Winter is coming... Are you ready?

By Cade Shadowlight

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Winter 2025/26 is almost here, and with it comes winter's own set of preparedness concerns. Here my annual look at winter preps.

Winter First Aid

Winter has its own set of first aid concerns. I highly recommend you review the article I posted yesterday on Winter First Aid (article link). In it, I discuss The Anatomy of Body Heat (and how to maintain your core temperature), the Symptoms & Treatment of Frostnip and Frostbite, Hypothermia Signs and Treatment, First Aid Courses and a handbook recommendation.  

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

• Inspect your tires and make sure they are in good shape.
• Don't forget to inspect your spare tire! Make sure you have all the tools you need to change a flat tire. 
• Inspect your wiper blades. Change them if needed.
• Make sure the anti-freeze level is appropriate for your location (a local mechanic can help you with that if you don't know).
• Inspect/test your battery, especially if it is more than four years old.
• Check all fluids and catch up on any routine maintenance to prevent breakdowns.

Make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including items such as some food and water, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, extra motor oil, and jumper cables (Amazon link) or battery starter (Amazon link). Warm gloves and head coverings, such as a wool toboggan (Amazon link) or a full Balaclava (Amazon link) are also recommended in cold weather. You should keep a bag with extra socks, gloves and toboggans in your vehicles, just in case.  A warm blanket (Amazon link) also makes a good addition to your vehicle kit, as does a way to recharge your cell your phone (Amazon link) .

 

Suggestion: Many folks get the shortest jumper cables possible in order to save a few bucks. However, its not always possible to park both vehicles that close together. Jumper cables are not that expensive, so go ahead an spend a few extra bucks to get a set that will be long enough to actually be useful. I have a 16-foot set of jumper cables in both my vehicles. 

Other Winter Survival Tips

• Inspect/clean your chimney and wood stove pipes.
• If you use firewood, make sure you have enough to last you all winter.
• Don't let fallen leaves pile up against your home (fire hazard).
• Clean out gutters after the leaves stop falling (safety issue).
• Turn off and/or cover outside faucets and watering systems.
• Make sure your home food and water storage are topped off in case winter storms leave you homebound for a period of time. Same goes for any medications you take.
• Stock up now on OTC medications for Cold and Flu season.
• Keep your gas tank topped off. Running out-of-gas is not a good idea in freezing weather.
• Update your bug-out bag for winter: include dry socks & underwear, gloves, head/neck coverings, poncho, emergency or reflector blanket, and make sure you have plenty of matches, lighters, and/or fire starters. 
• A cold weather sleeping bag/system (Amazon link) is highly recommended for winter months. 

 

Food needs to be a top priority. Same goes for other types of supplies you use regularly: cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, paper goods, OTC medications, vitamins and supplements, batteries and other disposable items you use a lot of. Aim for at least a 3-month supply of everything, so that if store shelves empty again (remember 2020?) or it simply becomes unsafe to go shopping, you can ride out most problems. 

 

Don't Ignore Your Personal Finances. Paying off your debt and building an emergency fund are hard to do, but few things will make you life easier and more secure than accomplishing those two goals. Check out the Wealth From Chaos website, where we provide you with cutting-edge strategies to build personal and generational wealth, no matter the market’s madness. From basic personal financial management to savvy investing for the flashpoints of change, we deliver actionable insights tailored to a disruptive era. 

 

Prioritize Personal Security. Crime (especially violent) is rising nationwide due to underfunded/understaffed police, soft-on-crime DAs, and millions of illegal immigrants/unvetted refugees. You must protect yourself and family.

 

Arm responsibly:

• Get concealed-carry permit if legal; carry daily.
• Take realistic self-defense shooting course (stress, moving targets). Ask local gun shop for options.
• Double or triple ammo stock; supplies are tightening.

Non-lethal training for all:

• Every family/group member (any age) should complete a self-defense course covering physical techniques + avoidance strategies.
• See my "Shadow Sight" article for details.

Holistic security:

• Harden home: security doors, deadbolts, exterior lighting.
• Practice: avoid bad areas, situational awareness, common sense.
• These "boring" measures are often more critical than firearms.

Stay safe out there! 

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