You are in the mountains for a day of skiing. The forecast calls for heavy snow in the afternoon. You are not worried because you have a brand-new all-wheel-drive SUV. When you drive home, the roads are snow-packed and icy, and you find yourself in the middle of a Blizzard. You are stuck on the top of Vail Pass with no options but to ride out the blizzard in your car.

Here are some pointers that may save your life:

• Before leaving for the mountains, prepare your vehicle. Fill up your gas tank and make sure you have at least ½ a tank of gas.
• Make sure you tell someone where you were going and the route you are taking.
• If you get stuck, tie a fluorescent flag on your antenna or hang it out the window. At night keep the dome light on so rescuers can see you. Rescue crews can see a small glow at a distance. Do not leave your emergency flashers turned on all of the time. Use emergency flashers only if you hear an approaching vehicle to avoid battery drain.
• Stay in your vehicle, as it may be your only shelter. Leaving your car and walking in the storm is very dangerous as you could become disoriented and lose your way back to the car. Stay in your vehicle.
• Avoid overexertion. Shoveling snow or pushing your car can take a lot of effort, especially in blizzard conditions. Shoveling snow and pushing cars can cause you to become hot and sweaty. Once your clothes become wet, they lose their insulation value, making you susceptible to hypothermia.
• Remember, you need fresh air in your car so crack the window a little bit.
• Snow can plug the vehicle’s exhaust system causing deadly car monoxide gas to inter the car. Run the engine for 10 minutes every hour and make sure the exhaust pipe is free of snow. Keep a window open a crack when running the engine. It is better to be cold and awake than comfortably warm and sleepy.

These tips may save your life.

If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, call the experienced attorneys at Bell & Pollock to handle your case.