Winter Safety Tips
Winter weather may have kicked into full gear where you are, or you may have another few mild weeks before the coldest part of the year arrives. My family lives in Florida now, so we don’t need to worry too much about ice, snow and freezing temperatures except for the years that we go “home” to New England in the winter! Even if you live in a warm climate, it’s good to brush up on the basics of keeping everyone safe from the cold; you may visit someone in a colder state this year or in the coming years. Here are a few things to keep in mind in order to keep yourself and your children safe this winter:
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Any fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas dryer, a gas stove, fireplace or non-electric heater, can create carbon monoxide. Unfortunately, every winter, there are news reports of entire families killed because they did not know that the odorless, colorless gas had filled up their homes. Smoke detectors are, of course, important in every home no matter the time of year, so if you haven’t checked your batteries in a while, go take five minutes to do it right now.
- Dress kids appropriately for the weather. If they’re going to be playing outside, make sure that they have waterproof gloves or mittens, hats that cover their ears and dry socks inside of their boots. Keeping the extremities covered with dry clothing will help prevent frostbite. If the kids are outside for a long period of time or it’s very cold out, periodically check to be sure that their fingers, toes, noses and ears are warm enough; if it’s below freezing and there’s a windchill, it’s best to limit the amount of time that they’re spending outside.
- Pack an emergency kit in the car. Between dead batteries, cars stuck in the snow and other types of trouble with your vehicle, you could end up stranded for a while. This is annoying and inconvenient during mild weather, but it could be deadly if it happens and you’re caught unprepared in the winter. Pack a kit that has blankets, extra gloves, nonperishable food, flashlights and flares. Also, try to make sure that your cellphone battery is always well-charged and that you keep your gas tank at least halfway full.
- Don’t overbundle your baby. Dress a young baby in one more light layer than what you’re wearing. Wrapping a small baby in many layers of clothing or blankets isn’t comfortable and could contribute to SIDS. Remember not to put loose blankets in the crib at all; dress your infant in a warm sleeper instead of using quilts or blankets if at all possible.
Do you have any winter safety tips to share with our readers?
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these are good cold weather tips
Great tips!!
Great tips for sure. Snow tires or chains would also be helpful
These are good tips. I do recall living in Florida, in the West Palm area when it snowed!!! and wearing my down vest. But it wouldn’t last, they don’t have “white” Christmas, as you know. I missed the snow when I lived in FL – now that I’m here, it can be nice, but you need to be prepared. So many ppl do not take the time to truly be careful of safetey measures.
Checking Smoke and Carbon Detectors is so important! Having working smoke alarms all year around proves to save lives! I make sure that my smoke alarms work in case of a fire. Everyone needs to have an escape plan!
Thanks for the great ideas!
Great tips! I need to get more stuff to keep my feet warm for sure!
Thanks so much!! BTW, love the layout of your blog!
Nice blog. 🙂
Always keep skin covered up when the temps drop very very low …. frostbite isn’t fun!
Thanks for the great tips. Will use most of them.
i always keep deicer on hand in the winter, its great for steps.
great tips
Great ideas. We get some really cold days here!! Thanks.
cool tips!
wow these are great tips most of the time i don’t think about emergency kit in the car thanks.
I don’t have an emergency kit in my car, but maybe that’s a good idea to put together…
I really need to pack a safety kit for the car. Thanks so much for the reminder!
Nice tips! Even though I live in Florida also, it’s always nice to know these when I go to other places to visit family.
We have snow today. Where we live, it turns to ice fast. So, don’t forget those snowboots.
These are great tips for us who get snowed in once in awhile. I like the fact that you also mentioned about carbon monoxide too. Thats important to have detectors for that too. I learned something that I did not know before about bundling the baby to much and SIDs
most of us try to bundle them to make sure they are warm enough. Thanks for the information you posted
Great tips! Thanks for the information! I will need this because I live in PA!
This is great info, I wish more people would take these into account!
Thanks for sharing these tips. Your right its always good to remember these thing even if you do live there but go for a visit.
great tips. One that you forgot is sunscreen. yes even in the cold winter months we still have to worry about those nasty uv rays.
