Winter safety is more than thermal socks and a good coat. Anything can happen, and when it does, you need to be prepared. Securing the home is one thing; safety extends outwards, too. From preparing your car to looking after the chimney, here are some useful suggestions.
CC0 Licensed Image Courtesy of Pexels
Take Care of Your Heating System
Prevention is a great place to start when it comes to being prepared. The worst thing that can happen in winter is your boiler or furnace breaking down. There are many reasons this can happen, and overuse is common. However, it may also be old and inefficient, so it just dies. You have to find ways to stay warm with a broken furnace when this happens. Booking a regular service and learning to use the furnace efficiently can prevent a breakdown from occurring.
Prepare Your Car for Winter Safety
Securing your vehicle is a powerful way of staying safe in winter. Summer brings its own car troubles, but car crashes increase by 15% on average in the winter, probably due to the poorer conditions. Fortunately, it’s easy to prepare your car. There is some investment, but what price can you put on lives? Snow tires are one of the most effective ways to reduce an accident. Having a deicer on hand at all times will help. And always do a quick FLOWER check each day.
Clear the Gutters and Drainage
Water can be a mortal enemy of a home. When water gets into your home, it ruins the wheat efficiency of the insulation. It can also be dangerous and cause electrical fires. However, in winter, there are also other issues. Water can freeze, and when this happens, it expands. Expanding ice causes major cracks and holes in the walls, roofing, and gutters. All of these lead to poor drainage and blockages and can be expensive to repair. Clear the gutters when safe.
Stock Up on Emergency Supplies
Blackouts and snowstorms are real threats in some places, and it can be days before you get any help. However, you can keep some semblance of normality and safety with these tips:
- Charge a spare smartphone you can use in case personal phones die out.
- Stock plenty of batteries for battery-operated radios and LED flashlights.
- Gather canned food (and the opener) that doesn’t spoil to get you through.
- Water bottles are vital and will ensure you don’t go thirsty in a bad situation.
- Toilet accessories, soap, and ladies’ products will help you stay sanitary.
- Don’t forget a first aid kit with medical supplies and spare medication.
Communication is vital and could be the difference between waiting for hours or waiting for days. Food, water, and hygiene supplies will keep you safe and make conditions tolerable.
Install Loft and Basement Insulation
A power cut after a storm can prevent your heating system from working. And this means the temperature of the home will drop. But it doesn’t have to be anywhere near as cold as outside. You can keep a tolerable temperature if your insulation is up to standard. The loft and basement are the most vital for keeping heat in and cold out. But it always helps to consider floor, wall, and even window insulation to provide added protection and reduce how much heat is lost.
Winter Safety Includes Chimney Cleaning
A fireplace is a cozy way to enjoy the season and relax in comfort. But the chimney must be well-maintained, especially during winter. In the UK, there is a huge increase in fireplace and chimney fires during December, with an increase of around 220% each year. The reason is poor maintenance. Cleaning the chimney also clears out any buildup of creosote, a substance that becomes highly flammable as it accumulates inside your chimney and causes a fireball.
Layer Clothes and Blankets Correctly
There might come a time when your heating system isn’t available. When this happens, you need to know how to stay warm. Staying warm is a skill and requires some knowledge of layers. Layers are the most efficient way to stay warm with minimal heat sources available. In an emergency, this can be the difference between making it or not. Thermal clothing with skin-tight and loose layers is highly effective with thin and heavy and thick and airy blanket layers.
Summary
Home heating maintenance is a great first start to enhance winter safety at home. It also helps to stock emergency supplies of food, water, and hygiene products. Knowing how to layer up correctly can mean the difference between a harsh time and getting through an incident.
