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As many people across the country prepare for winter storms, now is a good time to talk about what you can do to stay safe in the cold.
Whether you’re planning for bad weather or shoveling snow off your sidewalk, your health risks change during winter. Here are some tips to help you weather the winter weather.
Prepare at home: The Ready.gov website has many tips to help you plan for emergencies, including severe weather. Stock up on water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) and food (a multi-day supply of non-perishable food) in case you can’t get to the store for a while. Find your flashlight and make sure you have enough batteries. Don’t forget pet food, and make sure you have enough medicine on hand to see you through the storm and a few days after.
Charge your electronics: Snowstorms often cause power outages, so make sure all your phones, electronic devices, and backup portable chargers are fully charged. Think about buying a solar power charger for the future. A battery or hand crank radio is also a good item for a home emergency kit. Be careful about charging phones in the car. Snow can accumulate behind the tailpipes and put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Never run your car in the garage.
Create an emergency kit for your car: Consider getting a jump starter. Add warm clothing, blankets (Mylar blankets are cheap and don’t take up space), bottled water, and snack bars. Always have a full tank of gas. A bag of sand or kitty litter can come in handy in case your car gets stuck in the ice.
Avoid shoveling snow if you can: Once the storm passes, you may be left covered in snow. Before you start shoveling, think about your health. If you have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular problems, are overweight, or are often sedentary, hire a professional snow removal service instead of doing it yourself. The American Heart Association warns that shoveling snow is a particularly strenuous and risky activity. Exertion and low temperatures can increase blood pressure and constrict coronary arteries. Even pushing a snowplow can rapidly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, the AHA reports.
Avoid Ice Spills: The National Council on Aging has plenty of tips for avoiding slips and falls on ice. The right shoes can help. You can add ice and snow grip covers to the soles of your shoes, buy winter shoes with rubber soles, and add spikes to a walking stick during the winter months. Sprinkling the path in front of you with sand or kitty litter can also be helpful. Falls are a big risk in the winter. I had a major spill myself last year and hit the ground hard. I blame myself because I was getting the mail and I didn’t wear the right shoes.
Please let us know how we are doing. Email me at [email protected].
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Source: news.google.com