Daylight Saving Time has ended, and Old Man Winter is lurking around the corner. Time spent wandering around my yard, watering plants, and talking to neighbors is over. Here are 11 tips to help you survive the dark and cold days of winter and keep you and your family healthy and safe.
1. Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke and CO detectors require very little maintenance; however, changing your batteries twice a year is good practice when Daylight Saving Time begins and ends. It’s also a good idea to occasionally vacuum away dust and cobwebs in the area around your detector.
Smoke detectors last about ten years. Experts recommend replacing them after ten years, even if they seem to work fine. The manufacturer of my CO detector recommends replacing it after seven years. Always refer to your instruction manual for your smoke and CO detectors so you know when to replace them.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives!
2. Inspect your fireplace. If you haven’t done so, now is an excellent time to have your fireplace inspected. A proper inspection will identify potential defects, as well as creosote buildup.
Creosote is a black residue that travels up the chimney and builds up on the flue whenever you light a fire. Many consider a creosote fire in the chimney one of the most dangerous because it can spread quickly, severely damaging or destroying your entire home within minutes.
A clean chimney can save your home and your family!
3. Inspect your car’s tires and check the tire pressure regularly. Cold temperatures can cause your tires to lose more than one pound of air pressure per month. Driving with underinflated tires can cause damage to your tire and decrease vehicle handling. Driving in snow can be challenging enough. Don’t add underinflated tires to the mix.
Six tips for keeping your tires in shape so you can be safe
4. Put a winter emergency kit in your car. Do you have extra blankets and other supplies lying around the house? If so, putting those extra items in your car is a good idea. Those items could include blankets, pillows, hand warmers, and flashlights. Other things to keep in your emergency kit could consist of a shovel, jumper cables, water, granola bars/energy bars, a first aid kit including medications, extra clothing, flares, and reflectors.
5. Buy reflective clothing and other safety accessories. If you plan to continue your walking or biking routine, buying reflective clothing and other accessories is important. With additional hours of darkness, pedestrian accidents increase during this time of year.
Seven tips to enjoy the outdoors safely after daylight hours
6. Use your headlights. With fewer hours of daylight and an increased number of cloudy days during winter months, turn on your headlights when you get behind the wheel. It makes driving safer for everyone on the road.
Also, if your headlight lens covers are cloudy, consider having them replaced or look for tips on how to restore them. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
Seven tips for making driving at night easier and safer
7. Exercise. Use the extra daylight in the morning to jump-start your workout routine. Exercising in the morning offers many benefits that last throughout the day, such as increased metabolism, improved productivity/alertness, and fewer conflicts. It’s common to feel fatigued during the winter months, so give exercise a try!
8. Don’t drive distracted. As I mentioned earlier, pedestrian accidents increase this time of year. And the deer population is more active from October through December due to the mating season. It’s critical that you keep your eyes on the road at all times and pay particular attention to your surroundings. Watch for signs that identify pedestrian or deer crossings.
Ten tips to avoid distracted driving
9. Inspect your home keyless entry system. If your kids enter your home using a code for the overhead garage door, now is a great time to inspect the system and consider changing the batteries. As the weather gets colder, I’m sure you don’t want them stuck outside because of a dead battery.
10. Change your wiper blades. Wiper blades are probably the cheapest, yet most valuable, item on your car. Like smoke detectors, some experts recommend changing your wiper blades when we “spring ahead” and “fall back”.
No more mistakes when replacing windshield wipers
11. Consider replacing your car battery. Car batteries usually last four to five years. If your battery has lasted about this long, have your local mechanic take a look at it during your next oil change. They should be able to tell you if it should be replaced. It’s always better to be safe than stranded.
When is it time to replace your car battery?
Do you have any information or suggestions you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you. Please share them in the box below.
