Outdoor enthusiasts aren't the only ones in need of a disaster preparedness survival kit. Driving across wintery terrain in a car, truck, SUV or snowmobile may lead you to hazardous road conditions that leave you stranded for several hours. When you're battling those icy roads and brutal winter temperatures this season, make sure your car or vehicle is well stocked with some basic survival gear:

Medical Supplies
If you survive an accident or have a last-minute emergency to manage, a first aid kit can hold you over until you can find some professional help. Pack a simple first aid kit supply bag in the backseat of the car or vehicle for easy access in case of an emergency.

Food Supply
Being stranded on icy roads may mean you go without food for several hours. Being hungry can reduce the ability to make sound decisions and make it hard to stay focused and warm. Make sure you have at least one thermos or flask filled with hot soup or foodstuffs so you can feed your brain and body in the case of an emergency.

Blanket or Sleeping Bag
If you're stuck without heat for several hours, you have to find a way to stay warm. A thermal blanket or sleeping bag will keep those toes and hands plenty warm when temperatures drop, so you'll need to drape yourself in a warm covering until help arrives at the scene. Just roll this up and throw it in the backseat or trunk; this is just as important for a camping trip as it is for a long road trip across snowy terrain!

Water
Fill up a water flask with water that won't freeze on you during your excursion. You'll need an ample supply of water to stay well hydrated for several hours on the road, so plan to store at least 1-2 gallons of water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

Light Source
Headlamps and flashlights can help you navigate your path if you get a flat tire or find yourself in unknown territory. Just pack some light gear with fully charged batteries before you hit the road as an extra safety measure.

Being prepared sometimes makes the difference between surviving and not surviving. "Saving for a rainy day," quite simply refers to being prepared for a bad situation when it occurs. Whether one is camping, biking, hiking or doing other outdoor sports, it is imperative that a survival gear kit go along with the athlete or weekend warrior.

If looking for a basic survival kit, a top recommendation is theAdventure Medical Kit with Paddlers. This is a very versatile bag, which includes basic survival items as well as some repair gear. Some of the essentials included in the Adventure Medical Kit with Paddlers include Nitrile gloves, infectious bag control, a two-person emergency blanket, wound irrigation system, storm waterproof matches, Aquaseal urethane adhesive, a guide to wilderness and travel medicine, an emergency pamphlet, wound cover strips, bandages, wound care medication, several oral medications, paddlers and more. The Adventure Medical Kit with Paddlers is a must have essential for the outdoor person including athletes adventurers. The kit of survival gear is a great buy at $54.

If you are looking for a smaller kit which contains survival gear an excellent choice is the Adventure Medical Kit with Ultralite Paddlers. This unique kit weighs only 10 ounces and is loaded with great survival gear including: Ibuprofen, Moleskin dressing, Antihistamine, Nitrile gloves, first aid and life threatening emergency instructions, a guide to the wilderness, bandages, gauze, adhesive fabric bandage butterfly clips, antibiotic ointment, Tincture of Benzoin Topical Solution, swabs, safety pins, survival gear for repairing things and much more. This is the ideal survival gear for a weekend getaway, a hike or to even keep in the trunk of a car in case of emergencies. The bag measures approximately 8.5" x 5.25" x 3.5" and weighs approximately 10 pounds. The Adventure Medical Kit with Ultralite Paddlers survival gear retails for approximately $38.

Owning survival gear is a part of being prepared in case of emergencies and increasing one's confidence by influencing coping skills as a benefit of preparedness.