Winter Safety Tips
As the colder weather and holiday season approach, it’s important to keep safety top of mind, both on the road and at home. Please take a moment to review these essential winter safety tips.
Safe Winter Driving Tips
Winter weather can make driving challenging, but preparation and caution are key to staying safe.
- Prep Your Vehicle:
- Ensure your tires have adequate tread depth and are properly inflated. Consider installing winter tires if you live in an area with heavy snow or ice.
- Check your battery, antifreeze, wipers, and top off your windshield washer fluid (using a winter mix) (this can help clear ice off).
- Always clear all snow and ice from your windows, mirrors, hood, and roof before driving.
- If you do not, it could cover your windshield, or it may fall on a car behind you.
- Drive Cautiously:
- Slow down and increase your following distance. On slick roads, you need significantly more time to stop.
- Be extra careful on bridges and overpasses, as they freeze faster than regular roadways.
- Avoid using cruise control in wet, snowy, or icy conditions.
- Remember just because you know how to drive safely, others may not.
- Keep an Emergency Kit: Pack essentials like a blanket (emergency blankets fold up small enough to fit in a pocket), first-aid kit, jumper cables, flares, a bag of sand or cat litter for traction, and a fully charged cell phone.
Winter Safety at Home & Decorating
The holiday season brings beautiful decorations, but it also increases the risk of fire and other hazards.
Home Heating & Fire Safety
- Keep all flammable materials (curtains, paper, furniture) at least three feet away from heating sources like space heaters, fireplaces, and radiators.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Check and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, and replace batteries as needed.
Safe Decorating Tips
- Lights:
- Only use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory (e.g., UL).
- Check lights for broken sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections before use. Discard any damaged sets.
- Never use indoor lights outside, and vice-versa.
- Turn off all decorative lights before leaving home or going to bed (timers or smart plugs are great for this).
- Trees:
- If using a live tree, make sure it is fresh (needles should not fall off easily). Keep it watered daily.
- Place trees away from heat sources.
- Do not use open flames, like candles, on or near the tree.
- Extension Cords: Do not overload outlets or extension cords. Check the cord’s wattage rating and do not exceed it.
Stay warm, drive safely, and have a wonderful, safe holiday season!