Thanks for the great tips. I’ll make sure I have an emergency kit in my car.
Great advice! I’m so glad I don’t live in a super cold area. I hate cold weather!
Good tips, Thanks! I also like to send my kids out when it’s really cold with a scarf of a hat with a facemask attached because breathing in the extremely cold air can be painful, and even more so if the child has a condition such as asthma. The new hats with masks attached that go over your mouth and nose are awesome. Don’t know how long they’ve been out but they’re new to me lol
Great tips. I live in Virginia.
Keep a spare lite blanket in the car,just in case.
These are great tips! I’m guilty of not doing some and I live in Ohio. We see plenty of snow here 🙂
Those are really great tips! Thanks
Thanks for the great tips!
One safety tip is keep warm have woolen gloves to protect your hands from frostbite.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing winter safety tips, really cool tips for sure. I will follow! 🙂
These are great tips.People don’t realize how little it takes little ones and older people to get to cold. Frostbite is very painful from what I hear. These are good tips/
Here’s my tip: Don’t fall down on the ice! (I can say that from experience.) Plus if you are going out to shovel or use the snowblower let someone know so they can check up on you periodically.
Thanks for the tips, I definitely need to check my detectors, I always mean to be never get around to it, thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them.
THESE ARE GREAT TIPS -THANKS
Great ideas and tips.. Wish it would snow here in the South.
Great cold weather tips.
Great tips, thanks for posting.
Great tips, thanks a lot!!
Very useful tips. Thanks!
Wonderful tips. Especially the one about overdressing your baby =D
thanks for the great ideas and wonderful tips for everyone 😉
Thanks for the great tips! I always have my emergency kit in my car. Have a great holiday! =)
great tips. I’m on the emergency kit! Gotta get to it!
I literally hate the cold, thanks for the awesome tips!!!!
these are great tips esp for the car most ppl dont think about it but if you break down or get stuck somewhere it is always good to be prepared
good tips— i always keep stuff packed in my car — i live in CO
Great safety tips for Winter.
Thank you for these tips. I don’t always think of these things so thank you for posting.
Packing an emergency bag in the car is important! I have a little bag in my backseat with things I would need if stranded.
We get some bad ice storms during the winter months, so I keep a kit of canned goods, batteries, water etc. Like you would for a hurricane. It has come in handy 🙂
it just amazes me when i see parents bundled up and their kids aren’t…i never understand it! poor kids must be sick with colds all the time!
All great tips. I can’t think of anything more to add.
I hate the cold, but yet I want it to snow so my son is happy 🙂
Great safety tips!
Awesome tips!
awsome saftey tips, always need good advice
Great tips! I live in a tropical country but we might visit my siblings in NY by the end of the year. Thanks for sharing this.
I always take water with me, even if it’s just to the store, I’ve been stuck in traffic for hours before and it sure helps to have something to drink.
Great tips. Checked the batteries today and they needed replacing. Shouldn’t overlook that when burning wood for heat.
Such good tips!
I really need to pack an emergency kit, I drive 2 hours a day with my toddler (my commute to work) so this is necessary.
This is great info! It definitely applies where I live – in Manitoba, Canada! Long winters here!
I love the cold. Unfortunetley for me, i moved to Houston where its cold 1 day out of the year. And on that day, people cant stop complaining. Theses are some good tips, thanks.
Thanks so much for this! especially with this winter storm watch 😉
The winter is hard on the children and us as parents. You have really posted some awesome tips 🙂
Thanks for your tips. For an older adult he/she can dress in layers to insure warmth.
Emergency kit in the car is so important! I live in the mountains and people are always getting stuck.
If the weather is bad please stay home if possible. We have our first taste of sleet and ice today and the roads are terrible. There’s been hundreds of accidents so it’s better to stay home if you can.
Thanks for the tips! Those are good things to know.
awesome tips but sad I never experience winter in my country because I came from tropical nation the Philippines
well i live not on winter country btw
We live in a really urban area, but i insist on keeping a blanket, an extra pair of gloves and socks and some powerbars in the car just in case.
Thanks so much for these awesome cold tips. I always hate to see winter come~