What to do if You Are Stranded in Your Car in Winter

"Things are not as bad as they seem. They are worse." - Bill Press

"Ce" has a nice article titled Urban Survival - 12 Tips to Follow If You Are Stranded in Your Car in Winter. I've already covered winterizing your car and stocking your car with winter supplies so I'll start mid-way into the article with what to do when you are stranded ...

1. Do NOT pull off on to the shoulder of the highway, or on an exit ramp.
   Yes pull off the road but not where you might get hit by other cars or a snow plow. Try to reach a rest area, or pull off at an exit ramp and park near the entrance ramp (where cars are moving slower).
2. Major truck stops are excellent places to shelter from a storm.
3. If you are stranded on the road, stay with your car for shelter! Do not attempt to walk to safety unless your destination is in plain sight. Even then you might get lost if winds pick up the snow and visibility drops. If you must leave your car put a note inside the front window telling rescuers where you have gone or in what direction.
4. If you are sheltering in your car, get whatever survival gear you have out of the trunk and into the passenger compartment. Keep water and food supplies from freezing by placing it near a heater vent.
5. Run the engine and heater at most 10 minutes per hour for warmth. Open a window, at least an inch, on the downwind side of the car to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't kill yourself from gas fume or burn up all your fuel in the first hour. Periodically check your tailpipe to be sure it is not covered with snow and pushing the gas fumes into the car.
6. Once the snow has stopped, work slowly while uncoverng your car to avoid perspiring. It is much harder to stay warm when you are wet.

Bottom Line

Stay with your car until help arrives. Run the car (and heat) as little as possible to survive as long as possible. You might be stranded for many, many hours. Stay dry and use blankets and body heat.