Staying calm during an accident, or even on a bad weather, can make all the difference.
A person will survive as long as they are mindful of their surroundings and avoid panicking at all costs.
Just like Jerry Jouret, 81 years old, when his car was stuck during a strong blizzard on February 24th.
The trip took him 7 days instead of 4 hours.
He was headed from Big Pine, California to Gardnerville, Nevada when his car got stuck during a bad snowstorm in a desolate California Highway.
The travel should only take about 4 to 5 hours on a regular driving condition but turned into a 7-day trip along with a medical chopper to send Jerry to a hospital to check him out.
Prior to the long drive, Jerry already checked the weather and thought he could beat the impending snowstorm, but he was wrong.
During the drive, the 81-year-old accidentally went to a smaller road, leading his SUV to get stuck to the side.
“He checked the Caltrans website to see if the roads were cleared and he had the green light,” said Christian Jouret, Jerry’s Grandson, to the local news.
“But as he left 30 minutes from the house, I believe he slid off the road and got stuck on the site. And that’s when the blizzard hit,” he added.
Survival instincts kick in.
As soon as the snow piled up and the snowstorm came, Jerry thought of how to keep himself alive and well during the ordeal.
A former NASA employee, Jerry was not prepared for the weather, but stayed calm and used what he has to survive.
He rationed a few snacks with him in the SUV, including croissants, candy, and biscotti.
To stay hydrated, he opened the window to get some ice as a water source.
Jerry conserved the car’s battery and fuel.
He only used it for a short period of time for heating.
Throughout the ordeal, he kept himself warm with a light windbreaker, a quilt, and a bath towel.
He went doing this routine for a week until rescue arrived.
“The search team was supposed to go out days prior but the weather was so awful they couldn’t get a helicopter in there,” recounted Christian.
He prayed that the weather will subside, and then they got one beautiful day they had in weeks.
The chopper searched and initially mistook the SUV as a big rock, then they circled back to see Jerry waving his hand into the car window.
As soon as they got him out of the car, Jerry was sent to the hospital where he was cleared a few hours after.
Miraculously, there was no sign of hypothermia and Jerry was recovering well.
Though he admitted to being traumatized by what happened.
Stay ready when such accidents happen and you are on the road.
The weather is always ever-changing.
Be alert at all times and keep yourself warm, with food and water at the ready always, especially when you are planning for a long travel in such unpredictable weather conditions.
Watch the video to see how Jerry survived a great snowstorm.
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