Cold winter weather can take its toll on our homes, cars, and bodies. Frozen pipes, dead car batteries, and bodily injuries, are common and often require us to seek help from a professional.
As we age, cold weather can be extremely dangerous. Plummeting temperatures can lead to icy sidewalks, hypothermia, and other serious injuries.
If you have elderly neighbors, friends, or relatives, check in with them this winter and share these safety tips.
1. Dress in layers. Older adults can lose body heat quickly and be unaware that a change in body temperature is occurring, making them susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when our body temperature gets below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Consequently, serious health problems can occur, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, or death. Selecting the correct number of layers is essential. Dressing in multiple layers will help keep them warm and reduce heat loss. To learn more about Hypothermia and symptoms, click here.
2. Keep the furnace running. Experts recommend keeping the indoor temperature around 68 degrees Fahrenheit at a minimum. While many older adults live on a budget, keeping their homes warm is important. Consider helping with some small home projects to keep heating bills down. Such projects may include closing vents, putting plastic on windows, or placing rolled towels or blankets in front of doors to reduce drafts.
3. Space heaters can be dangerous. During the winter months, home fires increase due to the use of alternative heat sources. People 65 and older are three times more likely to die or be injured in a home fire. If you know someone using a space heater, share the “7 Highly Effective Portable Heater Safety Habits.”
In addition, if they’re using a fireplace to heat their home, ensure they have a large screen to prevent sparks from landing on their flooring.
Lastly, make sure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of their home.
4. Prevent broken hips. Broken hips are a common injury for the elderly, but can lead to other health complications. To prevent injuries, shoes with non-skid soles should be worn.
If they like to venture outside for some exercise, encourage them to stay inside until snow and ice have been cleared from their property. Lastly, I recommend that they stay inside after dark. If they’re independent and don’t adhere to your advice, consider creating a small safety kit they can take when they go outside. A small kit could include:
- A bottle of water;
- Medications;
- Hand warmers;
- A whistle; and
- A flashlight.
5. Keep their pantry and medicine cabinet full. If a winter storm is approaching, make sure they have plenty of food and water to last for five to seven days.
6. Use smart technology. With today’s smart technology, we can watch our homes and loved ones better. Smart technology can make it easy to turn an aging parent’s home into a smart home. Voice activated personal assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana can help.
7. Visit often.
8. Discuss severe weather. When the deep freeze is about to settle in, or a blizzard is going to strike, make sure they understand. Let them know when the weather event will occur and how long it will last.
Do you have any suggestions or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you. Please share them in the box below.
Source:
https://www.today.com/news/brrrr-winter-safety-tips-senior-citizens-wbna10806061
