By Scott Roblin

Winter emergency kits a must for drivers according to police

Dec 27, 2017 | 4:11 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Thousands of vehicles pass through Medicine Hat every day, with the holiday season serving as the busiest time of the year for travelling.

Kraig Kohls owns Autospa Towing and said they’ve been constantly boosting and towing stranded vehicles over the last few days.

“We ended up doing about 113 calls yesterday, and today they figure they’re going to even do more.”

In many of these cases, drivers are on the road without emergency winter kits.

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Kohls said it’s something that isn’t always thought about until it’s too late.

“It’s the one person that doesn’t have it, the one time they just took it out to do their trip and they forgot it.”

Recommended by first responders, these packs can include blankets, gloves, candles, first aid kits, and other materials to help stranded drivers.

Cst. David Smith with the Medicine Hat Police Department said these items can be life-saving, especially with temperatures dipping below minus 30 at night.

“Hypothermia can set in very quickly, especially in this weather. It’s minus 26 today I think, so it’s planning ahead and packing that blanket or even an extra coat.”

Along with blankets, extra winter clothing can keep stranded travellers warm.

Drivers can either assemble the kits themselves or purchase pre-assembled bags at various auto dealerships.

Davis GMC Buick Parts Manager Mike Schritt said it’s an important piece of equipment, with vehicles breaking down more often in the winter compared to the summer months.

“With slippery roads and cold temperatures it just compounds the problems if you don’t have good tires, or if the vehicle is not completely, properly maintained.”

According to Smith, items often forgotten by motorists include charging cords for their phones and fleece blankets.

As for Kohls, he packs a kit whenever he hits the road and said he’s been stranded on the job before.

“When that happens, it can be a scary situation. If the vehicle is at least running they can stay warm, but as long as they have fuel. We’ve experienced our own trucks breaking down, and the guys are pretty thankful when we show up.”

Costing between $35 and $50 per kit, Schritt said it’s money well spend if you ever find yourself stuck on the side of a road.

“It’s a very inexpensive kit that provides peace of mind, doesn’t take up hardly any room in the vehicle. You know, for 50 dollars it’s a pretty good value.”

Police add if you’re travelling with family, it’s important to pack enough supplies for everyone inside the vehicle.