In the weather much of the country is experiencing, car trouble can mean death if you aren't prepared.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081222/GPG0101/81222109/1207/GPG01

And my GF wonders why I made a snow shelter yesterday for kicks (post coming soon!)

Seems like leaving the car, in both cases, was the wrong move.

Oh look, my car broke down in a blizzard! I'll just
wander out aimlessly.

God, this makes me angry. For crying out loud, the guy could be my grandfather! He really ought to have known better.

I posted this in the tread about tire chains which mentioned this thread and is worth posting here also.

They made a number of simple but deadly mistakes that cost them their lives. Not having tire chains is not the cause of their death. They died by not being Equipped to Survive.....period.

Did I read correctly? This guy died roughly *one mile* from his home?

This is surprising, especially considering the age of the victims. It doesn't take too long in extremely cold country to learn that you better be prepared.

Then again, I see men my age (35+) all the time going in the store/gas station/etc in shorts and flip flops with a hooded sweatshirt and it's 15 F outside with windchill.

This is one of the problems that I can see occurring during my 18 hr rental car drives, to & from work.

That's why I've put together a Personal Support Kit (mini BoB) for those trips.

One mile from home in whiteout conditions with temps below zero might as well be a hundred.

You would think people living in that part of the country would be a bit better prepared. But I guess it's the same there as everywhere else.

Sue

Not knowing all the facts, its hard to draw conclusions but reading the story did bring some thoughts to mind that are often expressed here.

1. A little preparedness is better than none. For less than $10 you can afford to keep a coffee can, a roll of toilet paper and some alcohol in the car to allow you to outlast the storm. Even a tarp and a pack of matches would be better than nothing.

2. Dress for the trip, not the destination.

3. One mile from home still isn't home. Truth be told, a lot of people might be tempted to walk home since they are so close and in familiar territoy. This is where the STOP acronym comes in.

Looks like folks over-estimating their ability and under-estimating mother nature.

Dressing for the weather en route is always prudent, but how many actually do that small thing. Accidents can happen anytime of year, but there seem to be more in snow/ice/whiteout conditions. Do I always dress that way when I'm out? No, but I always have a duffel bag with cold weather gear in the back of the truck. Boots, wool socks and liners, long underwear -- clothing I very rarely use in SOCAL. I guess it's just a good place to store it. . .

Sometimes it is better to just stay where you are, phone to let friends know you wont be driving at that time and wait until the storm (blizzard) is finished before trying to travel home.
I am sure half of the secret of surviving is to not take risks that you do not have to.

Sad Story. I remember a few years back someone dying from Hypothermia during a cold snowy night within a mile from my house and about 100 yards from the nearest houses in a suburban area. I had unknowingly passed his body, which had been lying in the snow on my way to work within about 50 yards the next morning before his body was discovered later on.

He had died on his way back home from a pre Christmas party. He had become drunk and had decided to have a short sleep in the snow about 100 yards from his house. He didn't wake up the next morning.

Considering the 23 deg F, white-out conditions that existed, he definitely should have considered not driving, or at least stayed with the car once he left the road. If he couldn't see to drive, how could he see to walk with snow drifts changing the look of everything.

It usually is best to stay with the vehicle, but even the inside of a car or truck will eventually get to ambient. If you normally wear denim/cotton like many of us do, a change to wool clothing that is more appropriate can make a huge difference. I could do quite well with the food, clothing and gear in the back of my truck.

"...you don't have paper boys anymore..."

Some places still do, altho they might not be "boys" as in years past. In Mariposa County, CA, a "paperboy" makes more than a deputy sheriff. How is that for sad???