Winter Weather is Here!

Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

Here are a few suggestions to help make winter more bearable … and safe!

Snow Shoveling Safety

Keep walkways around your home clear of snow and ice. You might choose to hire a student to do the shoveling for you. If you do this heavy work yourself, remember that you may get tired more quickly in the cold. Don’t push yourself. Instead, take more breaks than usual. Exhaustion makes you more susceptible to frostbite, injuries, and hypothermia.

Use a sturdy, lightweight shovel to push the snow out of the way. If you must lift the snow, take small scoops. The best time to shovel is before meals or one to two hours after eating. Stop shoveling immediately and get medical attention if you feel pain or heaviness in your chest, become dizzy, faint, or start sweating heavily.

Winter Driving

Make sure you winterize your car before the season kicks in. Have your anti-freeze levels checked or your radiator flushed and filled for easier starting in winter. If you have snow tires specifically for your vehicle make sure to have them put on. If you drive with all season tires, make sure they are properly inflated and rotated if necessary. Finally, make sure your windshield wipers are adequate. If they are worn, replace them.

Most importantly when driving, drive according to road conditions. If roads are snow covered or icy, slow down. Remember, while roads may appear to be in good condition it only takes one small mistake for an accident to happen.

Winter Clothing

Dress for winter by covering as much exposed skin as possible. Wear several layers of lightweight clothing for easy movement. A hat is important since so much body heat escapes from an uncovered head. If your neck is not protected by a collar, wear a scarf. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves and may be easier for you to wear.

Avoiding Slips and Falls

To avoid slips and falls, wear boots that are non-skid. If you use a cane, replace the rubber tip before it is worn smooth or it will become slippery, especially when wet. Consider purchasing an ice pick that fits onto the end of the cane. The sharp tip will give you extra grip on winter days, and folds up when not in use. This device is available at home health care stores.

Visibility

Visibility is reduced in snowy weather and darkness falls earlier. Make sure that you can see your way clearly by having well-lit walkways around your home. Also, make sure that others see you. Wear light or bright colors or add reflective material to your clothing.