Winter safety - hot and cold

Winter across the world brings with it a variety of weather conditions. From the biting cold, snow, rain and wind of the Northern Hemisphere to the scorching temperatures and humidity of the Southern Hemisphere, it pays to be fully prepared for this winter season.

So here are our tips for your winter travel safety in all conditions.

1. Make Sure Your Vehicle is Prepared

In extreme weather conditions – either hot or cold – the last thing you want is to get hit by a mechanical or technical difficulty. Not only does this threaten your safety, but can risk the wellbeing of others that come to your aid too.

Whilst hazards can’t be entirely averted you can significantly reduce the chance of one occurring by taking some simple steps before your journey. For example you should check that your lights are clean and fully functional, ensure the tread on your tires is the correct depth, fill up on windscreen wash and check wiper blades, test your breaks and certify that the battery is fully charged.

2. Avoid Accidents when on Foot

Slips, trips and falls are a major cause of injury – particularly in snowy and icy conditions. But, they are avoidable by taking simple steps to stay safe when you’re out and about.

As a business owner you have a responsibility to clear private property so that employees and customers can safely access the premises. The temptation may be to pour boiling water over the problem areas and consider it a job well done. However, this only creates a sheer ice surface and is likely to make the issue worse. To sufficiently clear a surface you should do it early in the day before snow becomes compacted and use salt, sand or ash to dissolve snow and provide grip. It’s advisable that you stay on top of this and repeat the process throughout the day.

It’s important to note that it is not realistic for members of the public to expect every section of the pathway to be cleared, so they should remain vigilant whilst out. One possible hazard to be aware of is un-fixed doormats as they can slip and present a trip hazard.

3. Stay Warm

It might seem like an obvious one, but when the temperature drops you need to compensate by dressing appropriately for the conditions. It can be easy to underdress, especially when conditions take an unexpected, sudden turn for the worse.

Getting caught out by cold weather can lead to frost bite, heart attacks, pneumonia and more. But you can steer clear of these by wearing layers of loose fitting clothing, wear hats, gloves and scarves and try to cover your mouth when breathing to prevent the extreme cold from reaching your lungs.

4. Construction Workers Take Care

Working in the heat of the beating sun may appeal to some, but it brings with it its own set of risks such as burning, sunstroke and dehydration. You can dodge these dangers by making some simple considerations.

Make sure you take on plenty of fluids; water is the best source but some store bought drinks can help provide much needed electrolytes. Try to avoid food that is high in fats and preservatives too, these are high in calories and put extra strain on the body in hot weather. Make sure you bring shade with you and try to schedule work around peak heat points during the day such as midday.

5. What to do if some one gets Heat Exhaustion?

If the worst happens and some one begins to suffer from heat exhaustion you should move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and reduce their temperature by dabbing them with damp cloths. Offer them water, if they refuse this or begin vomiting then call the local emergency services.

So, the key is to remember that in order to avoid the worst happening you need to prepare sufficiently, don’t just hope for the best.