable tools that come with jumper cables and can charge your phone or devices. If you're alone and need to jump your car, this device is easy to manage and compact enough to store in your car. It also doubles as a power bank. 

If you're not in the market for a car jumper, you should ensure you have a set of normal jumper cables in your car. "Jumper cables should be in everyone's car," Philip said.

Get them from Amazon: the car starter battery and cables for $69.99+ (available in two colors) and the jumper cables for $13.96+ (available in five sizes).

"A little plastic shovel is not a bad idea," Philip said. Carmen also recommended keeping a snow brush in your car to clear off your vehicle. Though they may seem like obvious additions, you'll certainly notice when you're caught in a storm and don't have them with you.

Get the snow brush from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in two sizes and three colors) and the shovel from Target for $14.99.

While you may only think to carry pepper spray with you when you're walking around, Philip recommended keeping some sort of defensive spray in your vehicle to protect you from potential predators in the event of an accident or a breakdown. "Whether it's a person or an animal, keeping mace in your vehicle will be enough of a deterrent," Philip said. He recommended bear spray or something else that has a far spray radius, though he cautioned to be extra careful and intentional with it.

"If you're cold, a handwarmer goes a long way," Nick said. If you get stuck in the cold or you're waiting for a tow, he recommended keeping a pack of disposable hand warmers with you or getting a rechargeable electric warmer to keep in your car.

Get them from Amazon: the Hot Hands for $34.99 and the electric hand warmer for $19.99+ (available in 10 colors/patterns).

A proud father of a five-month-old, Nick said he's been preparing his baby's winter car emergency kit and encouraged other parents to do the same. "Would you be prepared for 24 hours in your car with just a diaper bag?" he said.

In the event of an accident, traffic jam or your car getting stuck, Nick recommended packing enough formula, diapers and wipes for at least 24 hours. For older kids, you may want to ensure you have enough snacks, warm clothes as well as games or activities to keep little ones calm and engaged during an emergency.

Get them from Amazon: the baby formula for $26.97+ (available in two sizes), the diapers for $9.94+ (available in sizes 3–8 and a variety of packs), and the wipes for $18.93.

"Everyone should keep a case of water in their car, even if it's just the mini six-pack from Wawa," Philip said. 

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $3.96 (also available in a 24-pack).

Philip recommended keeping protein bars or another compact, filling and non-perishable food with you. If you're stranded for a couple of hours, you want to make sure that you're able to eat.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 14 flavors/packs).

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