Stranded in a car in a winter storm: stay warm and be found¶

Being stuck in a vehicle during a blizzard or heavy snowfall can turn from an inconvenience into a life threatening situation in a few hours. People who survive these events usually do a few simple things well: they stay with the car, they keep the exhaust pipe clear, they heat the cabin in short cycles instead of all night, and they make the vehicle easy to find. This guide explains each of those steps and the reasons behind them.

The advice here follows the main points of United States agencies such as the National Weather Service and Ready.gov, plus Transport Canada, the Met Office in the United Kingdom, and national road authorities. Where the advice differs between sources, this guide keeps the wording general and conservative. Read it now, because a storm is a poor time to learn it.

Etsa sena hona joale¶

1. Stay in the car unless shelter is clearly visible and close. A car is a shelter, and rescuers look for cars. In blowing snow, people lose their way within a few meters (yards) of the vehicle.
2. Call for help using your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) if you are in danger, and give your exact location. See dinomoro tsa tshohanyetso for other countries. If you have no signal, try text messaging, which often gets through when calls fail.
3. Clear the tailpipe of snow and keep it clear. Check it again before you run the engine, and check it every hour while the snow keeps falling.
4. Tsamaisa enjene ka lipotoloho tse khutšoane feela, metsotso e ka bang leshome hora e 'ngoe le e 'ngoe, ka fensetere e bulehileng ka lehlakoreng le leng hole le moea. E tima pakeng tsa li-cycle, 'me u sebelise hitara e lekaneng feela ho tima.
5. Make the car easy to spot: turn on hazard lights briefly when you hear traffic or aircraft, tie a bright cloth to the antenna or a door handle, and keep the roof and windows clear of snow.
6. Keep warm and dry with every layer, blankets, and the floor mats. Move your hands and feet often, drink fluids, eat if you have food, and never let someone fall asleep without another person keeping watch.

Why staying with the car is the standard advice¶

Many winter storm deaths happen when people walk away from a car. They overestimate the distance to help, underestimate the cold and wind, and become disoriented in blowing snow. A car also offers protection from wind and wet, and it can hold some heat from the engine and from your own bodies. It is a large, visible object that search teams can find from the road or the air.

There are exceptions. If you are certain that shelter is nearby, such as a building that you can see in clear weather and reach in a few minutes, going there may be sensible. If the car is in danger from fire, flood, or a collapse, or if you are in a place where traffic cannot see you and is likely to strike the car, you may need to move to a safer position well away from the road. In those cases, take your phone, warm clothing, and a light, and keep a line of sight to the vehicle.

Carbon monoxide: the silent danger¶

The engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell. When snow blocks the tailpipe, or when you idle in a closed space or drift, the gas can seep through the floor and into the cabin. People have died within minutes in this way, sometimes while the engine was running to keep them warm.

To protect everyone in the car:

• Clear snow from the tailpipe and the area around it before you start the engine, and check again at least every hour.
• Crack a window open by about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) on the side away from the wind, even in the cold, to let fresh air in.
• Set the climate control to fresh air rather than recirculate, if the car has the option.
• Do not run the engine in a garage, a snow cave, or any place with poor airflow.
• Watch for symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, drowsiness, or a sense of weakness. If anyone feels these, turn off the engine, get everyone into fresh air if it is safe, and call for help.
• Consider carrying a battery operated carbon monoxide alarm in your winter kit.

Bona ho tsoa ka har'a cabin ea koloi, ho thibela mohatla oa lehloa le chefo ea CO le khabone monoxide le ho hema mosi thuso ea pele bakeng sa tse ling.

Using the engine and heater wisely¶

Fuel is your most precious resource, and it can be wasted quickly. A common recommendation from the National Weather Service in the United States is to run the engine for about ten minutes every hour for heat. That is a rule of thumb, not a law, and the right pattern depends on the temperature, how much fuel you have, how many people are in the car, and how well the car holds heat.

