How To Stay Healthy and Safe This Winter
By Volunteer Margot Lester and EMT Leyla Ozelkan, South Orange Rescue Squad
Winter doesn’t officially start until the Solstice, but we’re already in the thick of holiday festivities and cold temperatures! We’re not trying to harsh your holidays, but accidents do happen and it’s our job to help you stay safe. That’s why we’re devoting this issue of the South Orange Dispatch to winter safety.
SORS volunteers wish you and yours warm and safe winter holidays!
How to have a safe holiday season
You can do a lot to have a safer holiday but focusing on three things can help your days be merry and bright: fires, flu and firearms.
Did you know Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are among the most likely times for house fires? Only Thanksgiving has more. When you add Hanukkah (December 25 through January 2) and New Year’s Eve and Day into the mix, that’s a lot of people gathered around fires and hot surfaces. To reduce the risk of fires and burns, we recommend:
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- Putting a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket on every floor of your home and near outdoor fire pits
- Placing candles 12 inches away from anything that can ignite
- Using only space heaters that automatically shut off when tipped over
- Keeping clothing, decorations and anything else flammable away from space heaters
- Preventing kids and pets from getting too close to cooktops and open flames
When we’re all hanging out inside, germs are partying, too. To keep flu and cold germs from spreading, remember to wash your hands frequently and avoid other people when you’re sick. And since that’s not 100% foolproof, freeze some chicken soup for easy prep if you get sick and stock up on over-the-counter medications to treat your symptoms.
Another reality about this time of year is an increase in unintentional gunshot wounds. When you have people over or go visit others, be sure that all firearms are unloaded, locked and stored separately from the ammunition. We know it’s tempting, but remember that celebratory shooting is dangerous – and illegal in Orange County.
Get kitchen safety and fire prevention tips
General winter safety strategies
Outside of the holiday season, we see a noticeable increase in calls involving:
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- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Car accidents
- Slips, trips and falls
- Cold exposure
So let’s go over tips for staying warm, safe and healthy this winter.
How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous gas that can accumulate in your house anytime, but especially during winter. The easiest safety tactic is to install CO detectors on each level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Check them monthly along with your smoke detectors! It’s also a good idea to periodically make sure vents for your dryer, stove, fireplace and furnace are clear.
If the power goes out or you need additional heat during extreme cold, your CO risk increases. Avoid using your oven to heat your home. Use portable generators outside only and away from windows, doors and vents.
Symptoms of CO poisoning can seem like cold and flu but have much more serious implications for your brain, nervous system and heart. Seek medical help or call 9-1-1 if you and your family:
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- Feel weak, dizzy, drowsy or short of breath.
- Experience a headache, confusion or blurred vision.
- Have nausea or vomiting.
- Lose muscle control or consciousness.
Steering clear of winter auto accidents
We want you to drive carefully all year, of course, but there are some “evasive maneuvers” you can execute to lower your risk of a winter fender-bender. The best one is to stay where you are and avoid travel, but that’s not always possible, so:
Go slow. This tactic seems too easy to have much impact and yet it’s really effective at keeping you and others out of trouble.
Give them some space. Stay further behind the vehicles in front of you than you might usually, and give yourself a lot more time to brake.
Maintain proper tire pressure. Don’t ignore that alert on your dashboard! Cold weather lowers tire pressure, which reduces traction and control, and can even lead to a blowout.
Avoid cruise control on slippery roads. Driving at a constant speed increases the likelihood of hydroplaning. Also, your reaction time is delayed because your foot’s not on the pedal.
Don’t drive drunk. Whether it’s a designated driver, a taxi company or a ride-share, let someone else get you home.
Put down your phone. Keeping both hands on the wheel ensures you can make the tiny adjustments necessary on slick or snowy roads. If you can stay off the phone altogether, your concentration will be better, too.
Stay calm in a skid. The most common response is to overcorrect, which can make things worse! Instead, take your foot off the gas or brake pedal. Gently turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to go. So if you’re sliding off the road to the right, turn the wheel to the left back toward the travel lane.
Put an emergency kit in your car. In addition to the items already in your kit (hint, hint – like water, snacks, flares, a first aid kid and a jumpstarter and auxiliary power – include a blanket and set of hand warmers for each passenger and a set of dry clothes, especially socks. This is the best way to avoid exposure if you get in a wreck or stuck in the snow.
7 ways to sidestep winter slips, trips and falls
Falls are common in winter months, thanks to wet and icy conditions, cluttered floors and getting on ladders to put up/take down holiday decorations. Follow this advice to reduce your chances of taking a tumble:
- Run wires and cords under or behind furniture and secure floor coverings.
- Clean up spills in the kitchen or bathroom, and use de-icers on walkways and outdoor steps.
- Use the banister/handrail – no matter how young or surefooted you think you are!
- Keep toys and other items off the floor as much as possible.
- Place the ladder on a firm, dry and level surface.
- Have someone spot you when on ladders and step stools and stay off the very top step.
- Hold on with both hands as you climb so you always have three points of contact.
If you do end up falling, sit up if you can, then try to stand. If you can’t get to your feet, yell for someone in the house, call 9-1-1 or ask your smart speaker to do it if you can’t reach your phone.
If someone else falls and you don’t believe you can help them up in a way that’s safe for each of you, call 9-1-1 and stay with them while you wait for help to arrive. Trying to lift someone can hurt you, too!
12 tasks to prepare for a wintertime power outage
Extreme cold, high demand and a wintry mix can all lead to power outages. Here are 10 things you can do to be prepared.
- Ask your healthcare provider how to handle refrigerated medication and power-dependent medical devices.
- Refill prescription medications.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with battery backup.
- Charge mobile devices, auxiliary power sources and rechargeable batteries.
- Stock up on nonperishable foods you can prepare without heat or power.
- Create a backup water supply – don’t forget water for pets.
- Fuel up your car and generator, if you have one.
- Light your space with lanterns, flashlights and other battery-powered sources – traditional candles are a fire hazard.
- Place thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer so you know if food is at a safe temperature.
- Verify that items in your first aid kit haven’t expired and replenish low supplies.
- Prepare a go-bag of essential clothing, medications, documents and medications for family members and your pets.
- Gather blankets and warm clothes – including hats and gloves – to reduce the risk of cold exposure until the power comes back on.
Our highly-trained volunteers are ready to respond in any weather, so dial 9-1-1 when you need help. Want to know more about how we serve the community? Check out our new website at sors.us!
The South Orange Rescue Squad is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 organization. That means we depend on contributions from community members to fund our free CPR/First Aid classes, respond to 9-1-1 calls and participate in technical rescue operations. Every dollar makes a difference. Click here to contribute to our year-end campaign. Thank you!
The South Orange Dispatch is a monthly column on Chapelboro by the South Orange Rescue Squad: an all volunteer, 501c3 non-profit providing EMS and technical rescue services in the Carrboro-Chapel Hill area of Orange County since 1971.
