MANKATO, MN -
With temperatures dropping, winter is fast approaching; and that means it is time to start thinking about winter safety. This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week, so what better time to sit down with your family and create your own winter weather kit for your vehicle. Trudy Kunkel, Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the City of Mankato, sat down with reporters this morning to discuss these safety kits and to get children involved in the process.
Kunkel says, "It's all really about being prepared just in case of weather conditions changing or you slide off the road and you get stuck somewhere, that you've got something to help you to survive that incident." Kunkel continued to say, "… It's just really about personal responsibility so to be able to take care of yourself and not have to rely on calling 911 and having emergency responders responsible for you."
The Kit that Kunkel showed included: hand warmers, flashlight, a small first aid kit, a candle, a thermal blanket, and a few specialty items like a ribbon and crayons and a small coloring book for the kids. Kunkel explains that the ribbon is for "…outside your window you'd want to put it high so people could see especially if it's a lot of snow and you're stuck in a snow bank, they'd be able to see the bright colors through the snow." Kunkel goes on to say, "but if you're traveling with kids, you want something for the kids to do, we have a small coloring book, some colors, a little bit of crayons; some stuff to keep them occupied."
For those with diabetes, Kunkel says, "you want to make sure you always have a snack with you just in case you do get stranded and now all of a sudden now it's turning into a medical emergency."
The kits were assembled at Monroe School by third graders. Both the cities of Mankato and North Mankato along with Blue Earth and Nicollet counties are in collaboration on the project to talk to schools to get the kids involved. With the intention to go to more schools in the area, donations are needed to purchase supplies to show to schools. You may call Trudy Kunkel directly at: 507-387-8792 or contact Brenda Olmscheid from Blue Earth County Emergency Management.
When asked about the goal of the kits, Kunkel says, "Just take personal responsibility and be prepared."
