Winter safety tips
For younger generations, a cold, snowy winter holds a certain magic – but as the years roll by it becomes little more than an inconvenience.
What you once saw as the perfect snowman-making material, you now see as a slip hazard, while an icy morning becomes less ‘picturesque’ and more ‘treacherous’.
To help keep you safe amid winter’s inevitable hazards – and maybe to bring a little of that magic back as a result – we’ve compiled the following winter safety tips.
Choose appropriate footwear
Heading out on foot in icy conditions is fraught with danger, especially if you’re wearing shoes with smooth soles. Opt for your most rugged walking shoes (if you own any) or consider fitting your shoes with ice grips to help you stay on your feet.
An alternative to ice grips for shoes is the Ezy Shoe – an overshoe which works in a similar way to snow chains on car tyres.
Whatever your footwear, never venture out on to a frozen lake or river. However solid it may look, the ice could easily crack under your weight.
Travel sensibly
With increased snowfall seemingly a lasting effect of climate change, we can probably expect harsh British winters to become more and more frequent. Given that the UK’s roads (and vehicles) are not geared up for such conditions, the less you have to drive in winter the better.
When urgency dictates that you do need to travel in snowy conditions, always make sure you have food, drink, warm clothes and a spade in the car with you.
Beware frozen pipes
It’s not just people that struggle in winter conditions; your home also comes under pressure from the cold.
Pipes can freeze or burst as temperatures plummet, leaving you to count not only the inconvenience, but also the financial and emotional cost.
To prevent it from happening, consider lagging the most vulnerable pipes (such as those in your loft) and be sure to leave your heating on low whenever you leave the house for a period of time.
