Katina Tengesdal/MDN - - Jennifer Smallin, American Red Cross Mid-Dakota Chapter volunteer, assembles winter survival kits.

The Mid-Dakota Chapter of the American Red Cross has begun assembling and selling winter survival kits for this winter season. The kits come equipped with 67 items to aid stranded motorists in winter weather. “So far this year, we haven’t had much of a winter, but we don’t know when winter is coming. We need to be prepared. Every car on the road should have a winter survival kit, it could really save you in an emergency,” said Allan McGeough, executive director for the Mid-Dakota Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross winter survival kits were assembled by expanding on items that would be included in a personal survival kit. Winter supplies include a chemical hand warmer, a stove and soup pouches, light sticks and a flashlight, and a battery-operated radio. “Before we put the kits together, we did a fair amount of research into what’s recommended by the Red Cross, in addition to what’s recommended by other groups,” McGeough said.