Winter is coming and with it, hazardous driving conditions.

As motorists may slide off the roads into a ditch, or get stuck with mechanical failures, it’s crucial to keep an emergency kit in your car if you are stranded for hours at a time.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf mentions some of the important things to keep in your car, “Some food, like granola bars, things like that to keep energy up because as your body metabolizes it creates heat. Also, a can that if you would want to melt snow or something like that for drinking water are good things to have. Something to tie on the antennae of your car so that it might get attention, like a red ribbon or something like that would be something good to do.”

Other key supplies are jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, car cell phone charger, extra blankets and clothes, a map, and cat litter or sand for better tire traction. Kempf recommends running your vehicle for 15 minutes on and off to get heat and conserve fuel. Drivers should also make sure their tail pipe is clear to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also advised to always keep your gas tank full, and get your car maintenanced regularly.