When you’re careening off the Interstate in the middle of a blizzard, you shouldn’t have to wonder if you could survive stranded in your car. Unfortunately, that’s exactly where I found myself a few weeks ago. My friend Susan and I were caravanning home with some friends after a weekend out of town. The group was spread out in three cars, with Susan and me in the middle.

We knew the weather was going to be bad before we left. The Midwest is famous for it’s biting wind, ice storms, and mounds of snow, but we had all been through it before—what’s a couple of flakes when you’ve got 4-wheel drive?

Fast-forward about 45 minutes into the trip. Susan and I were cruising along 10-miles-per-hour under the speed limit (very responsible of us) engaged in a philosophical conversation about the meaning of life (and boys), when suddenly we hit black ice. Despite her best efforts, Susan couldn’t get the car back under control, and we whirled a 180 into the snowy ditch between the two roads.

To be fair, it could have been much, much worse. We were lucky: no damage to us, no damage to the car. We stopped in plain sight, and since we had a friend driving behind us who stopped and picked us up, we weren’t even stranded. But we couldn’t help but wonder what we would have done if we hadn’t been so fortunate.

According to the National Weather Service, 70 percent of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles. To protect yourself, the Red Cross recommends keeping a winter emergency kit in your car. It might seem like overkill, but trust me; this is one of those “better safe than sorry” situations. Even if you always carry your cell phone, you can’t guarantee you’ll have service to call for help.

Consider stocking your ride with a plastic bin containing these essentials:

1. Winter coats/ blankets
2. Candles, matches, and a coffee can (for melting snow to drink. If you try to eat the snow, it will lower your body temperature.)
3. Bottles of water
4. Non-perishable food, like peanuts or nutrition bars. Avoid chocolate, as this can sometimes have a diuretic effect.
5. A basic tool kit, including screwdriver, pliers, and a pocketknife or scissors.
6. Brightly colored ribbon or flag to tie on the antenna.
7. Battery jumper cables
8. Ice scraper
9. Shovel
10. Flashlight and transistor radio, plus extra batteries.
11. Bag of sand or cat litter for creating traction.
12. Compass or map
13. Tow rope

Store the bin within reach from inside the vehicle just in case you can’t get to the trunk.

If you run out of gas (though you should never venture out with less than half a tank) or you get stuck, don’t panic. Run the motor ten minutes per hour for heat, but make sure you have a window facing away from the wind cracked for fresh air. Above all else, stay in your car. It’s easy to get lost in a snowstorm, and if you slid off the road, there’s nothing to stop another car from doing the same thing and hitting you. You’ll be easier to spot in a car anyway.

Susan and I decided that we would have survived a few days in that drift even if our friend hadn’t come to our rescue right away. We had a few extra coats and a bag of British candy (Sue just got back from a semester abroad), so we at least had a week or two, but we would have been a lot better off if we’d been more prepared. Protect yourself and your passengers this winter with an emergency kit, and you’ll be everybody’s hero.