Heading out? Having these items in your vehicle could save your life

• Be prepared in cold weather conditions
• Pack essential survival items in your car
• COSAR is a free service, call if you’re in a situation

With temperatures plummeting into the negative double digits, it more important than ever to carry essential items in case of an emergency.

President of Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR), Brad Trites, gave Kelowna10 some advice on what to pack in a car to stay safe.

The most important item: extra warmth. Tries highly recommends that for every two people in the vehicle, to bring a sleeping bag.

People should also be sure to pack an extra jacket, toque, as well as tea lights.

“It’s a great source of heat. If your vehicle breaks down and you can’t generate any heat, light a couple of tea lamps and it’s going to provide some extra warmth for your vehicle,” Trites said.

He added that you’ll want a little extra food, as your body is going to need energy to keep warm.

“Trail mix is awesome. A big bag of trail mix goes a long way,” Trites said.

Gatorade is also something everyone should pack in their car, as he said it has higher levels of sodium and won't freeze as quickly.

If you happen to be in the middle of nowhere, like on a forest road, and you’re outside of cell service, Trites recommends carrying a satellite communicator. For example, a Garmin InReach.

“You want to make sure you can communicate with loved ones back home or get a call out to emergency services letting them know that something’s happened,” he said.

A first aid kit is also an item to have in your vehicle, “just in case you get in an accident and you need to deal with some form of trauma.”

So far this year, COSAR has been called to 105 tasks. According to Trites, a big reason for the higher number of calls is because of COVID-19. He said people are not able to travel abroad, so more people are going and playing in their own backyard.

“[There’s] a lot more people with varying degrees of experience, and sometimes they’re doing new activities that they may not have all the training or experience for, and running into trouble because of that,” Trites said.

COSAR is 100 per cent free, and is volunteer driven with highly trained individuals.

“If you ever run into a situation, whether you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, or you’ve had an accident… don’t hesitate to call,” Trites said.

“We’re there to help you out and there’s no charge to you at any time.”