9 Tips for Getting Places Safely in the Winter

If you have kids and are regularly taking them to school, it's not only important to make sure they're well-prepared for navigating the winter elements, but for them to see you are as well. After all, your example will likely influence their future habits the most.

Here are some simple tips to help you and your loved ones get through winter days safely.

Take your hands out of your pockets

It's a common habit to shove your hands in your pockets when it's cold (especially if you forget your gloves or mittens at home), but this can end up being a treacherous move. When you're walking on slippery surfaces like snow or ice, having your hands in your pockets can cause you to lose your balance more easily, and you could take a nasty tumble. Our best advice is to put your gloves or mittens on before leaving home, work or your car so that you don't need to resort to this measure (and set a "don't forget your gloves/mittens!" reminder on your phone).

More: (Are Trees Near Your House a Hazard?)

Rethink your hand warmers

If you're a staunch glove wearer rather than mittens because they're more fashionable, you might want to rethink your choices especially if your hands regularly get cold. By keeping your fingers together, mittens allow your hands to generate more body heat, which, if you're ever trapped in a car or house without heat, could save your life (or at least your hands).

Shoveling/ice scraping safety 101

Before you grab your shovel and/or ice scraper to clear your car and/or driveway before heading off to work, make sure to stretch first just like you would if you were going running (although you probably shouldn't do that outside in the winter). This helps get your blood pumping so that your body and brain will be more balanced and alert, which should help prevent a slip or fall.

Wear shoes with traction

Remember my story from earlier? Shoes without traction, no matter how cute, will come back to bite you if there's any slippery precipitation on the ground. Best to save those shoes for when you get to the office and wear boots with decent, rubber soles and plenty of traction on your commute to avoid a fall.

Cat litter and your driveway

Cats aren't the only ones who can benefit from cat litter. If you have a home with a driveway (or walkways) you probably already know the benefits of sprinkling rock salt in the wintertime, but cat litter actually helps prevent slips and skids even more. You can save time by combining the rock salt and kitty litter in one resealable container so you can just do a quick grab and sprinkle in the morning before you head out.

Give yourself extra time in the morning

After any frozen precipitation, things are naturally going to be moving slower — this includes traffic on the roads and on foot. If you don't give yourself extra time to get where you need to go, you'll likely be rushing, which will increase your chances of slipping, or worse, a car accident. Getting up at least 30 minutes earlier should give you the cushion you need to get to work and school safely and on time.

Walk like a penguin on icy surfaces

Yes, you may look silly doing this, but shuffling slowly while angling your upper body slightly forward is the best way to get from A to B on slippery walkways without falling. It can also be a fun game to play with your kids on the way to school. Oh, and one thing penguins can't do is text while walking because they don't have opposable thumbs, so take a cue from them on that, too.

If you should fall

Falling on ice or slushy walkways is no fun, but sometimes there's no way around it. If you can, try and land on the more cushioned parts of your body, like your butt or thighs, rather than on your knees. And while it is what our body tends to do naturally, try not to brace with your hands, as you could end up injuring your wrists that way.

If it looks like you're going to fall backwards, bend your body forward to avoid hitting your head.