Winter Safety Tips for Seniors
Winter time can be an exciting time of year due to the holidays and in some places, a drastic change in outdoor scenery and activities.
Preparing for Winter
Even though it’s an every-year occurrence, even we here on the Crystal Coast prepare for our winter needs. One important factor to keep in mind when preparing for winter is your current health status. As patient advocates, we know there may be various preparations that need to be considered to ensure a safe and enjoyable winter season. Be your best advocate and be prepared. We’ve put together 5 tips as a reminder to help you be prepared for the Winter season
5 Tips to Prepare for Winter
- Avoid icy conditions at your home.
- Steps, driveways, and decks can become dangerously slick with even a small amount of ice accumulation. Keeping a bag of rock salt, available at most hardware stores, and sprinkling it on steps, driveways, decks and other outdoor walkways can decrease the buildup of ice in these frequently used areas.
- Dress for the weather.
- Dressing in layers is a good rule of thumb. Wind and waterproof jackets, as well as a hat, scarf, gloves, and non-slip footwear, can be the difference between an enjoyable time outdoors or a miserable time outdoors. If an article of clothing gets wet, change it if able.
- Keep the inside of your residence warm!
- Close off areas of your home you aren’t in to keep the heat where you most commonly reside. Make sure all your windows and outside doors are closed well and seal correctly. Keep a blanket or throw near where you spend most of your time.
- Have plenty of food and water on hand.
- In the event, you can’t get to a store, it’s a good idea to keep a supply of your medications to avoid running out during particularly bad weather.
- If you live in an area that does experience poor winter weather conditions, a home generator is a great option in the event of a loss of power.
- If you don’t have a home generator, make sure you have a point of contact, such as a friend or family member, that you can rely on if the power goes out.
Whether you love winter or are not that big of a fan, the proper preparations can make the transition of seasons a safer and more enjoyable time of year.