The coldest months of the year are quickly approaching, reminding us of the importance of keeping your family safe from cold-weather-related injuries from late fall into the depths of winter! Western North Carolina is blessed with a fairly mild climate year-round, but as we learned last March when power outages occurred and it was under 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside, cold snaps do still happen around here!

Keep reading below to learn some tips for keeping your family safe during cold weather!

Cold-related injuries account for nearly 1 million injuries annually in the United States with up to 17,000 of those resulting in loss of life. From falling icicles to tripping on ice, and power outages during some of the coldest months, protecting your family as best as you can during the cold months is crucial to overall safety. 

Another threat to safety during these months is cold-related illnesses, such as hypothermia, in addition to the common cold and flu season threats that loom each year.

• Dress in layers.  Dressing in layers is a great idea because not only will you and your family be able to stay warm, it gives you the option of taking extra clothes off if you get too hot as well. Be mindful of layers especially with young children and the elderly as they are often most at risk for serious cold-related illnesses and injuries.

*Special Note on layers for parents of babies and toddlers*

You want to keep your baby or toddler warm, but did you know that putting a child into a car seat with a thick jacket on can affect their safety in the car?

Depending on the thickness of jackets, you will likely have to loosen your baby’s car seat straps in order to accommodate their coats. This is unsafe because if there is an impact, your baby won’t be as secure and resistant to injury due to too loose straps, and may become injured or killed as a result. For more information on car seat safety during the winter months, click here. 

• Remove icicles from roofs, doors, and windows while they are small. It is estimated that roughly 15 people in the U.S are killed by falling icicles each year. Although relatively uncommon, it does happen, so when icicles begin to form on any part of your home, especially in areas where there is foot traffic, remove them as safely and quickly as possible to prevent them from becoming too large they can cause death. 

• Properly salt your walkways and keep them clear of ice when possible. Slip trips and falls are among the most common winter-weather-related injuries. Nearly everyone has slipped on a patch of ice or two in their lifetime, and in some cases, it can cause serious injuries such as concussions or brain injuries, as well as fractures and broken bones. Be mindful when walking in an icy area.

• Avoid driving when roads are expected to be icy.  We may not get a ton of snow here in the south, but we do occasionally get iced roads. If an ice storm is predicted, avoid going out and driving if possible. If it is impossible, drive slowly and carefully, and ensure that your vehicle and tires are in proper working order before making a trip to help reduce the risk of an accident due to icy roads.

• Have an emergency plan in place for power outages and other severe cold weather events.  Although you should have a disaster plan ready no matter what time of year it is, it’s especially critical to have one in place before cold weather arrives. For a general guideline to consider when coming up with a disaster plan for your family, click here. Ideally, you should have at least 72 hours’ worth of food, water, and heating supplies, as well as extra blankets. 

Stay safe out there!