Staying warm in a stopped car

Sitting still in a cold car is mostly a comfort problem with a few simple rules. Here's the routine winter drivers use.

Stay with the car

Unless help is clearly close by, the car is the warmest, most visible place to wait. Turn on the hazard lights, and put out reflective warning triangles if you're on the shoulder.

Run the engine in short stretches

Run it about ten minutes an hour for heat. Before you do, check that the tailpipe is clear of snow, and crack a window on the side away from the wind. If snow keeps falling, check the tailpipe again each time.

Layer up

Put the blanket over your coat, not under it. Hat and gloves first, because hands and head lose heat fastest. Hand warmers go in pockets and boots.

Keep the bag within reach

Snacks, water, the phone charger and a rechargeable LED headlamp belong in one bag behind the front seats, not in the trunk. Eat something every couple of hours; it helps you stay warm.

Save your phone

Dim the screen, close what you don't need and keep a 10,000 mAh power bank topped up. One call to say where you are and when you'll check in again is worth more than an hour of scrolling.