Winter Kills: Take Care With Our Winter Safety Tips

It is forecast that on the lead up to Christmas that parts of the UK could experience temperatures as low at -15C. This is uncharacteristically cold, and although dreaming of a white Christmas, these conditions are likely to cause problems and even suffering.

With this winter predicted to be the coldest in 50 years it is vital to avoid winter safety hazards to protect your health and wellbeing. These winter maintenance tips will help:

When it is extremely cold with ice and now, or if there are high winds it is preferable that you stay indoors and only venture outside if it is absolutely necessary. Not so easy if you have to go to work, shop for food or get children to school.

When you do have to venture outside it is paramount to keep winter safety in mind.

Make sure you are up to date with all weather and travel news, you have properly winterised your car and that you adhere to the following winter safety road advice:

• Avoid driving in low visibility weather conditions.
• Avoid travelling on ice-covered roads, stick to main routes that have been treated by salt spreaders and gritters.
• Always make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone with you in case of problems.
• Carry extra warm clothes and blankets in the car. Some food snacks are a good idea too. You may be delayed for a long time, and should you break down you can’t rely on the car to keep you warm.
• Always use recommended products to remove the ice from your windscreen. Using hot water could result in your windscreen shattering.

Encountering ice whilst you are out and about walking can be extremely dangerous. Although the salt spreaders endeavour to keep our roads frost free, ice-covered pavements, driveways and porches are to blame for many winter injuries. It is important for winter safety to keep your paths, steps and walkways as free from ice as possible to reduce the risk of slips and falls. Do this by spreading salt, sand or even cat litter.

If you are venturing outside on foot a key part of your winter safety is to ensure that both adults and children are dressed for the weather. Here’s how to go about it:

• Wrap up in a hat, scarf and gloves. Mittens are best as they keep your hands warmer than gloves with fingers.
• Wear wind and water resistant coats and boots to avoid getting wet. Once you are wet you will start to feel the winter chill much faster.
• Wear layers. Choose several layers of loose fitting clothing and ensure that you sleeves fit closely around your wrists.
• If you start to feel too warm remove one of your layers, your body’s heat loss will rise if you start sweating.

Take care doing those outside winter safety jobs, shovelling snow involves a certain amount of exertion which puts an extra strain on your heart. This is particularly important if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart disease. Make sure you follow your doctor’s advice and if you are working outside go a little slower. Your body is already working hard to keep warm.

With the UK being one of the world’s worst countries for dealing with extreme weather, it is important that you make your own preparations for cold spells where possible.

The statistics are scary:

• 8,000 extra deaths for every one degree Celsius the temperature is below the winter average.
• An estimated 40,000 more people die between December and March each year.

Follow our winter safety tips, don’t be a statistic. Let us know in the comments what your biggest winter safety concerns this season.