A sample heat cycle¶

1. Turn off the engine and keep the keys within reach. Check the tailpipe and clear it.
2. Open a window slightly on the side away from the wind.
3. Start the engine, turn the heater to a comfortable warmth, and run it for around ten minutes. Use that time to warm hands, feet, and any food or drink.
4. Turn off the engine, keep the window slightly open, and bundle up. The car will keep some heat for a while.
5. Repeat each hour, or sooner if anyone is shivering hard, or less often if you are warm and fuel is limited.
6. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge. Do not let it fall below a quarter if you can help it, since a restart may be needed later.

Save the battery¶

The battery powers the starter, the lights, and your phone charging. Turn off the radio, interior lights, and unnecessary accessories. If you leave the hazard lights on, you may drain the battery in a few hours.

Use them in short bursts when you hear a vehicle or see lights. If the battery dies, the engine will not restart. See betere ea koloi e shoeleng nakong ea serame sa leholimo for how to deal with a cold battery.

If you run out of fuel¶

Once the fuel is gone, the car becomes a cold box. Use every other source of warmth. Bunch together, share blankets, and wear everything you have.

Sit on the floor mats or a blanket to insulate from the cold seat. A hat is important because a lot of body heat leaves through the head. Cover the windows with sunshades or paper for insulation if you have them, leaving a small gap to see out.

Signal for help¶

You are much easier to find if you give rescuers clues. Use signals sparingly to conserve energy and battery.

If you have a smartphone, share your location with a family member or the emergency service. Many phones can send an emergency SOS message over a satellite link if there is no mobile signal. Turn on your phone only when you need to use it, and keep it close to your body.

Make a message¶

If you have no signal, write a note with your name, number of people, the time, and the direction you came from, and leave it on the dashboard in case rescuers find the car empty. If you are forced to leave, leave a note on the windshield with the direction you went.

Keep warm without freezing¶

Serame se bolaea ka litsela tse peli: ka ho theola mocheso oa mantlha oa hau (hypothermia) le ka ho hoama ha letlalo le lisele (lehloa). Ka bobeli li ka etsahala ka koloing. Lula u hlokomela boemo ba hau le ba bohle ba nang le uena.

Lera le insulate¶

• Apara lilae tse 'maloa tse tšesaane ho e-na le lera le le leng le teteaneng. Kenya lesela le ka ntle le thibelang moea, katiba, liatlana le sekhafo.
• Sebelisa likobo, mekotla ea ho robala, lijase, liaparo tse ling le likoranta. Pampiri e kentsoeng ka har'a baki ke insulator e hlomphehang.
• Beha limmete tsa fatše, khateboto, kapa kobo ka tlas'a hao ho khaola conduction ho tloha setulong.
• Tlosa maoto a hau mokatong o batang, 'me u ntše likausi tse metsi le liatlana hang-hang.
• Kopana hammoho, haholo-holo le bana le batho ba baholo. Mocheso oa 'mele oa eketsa.
• Koala masoba ao u sa a hlokeng, 'me u thibele lipente ka lithaole kapa liaparo.
• U se ke ua roala lieta tse thata kapa lieta, hobane liaparo tse thata li fokotsa ho potoloha.

Sutha o je¶

Motsamao o bonolo o baka mocheso. Tshwara menwana ya hao ya maoto, koneha le ho lokolla mabole, mme o tsamaise matsoho le maoto metsotsong e meng le e meng e mmalwa. U se ke ua ikoetlisa ka thata ho fihlela u fufuleloa, hobane liaparo tse mongobo lia u bata.

Eat food regularly, especially fats and carbohydrates, since the body burns fuel to make heat. Drink fluids, because dehydration speeds cold injury. Warm drinks help, but avoid alcohol, which widens blood vessels and speeds heat loss, and avoid too much caffeine.

U se ke ua ja lehloa¶

Eating snow lowers your body temperature and takes energy to melt. If you must melt snow, use the heat of your body or a container warmed in the car, and only use clean snow. Keep a supply of drinking water in the car in winter, in an insulated container or inside your coat so that it does not freeze.

