Safety strategies:
What to do if you’re stranded in your car in the winter

Information from the CDC / National Center for Environmental Health ( December 11, 2023)

When I first moved to Lyme, it was quickly clear that this area is a black hole for cell phone service. I wondered what I would do if my car happened to break down without phone service, and even more so what I would do if that were to happen in the winter. According to the National Center for Environmental Health, as cited on the CDC’s website, the best strategy to stay in a stranded car in the winter is to:

Follow these safety rules if you become stranded in your vehicle.

  • Make your vehicle visible to rescuers. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna, raise the hood (if it is not snowing), and turn on the inside overhead lights (when your engine is running).
  • Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area. Stay with your vehicle unless safety is no more than 100 yards away.
  • Keep your body warm. Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets, or newspapers. Huddle with other people if you can.
  • Stay awake and stay moving. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems. As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve circulation and stay warmer.
  • Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe—this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. (CDC,  December 11, 2023  National Center for Environmental Health )

National Center for Environmental Health. “Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Center for Environmental Health , 11 Dec. 2023, www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/winterweather/index.html.

Every Wednesday, CommunityCare of Lyme lifts up a wellness topic, embracing the widest possible definition of individual and community well-being. We include local and national resources, individual and group programs and practices, and personal stories, videos, or songs that have something to teach us all. We are always seeking guest contributors! 

If you have a wellness-themed topic you would like to share or learn more about, please reach out to shelby@cclyme.org

Shelby Wood
Manager of Volunteer Participation
CommunityCare of Lyme
Shelby@cclyme.org
802-468-7776 (cell)
603-795-0603 (CCL office and help line)