'Tis the Season for Winter Safety Published Nov. 21, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Zachiah Roberson 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- It's that time again; the winter season is upon Grand Forks and with it comes a list of challenges that everyone should be prepared to face. "In the winter people will always have problems, how they deal with them is the important part," said Andrew Swenson, 319th Air Base Wing ground safety manager. "You can make an emergency kit yourself or go to the store and find a pre-made one; just have one in your car at all times." Many winter safety concerns arise when operating a motor vehicle. When driving in unfavorable conditions, with anything from ice on the roads to snow drifts and even other drivers posing a potential threat, Swenson urges drivers to take extraordinary care on the roads. "Being aware of the conditions outside is extremely important when making any sort of trip, and the two key factors in ice forming on roads is temperature and precipitation," said Swenson. "If there is enough of each to create ice, then you should be aware of that and take extra precautions while driving." Swenson says if people should take one thing away from learning winter safety, it should be to keep a cell phone in emergency kits fully charged at all times. "If you don't have a cell phone then you're missing the most important part of your emergency kit," said Swenson. "It doesn't have to be in service to dial 911, it just has to be charged. That helps you let the authorities and emergency services know what your situation is and where you are." "One time I was told to build a kit when I was in the military, but I shrugged it off as unnecessary and didn't do it. That proved to be a bad idea, because I needed it one time and was out of luck in a broken car and no supplies," said Swenson. "The reason I was saved from the deathly cold was the cell phone I had, it had one bar of battery life but that one call I made saved my life." Swenson reiterated that while emergency kits are not a requirement, they are a highly recommended asset to keep in a vehicle. An emergency winter survival kit for your vehicle should include the items: Tire wrench and jack Tire chains Shovel Booster (jumper) cables Tow rope Sunglasses Flashlight and batteries Candles Antifreeze for gasoline 50 feet of nylon cord 2 coffee cans Compass Bright red or orange cloth Small ax Can Opener Sleeping bag or blankets First aid kit Good spare tire kit Flares and reflectors Pencil and paper Sanitary supplies (tissues, medications) Fire extinguisher (dry chemical type) Windshield scraper with brush Matches (in a waterproof container) Extra coat, socks, and boots Mittens are preferred over gloves Garbage bags to keep dry Water and high energy food for each person For more information on winter safety tips, visit the Grand Forks AFB Cold Hard Facts site here.