Watch for hypothermia and frostbite¶

Early signs of hypothermia are shivering, cold hands and feet, and clumsiness. As it worsens, shivering may stop, speech slurs, thinking becomes foggy, and a person may become very sleepy. Frostbite looks like pale, waxy, hard, or numb skin on fingers, toes, ears, and nose.

Warm the person gradually, remove wet clothing, wrap them in dry layers, and give warm drinks if they are awake and can swallow. Do not rub frostbitten skin. See hypothermia le serame for first aid steps, and consider a hands-on first aid course from the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, or a local provider.

flowchart TD
    A["Stranded in a winter storm"] --> B["Stay in the car and call for help"]
    B --> C["Clear tailpipe and crack a window"]
    C --> D["Make the car visible"]
    D --> E["Run engine about 10 minutes each hour"]
    E --> F{"Is anyone cold, drowsy or confused?"}
    F -->|"Ee"| G["Warm them gradually and call for urgent help"]
    F -->|"Che"| H["Keep layers on and move hands and feet"]
    G --> I["Recheck tailpipe and fuel"]
    H --> I
    I --> J{"Has help arrived?"}
    J -->|"Che"| E
    J -->|"Ee"| K["Follow rescuer instructions"]

Lijo, metsi le motlakase oa mohala¶

Lijo le metsi¶

Boloka k'halori e ngata, lijo tse sa senyeheng ka koloing: linate, lisebelisoa tsa matla, litholoana tse omisitsoeng le li-crackers. Khetha lijo tseo u ka li jang ha ho bata ebile u sa pheha. Paka metsi ka libotlolong tsa polasetiki, 'me u a boloke hore a se ke a bata ka ho a boloka ka pokothong e ka hare kapa ka mokotleng ka har'a ntlo, ebe u siea sebaka se itseng sa moea ka botlolong. Haeba u noa meriana, etsa bonnete ba hore u na le thepa, 'me u pake lijo kapa seno sefe kapa sefe se hlokahalang bakeng sa maemo a kang lefu la tsoekere.

Phone power¶

A cold phone loses battery quickly. Keep it in an inner pocket, switch it to low power mode, dim the screen, turn off background apps, and close those you are not using. Use short calls and text messages.

A car charger, power bank, or cable can top it up; but if you are running the engine in short cycles, you will have limited charging time. Save the phone's charge for calls and location sharing.

Do not drain your resources¶

• Use only the amount of fuel you need to take the chill off.
• Limit heater fan speed, since the fan uses battery power when the engine is off.
• Do not leave the dome light, radio, or phone charger on while the engine is off.
• Eat and drink steadily instead of all at once.
• Rest in turns so one person always stays awake and watches for danger.

Special cases¶

Children and babies¶

Bana ba lahleheloa ke mocheso kapele ho feta batho ba baholo mme ba ka 'na ba se ke ba u bolella hore baa bata. Li apare ka lihlopha, ka katiba le mittens, li behe setulong sa koloi kapa u li sireletse ka kobo, 'me u li boloke haufi le uena. Ngoana a ka kenngoa ka har'a jase ea hau khahlanong le letlalo la hao. Li hlahlobe khafetsa bakeng sa letlalo le phodileng, ho otsela, kapa khutso e sa tloaelehang, 'me u li fe lijo le maro a kamehla.

Older adults and people with medical conditions¶

Older adults and people with heart disease, diabetes, or limited mobility are at higher risk. Keep their medicines within reach, watch for confusion, and warm them early. Tell emergency services about any medical need when you call. See disabilities and medical needs for planning ahead.

Liphoofolo tse ruuoang lapeng¶

Pets feel the cold too. Keep them inside with you, give them water, and wrap them in a blanket. Do not leave them alone in a cold car, and do not let them out in the storm, where they can become lost.

Electric vehicles¶

An electric vehicle has no exhaust, so the carbon monoxide risk is smaller, but the heater draws on the same battery that moves the car. Use seat heaters and warm clothing before the cabin heater, because they use less energy. Keep the battery above 20 percent if you can, and check the manual for a winter or preconditioning setting. A fully charged EV can often keep a cabin warm for many hours at low heat, but this depends on the car and the cold.

