Stuck in a car in a snowstorm: what to do, step by step
Snowdrift, blizzard. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone app and work without internet.
First, right now
- Stay in the car. It is your shelter, and rescuers find a car more easily than a person on foot.
- Call 112. Give the road, your direction, the last town you passed and how many people are in the car.
- Clear snow from the exhaust pipe before you start the engine. A blocked exhaust can fill the car with carbon monoxide.
Then
- Run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour, with a window slightly open on the side away from the wind.
- Switch on the hazard lights. Tie something bright to the aerial or door so you can be seen.
- Put on all the clothes you have. Use blankets or a foil blanket and sit close together.
- Move your arms, legs and toes to stay warm. Check now and then that the exhaust is still clear.
- Drink and eat in small amounts. Save your phone battery and switch it on only to check messages.
- In winter keep in the car: a shovel, blanket, warm clothes, water, snacks, a torch and a power bank.
When to call 112
As soon as you are stuck. Again if someone shows signs of hypothermia (shivering stops, drowsiness, confusion) or carbon monoxide poisoning.
What not to do
- Do not leave the car in a blizzard. People get lost a few metres from their car.
- Do not let everyone sleep at once with the engine running.
- Do not eat snow. It cools your body. Melt it first.
- Do not drink alcohol to warm up.
See also
Keep it on your phone
SurvivalZone is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.
Other scenarios
- ⚡ Power cut
- 🥶 Cold, no heating
- 🚱 No water or unsafe tap water
- 🌊 Flood, water coming in
- 🎒 Evacuation in 10 minutes
- 🔥 Fire in the building
- 🌡️ Heatwave
- 🌪️ Storm, strong wind
- 🚀 Air attack: missiles, drones, bombs
- 📢 Sirens, alarm, air contamination
- 📵 No signal, no internet
- ❤️ Someone is unconscious
- 🌍 Earthquake
- ⛵ Storm at sea, no internet
- 🚗 Road accident
- ☠️ Carbon monoxide or gas leak
- 🌩️ Thunderstorm outdoors
- 🫀 Heart attack or stroke
- 🏊 Someone is drowning
- 🌲 Forest or grass fire
- 💳 Cards and cash machines not working
- 🦠 Epidemic, dangerous infectious disease
- 🧒 A child is missing
Sources
- Polish government safety guide (MON, MSWiA, RCB, 2025)
- BBK guide "Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen" (Germany)
- ERC first aid and resuscitation guidelines (European Resuscitation Council)
Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-10-18.
General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.