Winter Safety and Preparedness

5 Winter Safety Tips for Spending Time Outdoors

When a winter storm or extreme cold threatens, you should avoid going outdoors unless absolutely necessary. In the event that you must, however, always dress warmly and return indoors as soon as possible.

Here are five tips to keep you safe when you spend time outdoors this winter.

Wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm, as well as a hat, scarf, mittens, a water-resistant jacket and boots. Make sure you stay as dry as possible, as water against the skin from wet clothing can chill the body quickly.

If you need to de-ice or refuel your car, or use a snow blower, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin. These will cause your body to lose heat outdoors more quickly.

Don't ignore shivering. If you shiver persistently while you're outdoors, it's a sign that you need to return inside

Avoid over-exerting yourself while shoveling snow or performing any other hard work or heavy lifting. Extreme cold puts extra strain on your heart and cardiovascular system, so heed your doctor's advice if you have experienced any signs of heart disease or high blood pressure in the past. If don't have to do outdoor chores in the cold, wait until the storm passes and the outside temperature warms up.

Avoid ice wherever possible. It's extremely easy to fall on ice-covered pavement, sidewalks, stairs and curbs, and many winter weather injuries occur every year on icy surfaces like these. Use rock salt or other de-icing chemicals to keep your porch, driveway and sidewalk as free of ice as possible, or spread sand to reduce the risk of slipping.

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