Stuck at night¶

Darkness raises the risk of a second vehicle striking yours. Keep exterior lights on in short bursts, make sure the vehicle is as far from the traffic lane as you can, and wear reflective clothing if you have to step out. Keep a flashlight or headlamp and a spare battery in the car.

Leaving the car: only if you must¶

If you must leave, plan carefully. Wear all your clothing and carry water, food, a light, a phone, and anything bright. Leave a note. Mark your route with objects so you can come back.

Stay on the road or follow a fence line, and never cross frozen water unless you are sure of it. Walk at a slow pace, resting before you sweat. Turn back if the weather worsens, and do not go farther than you can see.

Bona lehloeng: ho cheka, ho hula le nako ya ho kopa thuso if you are only stuck and not in a storm.

Prepare before the storm¶

Most of the stress in a stranding comes from being unprepared. A well stocked winter kit, a full fuel tank, and a plan make a huge difference. See kit ea koloi ea mariha le tlhahlobo ea likoloi pele ho mariha for what to carry, and assembling a vehicle winter blizzard survival kit for a more advanced list.

• Check the forecast and listen to warnings from your national weather service. Avoid travel when it advises you not to go.
• Tell someone your route and the time you expect to arrive.
• Keep the tank at least half full in winter.
• Carry a charged phone, a power bank, and a car charger.
• Keep warm clothing and blankets in the car, not only in the trunk where you may not be able to reach them.
• Know the roads and the services along your route.
• If you see conditions worsening, turn back or stop early at a safe place.

A timeline of what to expect¶

Knowing how a stranding usually unfolds helps you pace your resources. The hours below are rough, because the weather, the car, and the people differ.

Mind and morale¶

Fear and boredom are real hazards. A calm voice, a simple plan, and small tasks keep a group steady. Give each person a job, such as watching the tailpipe, keeping count of the time between engine cycles, or checking phones for signal.

Talk, sing, or tell stories, and keep children occupied with games. People who feel they have a role cope better than those who feel helpless.

Ho etsa liqeto ho thata ha u hatsetse ebile u khathetse, kahoo ngola moralo oa hau. Hlokomela nako ea potoloho e 'ngoe le e 'ngoe ea enjene, boemo ba mafura le hore na ke mang ea falimehileng. Moralo o ngotsoeng o thibela sehlopha ho hoholehela liqetong tse mpe, joalo ka ho siea koloi lefifing.

What rescuers want you to know¶

Search and rescue teams and highway crews often give the same advice, and it comes from many past rescues.

• Stay with your vehicle. A car can be seen from far away, but a person cannot.
• Make the car easy to spot from the air and the ground by clearing the roof and tying something bright to it.
• Keep a clear record of where you were last on the road and when you left, so rescuers know where to look.
• Do not leave without telling someone, and leave a note if you must go.
• Answer calls from rescuers with your location, number of people, and any injuries.
• Do not run out to flag down a plow on the road, since it may not see you in a whiteout. Move well off the road and make your car visible.
• Do not try to cross frozen lakes or rivers, since ice thickness is unpredictable. See ho wela hara leqhoa.

If a plow or rescue vehicle arrives¶

Stay in the car until the crew reaches you, and do what they ask. Tell them about anyone with a medical need or any child in the vehicle. Take your keys, phone, medicine, and identity papers, and lock the car if instructed.

Do not insist on saving the car when the crew says to go. The car can be recovered after the storm.

Hidden risks while stranded¶

Mollo le libeso¶

Never use a candle, a camp stove, a barbecue, or a heater with a flame inside the car. Candle heat is a popular myth: a single candle gives very little warmth and uses oxygen, and it adds a fire risk in a small space. Do not smoke. If you must use a stove, use it outside, away from the car, with nothing flammable nearby.

Snow and roof collapse¶

Heavy snow on the car roof is not a risk for the structure, but wet snow can build up on the windows and block your sight. Clear the glass each hour. If you have parked under trees or next to a slope, move if you can, since a branch or an avalanche can strike. Do not stay in a car in an avalanche path, or under a snow laden tree.

