Don’t look now, but the days are getting shorter. The temperature is dropping, and more than likely, there is a sweater over that favorite T-shirt of yours.
Whether we like it or not, winter is right around the corner. It’s a season that can present challenges like none other, but winter can be a lot less stressful if we are prepared.
Experts in a variety of fields, including the insurance and medical world, have winter safety tips for on the road and at home.
Maria Hanson, a safety expert with ExpertInsuranceReviews.com, said a simple way to avoid the hazards of winter is to plan accordingly.
“Give yourself an extra 15 to 30 minutes to drive to your destination,” Hanson said. “Driving is already stressful, and winter driving makes it much worse. By allowing spare time, you free yourself to go slower and brake sooner than if you are trying to rush.”
Real estate professional Shaun Martin has logged numerous miles helping his clients find their dream home. Based in Denver, he is no stranger to adverse driving conditions. At the top of his list of suggestions is to slow down when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
“This cannot be stressed enough,” he said. “The posted speed limit is for ideal conditions, but not for when the roads are covered in snow or ice.”
While his next two tips – turning off cruise control and refraining from tailgating – may seem like common sense, they are still important to note, Martin said.
“Cruise control is for ideal conditions, but if you are driving in the snow or ice, you want to have as much control over your car as possible,” he said.
Never tailgating is a good rule of thumb, but especially in poor conditions.
“You want to give yourself plenty of space to stop in case the person in front of you needs to brake suddenly,” he said.
Insurance professional Trey Ferro said some individuals choose to enroll in a driving course to gain experience behind the wheel.
“For those who didn’t grow up in the snow, driving in it can feel scary and dangerous,” Ferro said. “To keep you confident and safe on snowy roads, take a winter driving course. These courses can be a one-time and hugely effective way for transplants from warmer areas to learn how to safely maneuver their vehicles when it snows. Half of snow-driving is technique, and the other half is confidence, and a winter driving course will teach you both.”
As the founder of the website ParentalQueries.com, Mark Joseph is used to dealing with the day-to-day struggles of parenting, including driving in the winter. Joseph said it is important to “winterize your vehicle” by checking tire pressure and tread depth, windshield wipers and their fluid level, battery strength and antifreeze levels.
Brandon Adcock, the CEO of men’s health and wellness brand Nugenix, had a particularly harrowing winter experience as a child while traveling with his family. On his way to a Christmas celebration, his parents’ car broke down and they were stranded for about three hours. Thankfully, his family’s friends realized they were missing and eventually came to tow them home.
“I remember the absolutely miserable cold during the wait, and always wondered how we’d have fared if we’d been less lucky,” Adcock said. “Afterward, my mother started keeping candles in the car during winter, and I’ve continued the tradition all the way into 2022. Survival candles burn anywhere from 12 — 115 hours and they can be used to keep you warm, signal for emergency rescue, dry out wet material, melt snow into water, and some candles can even be eaten in an emergency.”
Gestalt Brand Labs managing director Brian Munce suggested keeping a shovel in the trunk in case you are ever “up snow’s peak.”
“It takes exactly one time digging your car out of the snow by hand to realize the value of a shovel,” Munce said. “If I’m traveling in snowy weather, I always keep a small shovel in my back seat for digging out my own tires or helping someone else.”
Speaking of shoveling, cleaning the sidewalk or driveway may not seem like a health risk, but it can be if you are not careful, according to Dr. Michael May, the medical director at Wimple Clinic.
“Everyone should be cautious because heart-related issues may arise while shoveling during wintertime,” May said. “The cold weather causes smaller arteries to constrict, and your heart rate goes up and needs more oxygen to do its work. Older people and those with issues like high blood pressure or weak hearts should take more precautions when shoveling.”
Those precautions, May said, include wearing warm, comfortable clothing and proper footwear. He also recommended doing a quick warm-up so the body is loose before shoveling, drinking plenty of water and taking multiple breaks.
Joseph reiterated May’s statement about warming up before shoveling and added it’s important to lift with your legs and not your back, and don’t try to lift too much at once.
He noted it’s best to apply salt before ice forms as this prevents the ice from bonding to the surface and makes it easier to remove later.
“If you do have any underlying health conditions, it’s best to avoid shoveling altogether,” Joseph said. “Let someone else handle it or hire a professional snow removal service. It’s not worth risking your health.”
