Cold temperature and winter storms can be dangerous for all of us, regardless of age. Thus, you need to take steps to stay healthy and safe during the winter. It is possible only if you plan in advance. When winter comes, you not only need to prepare yourself but also your home and cars. It would be best if you took measures to prepare for outdoor activity and power outages. It would also help if you took measures to ensure that the older adults in your home stay safe.
Even though the winters do not come as a surprise, you should be ready for its arrival. Only if you prepare well for the winter hazards, you will be healthy and safe even when the temperature drops.
Some measures for your home
In all honesty, just saying inside the home is not an assurance of safety. So, here are some steps that you need to follow to stay protected during the winter months.
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Get your home winter-ready
Zara, an online chemistry tutor, says that her first instinct is that her home should be winter-ready every year a month before the winter comes. But what are the things that you need to do to make your home winter ready?
- Clean the gutters
- Repair any roof leaks
- Insulate the water lines
- Install storm windows, insulation, and weather stripping
Check your heating systems
When it is winter, you need to have a heating system that will keep you warm. You need first to get your heating system serviced by a professional. It is vital to ensure that your heating system is clean and working well. It should be ventilated. You cannot be winter-ready if you do not inspect and clean your chimneys and fireplaces, says Jannis, who offers do my economics homework help service for students.
Moreover, if you do not have a smoke detector installed in your home, you should get one installed right away and check its batteries every month. It is best to replace the batteries at least two times a year. You can also have alternative fuel and heating sources.
Next, you need to make an effort to prevent any carbon monoxide emergencies. For this, you can:
- Install a Carbon Monoxide smoke detector in your home. It will warn you of the presence of the odorless, colorless, or any deadline gas.
- You should also change the batteries whenever required.
- Further, it would help if you also had the requisite awareness of the CO symptoms, that is, headache, upset stomach, dizziness, weakness, chest pain, vomiting, and confusion.
Prepare your car for the winters.
Before the winters arrive, you need to get your car ready for the season. To ensure that your car is winter-ready, you must check the tire tread and replace them if needed. With the winters’ onset, it is always a good idea to replace your existing tires with all-season or snow tires, suggests John, who offers the best design thinking courses. Moreover, you need to service the radiator and ensure that it is maintained at the antifreeze level. To prevent any moisture in the fuel tank, it is good always to keep the tank full. Further, you should have an emergency kit in your car. It will come in handy if, by chance, you get stuck somewhere in winters. This winter kit comprises:
- Blankets
- Cell phones
- Extra batteries
- Charger
- Cell phone
- Water
- Food
- Tire pump
- Booster cables
- A bag full of cat litter or sand for traction
- Plastic bags to sanitize
- First-aid kit
- Battery powered ratio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
Be prepared for the emergencies
When winter comes, you need to prepare yourself for all weather-related emergencies. These include power outages. Winter for our household means stocking up the home with food that does not require any refrigeration or cooking, and can be stored in clean air-tight containers, says Anushka, who works with TFTH. Further, it would help if you kept your phone charged. If you are heading out for a vacation or travel, you should always check the weather conditions and the forecast for the destination city or country.
Additionally, you also need to have an emergency kit handy with you. This kit should have:
- Some battery-operated devices, such as lamps, flashlights, etc.
- Baby items
- First-aid kit
- Extra medicines
- Extra batteries
- Cat litter or some sand
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Guard your family against the harmful CO
For this, you should:
- If you hear the CO detector sounds, you should immediately vacate your home and call for help.
- You need to keep the generators approximately 20 feet from your house.
- Also, keep the camp stoves and grills out of the horse, garage, and basement.
Some precautions when stepping outdoors
Usually, when you step out in winters, the outdoors expose you to some safety hazards. To shield yourself from that, you should:
- Always wear apt clothing according to the weather – wind-resistant coat, hats, scarves, mittens, boots, and warm clothing.
- Sprinkle sand or cat litter on the icy patches
- Be aware of the safety precautions that you should follow outside. These include:
- Have a cell phone handy
- If you go on outdoor recreation, go with a friend or family member
- Do not travel without an emergency kit
