It’s common refrain we often hear during the holidays. “Have a happy & healthy holidays” or “Be safe this year”. Yet, in what can be considered the first back to normal Christmas since the pandemic, the hustle and bustle of work and personal obligations is back. This can often result in leaving health and safety as an afterthought. But the colder season poses many hazards we must address and take action against, from checking on the house, to ourselves to even keeping our pets safe. Some things to consider.
Roofing Winter Safety
With winter comes rain, snow, and heavy winds, and any of these can damage your roofing. It is tempting to get up there to clear away debris and try to patch something yourself. This can save money and time. But it is dangerous at the best of times. In fact, almost half of construction deaths are caused by falling from heights. And that relates to trained professionals. If you aren’t 100% confident in your skills and safety awareness, hire an expert to take care of roof issues.
Gritting Your Driveway
Slipping on ice is one of the most common causes of injury during winter. This can happen almost anywhere, and we have all done it at some point. However, it can be especially dangerous on your own driveway. It’s perfectly possible you will slip on your property, and that’s an accident with no real liability. But what if your car slides and hits a pedestrian walking by? Any good auto accident lawyer will have a field day. So, grit your driveway to avoid slippages.
Staying Highly Visible
One of the magical things about winter is the shorter days. It gets darker much earlier, and this can set a great winter scene and usher in the feeling of Christmas. But it is also much more dangerous, which increases with certain tasks. Cycling and running are perfect examples. Ensure your bike has reflective materials and lights and that you also wear reflective clothing and helmets. It also helps to stay visible in well-lit areas to avoid becoming the victim of robbery, assault, or worse.
Have an Alternate Plan
The world doesn’t stop just because there has been heavy snow or terrible storms. Life goes on, and you need to get to work or venture outside in the cold. However, winter, and especially around Christmas, comes with travel chaos. Planes and trains are pretty much a no-go during the holidays. But even the roads become treacherous and congested. Always have a backup plan for getting your tasks done. Walk to work if possible, or consider deliveries for groceries.
Wrapping Up Warm
Of course, winter is cold. And pretty much all of us find no joy in having to go outside into the wind, rain, and snow. But venture we must. So, once more unto the breach, don’t let the cold get the better of you. Wrapping up warm is vital, so try these handy tips to beat the cold spells:
- Leave the home as warm as possible to enter the cold prepared.
- Layer up with thin and thick clothing that stays tight to your body.
- Buy thermal underwear, socks, and clothing items to retain natural warmth.
- Keep all areas of your skin as covered as you possibly can for winter wellness.
- Keep your hands warm and dry with the best quality gloves you can afford.
- Stay away from wind and rain with an umbrella, or stay undercover.
- Try not to stay still for too long and keep your body moving to generate heat.
You will feel much colder outside if you leave the home cold. Any warmth from inside will transfer outside with you and can be kept with layers and thermals. It also helps to avoid wind and rain where possible, which can cause you to use up much more energy and lose heat.
Balancing Home Humidity
The dangers of winter aren’t only outside. Some of the worst are lurking right under your nose all over your home. Bacteria and mold love winter because we give them the perfect conditions when we close all the windows and turn up the heat. Balancing the humidity in your home becomes essential to prevent mold from forming and spreading. This is tricky, but devices like dehumidifiers and air intakes can help. You can also open the windows for ten minutes a day.
Keeping Your Home Warm
A touchy subject at the moment is keeping your home warm due to the massive costs right now. Even though they are doing all they can to reduce costs, some people are still struggling to heat their homes. This is also highly subjective because everyone’s home is different. However, the fact remains that staying warm is vital for physical and mental health. Focus gets harder when you are cold, and this can stress you out as your movements also get more sluggish as well.
Winter Safety with Pets
Pets are also susceptible to some of the problems of winter and cold weather. But we love our pets in the UK and the US. In the US alone, there are 76,811,305 dogs and 58,385,725 cats domesticated as pets. And as a pet owner, you have a responsibility to them. Taking them outside is necessary for their health, but limit this to what they can handle. This is vital for smaller dogs. Also, ensure they are highly visible with reflective coverings or flashing collars.
Being a Responsible Adult
With the return of the holidays, comes holiday parties, gatherings and indulgences. Christmas is a time that most of us enjoy. And we do this by attending parties and indulging ourselves. Maybe a little too much sometimes. Alcohol plays a key role in some of the worst accidents and injuries during the holidays, especially on the roads. Never drink and drive, and make arrangements if you want a few pints. Additionally, driving tired causes as much injury, especially after a large holiday dinner. Give yourself some time before getting into the car.
Making your driveway safe with grit helps with winter safety and reduces the chance of an injury. You must also wrap up warm when going out to work or even the store. Above all, do the right thing and make sure you don’t drink if you need to drive your car over the Christmas period. Now, go out there and enjoy the holidays. Felicidades!
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