Snow and Ice: Safety and Accident Prevention Advice

Boots: Boots with rubber soles and solid ankle support that are preferably waterproof are essential to preventing slips and falls on the ice. These slips and falls are among the most common cause of injuries needing emergency hospital attention so men, women and of course children are all advised to wear boots. Even people who ordinarily drive door-to-door and therefore do not have to walk any great distance on a normal day, should bear in mind that their car/bus/taxi could get stuck and should therefore carry boots with them just in case. Be particularly careful when crossing roads or getting into or out of cars/buses/taxis. A pair of old socks worn over shoes can help to give grip in icy conditions.

Body Heat: Layers of clothes are advisable rather than one or two heavy garments while gloves and scarves are essential. Rugs and flasks of hot drinks are well advised for any journey that may take place later today and particularly after nightfall when the temperatures are likely to drop so too are flashlights (check that the batteries are working and bring spare batteries if possible) and a shovel.

Ambient Heat: Take care about heating around you. Do not leave open fires (both real and electric) unattended. Ensure that any gas appliances that are switched on are actually lighting and pay particular attention when dealing with electrical appliances. Pay particular attention to the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning if switching on old heating systems that have not been used for some time and in general ensure proper ventilation.

Hats & Hoods: "If you want to keep your feet warm - wear a hat" goes the old saying and again it is true; approximately 60% of your body heat leaves through your head so any hat is better than none. Best of all are the hats that cover your ears and waterproof hoods are also advised.

Skin: Men - as well as women - should bear in mind that conditions like this dry out the skin leading to cuts and cracks and therefore exposure to infection. A small tube of any basic moisturiser or skin barrier cream can be easily carried in your pocket and should be applied regularly to the hands and the face and any other area of the body that is exposed to extreme cold.

Sunburn and Sun glare: Alpine conditions such as these should be treated accordingly; Sunlight reflected off the ice is strengthened so sunglasses and even sun protection cream could come in handy.

Changeable weather: Above all people should bear in mind that extreme changes to temperature, light and road surfaces are likely in any given 8-hour period and they should therefore be prepared for such.

During severe weather: Elderly people are especially prone to hypothermia and pneumonia. Unfortunately, they are also the most likely to be living in older houses without adequate heating, so call in regularly on elderly friends, neighbours and relatives to see if they need help staying warm or getting provisions.

Motorists: Stop and offer roadside assistance if you see someone's car has broken down during severe weather; you could be saving someone's life.

In areas where heavy snow is likely to fall, always carry a blanket in your car. Also, carry a torch, a brightly-coloured headscarf, matches some chocolate bars, a flask of hot soup, a mobile phone and a sign that says HELP in big bright letters. If you break down or get stuck in snow dont leave your car it will get noticed before you will Put the HELP sign in your window, tie the headscarf to your car's aerial, turn off the engine and curl up in the blanket. Don't run your car's engine for more than a few minutes at a time and make sure its exhaust isn't blocked with snow. Be careful of leaving headlights/radios/hazard lights on for too long when the engine is not running, as it can drain the battery.
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