Dehydration and hunger¶

People are more likely to forget to drink when cold. Dehydration thickens blood, reduces warmth, and causes headaches. Sip water regularly, and eat small snacks.

Haeba metsi a le makhutšoanyane, u se ke ua itšetleha ka lehloa feela. Ho e qhibilihisa ho sebelisa mocheso, 'me ho e ja hoa u hatsetse. Sebelisa botlolo ea metsi e kentsoeng ka har'a jase ea hau ho qhibilihisa lehloa le hloekileng butle.

Alcohol and sleeping pills¶

Avoid alcohol, which causes heat loss, and avoid sleeping pills, which dull your response to cold. Keep your medicines for chronic conditions, and take them as normal. If you are unsure, ask the emergency dispatcher.

Traffic¶

If your car is close to a lane, there is a chance another driver will hit it in poor visibility. Keep your seat belt on when you are in a position that might be struck, keep the car as far off the road as possible, and keep your lights on in short bursts. Do not stand behind the car.

Communicating without a mobile signal¶

Signal can be poor in storms and rural areas. A few steps raise your chances of getting a message out.

1. Climb to a higher position only if it is safe, such as a nearby bank, but do not leave the car area.
2. Try sending a text message, since it uses less signal than a voice call.
3. Try the emergency number even if your phone shows no signal, because phones can use any available network for emergency calls in many countries.
4. Check for a satellite messaging feature, which newer phones and some devices provide.
5. Turn the phone off for a few minutes, then back on, to reset the connection, and move it near a window.
6. Wait for a signal, and give a short clear message when you connect: your name, location, number of people, and any need for medical help.

If you carry a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger on trips, keep it in the cabin where you can reach it and know how to use it before you need it.

Lipotso tse botsoang khafetsa¶

Is it safe to run the car engine to stay warm in a storm?¶

It can be safe if you keep the tailpipe completely clear of snow, crack a window, and run the engine only for short periods, such as about ten minutes each hour. Running it continuously uses fuel quickly and raises the risk of carbon monoxide. Check the exhaust each time you restart the engine, and turn it off at once if anyone feels dizzy or has a headache.

Motho a ka phela nako e kae ka koloing sefefong sa mariha?¶

Ha ho karabo e le ’ngoe, hobane e itšetlehile ka mocheso, moea, liaparo, libeso, lijo le bophelo bo botle ba batho. Kaha ho na le lilae tse ntle, bolulo ka koloing, lipotoloho tse sireletsehileng tsa mocheso, le lijo le metsi, batho ba bangata ba phela matsatsi a mangata. Kantle ho tsona, motho a ka hatsela ka tsela e kotsi ka mor’a lihora tse seng kae, kahoo nka bohato kapele ’me u kope thuso kapele kamoo u ka khonang.

Should I leave my hazard lights on all the time?¶

No, leaving them on all the time can drain the battery in a few hours, and you may need that power to restart the engine. Use the hazard lights in short bursts when you hear a vehicle, see lights, or hear an aircraft. Tie a bright cloth to the car so it is visible without using power.

Is it better to walk for help if no one comes?¶

In most cases it is better to stay with the car, because a vehicle gives shelter and is easier to find than a person. Walk only if you can clearly see a safe building nearby, the weather allows it, and you have the right clothing. Tell someone your plan if you can, and leave a note in the car.

Mehloli e hlahlobiloe¶

• National Weather Service (United States) winter storm and vehicle safety guidance.
• Ready.gov and FEMA (United States) guidance on winter weather and vehicle safety.
• NHTSA (United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and AAA winter driving advice.
• Transport Canada and Government of Canada winter travel and survival guidance.
• Met Office and National Highways (England) advice for severe winter weather and what to carry in a vehicle.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) guidance on carbon monoxide and cold exposure.

Litataiso tse amanang¶

• Sekhechana sa koloi ea mariha le tlhahlobo ea likoloi pele ho mariha
• Stuck in snow: dig out, traction and when to call for help
• Maemo a bosoeu le ho khanna ha leholiotsoana
• Hypothermia le serame
• Lifefo tsa mariha