Rick Atterberry is blog post author.
We’re almost three weeks into meteorological Winter and just a few days from the start of the season in the astronomical calendar. And, while much of the country has experienced record setting warmth in the last three months, snow, ice, sleet, wind and cold are inevitable for many of us.
With that in mind, Extension colleagues at North Dakota State University have created a Winter Survival Kit Phone App for both Android and IOS phones. This app helps users find their location if they become stranded, call 911, notify friends and family and calculate how lo9ng they can run their vehicle to stay warm before running out of fuel.
“The Winter Survival Kit app can be as critical as a physical winter survival kit if you find yourself stuck or stranded in severe winter weather conditions,” says Bob Bertsch, NDSU Agriculture Communication Web technology specialist.
Users can store important phone numbers, insurance information, motor club contacts and more within the app. The app includes a timer function which reminds motorists to check the exhaust pipe for snow buildup so as to avoid a high concentration of carbon monoxide.
The app features a large “I’m Stranded!” button which can be easily accessed in an emergency situation. Parents may find the app a useful tool for young drivers who are very familiar with their smart phones, but less familiar with winter driving.
The kit app was developed by Myriad Devices, a company founded by students and faculty at NDSU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and College of Business in the school’s Research and Technology Park Incubator. The NDSU Extension Service provided design and content input. Funding was via a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Smith-Lever Special Needs grant.
