Winter Safety Tips 2024

Winter Security Tips

Winter can be a dangerous time of year for many people, from the build-up of snow and ice to the road to general darkness and cold temperatures. 

According to research conducted by Rivervale Leasing, one road accident occurs every hour in snowy, icy, foggy, dark and flooded conditions. In addition to this 44,783 accidents have occurred in wintry weather from the 2016 – 2020 period. 

But what are some of the specific hazards to look out for during winter and more importantly, what are some ways that you can keep yourself and your family safe during the coldsnap period? 

We’ll be exploring that in today’s article.

1. Threats To Look Out For At Winter
2. Winter Safety Tips
3. Conclusion

Threats To Look Out For At Winter

According to Alertmedia, there are a variety of threats and dangers to look out for regarding winter safety, we list four of these below.

Power Outages 

Winter can put an increasing strain on an electrical grid and therefore power outages are common this time of year.

Hypothermia And Frostbite

It should be no surprise that the rigid cold itself is a large threat during the winter period, with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine placing 60,500 deaths from the cold weather between the 2000 – 2019 period.

Slip & Fall Injuries

Ungritted paths when snow starts to thaw out and becomes black ice may make slip & fall injuries particularly common. 

Unsafe Driving Conditions

Extra attention should be paid when driving in snowy, rigid conditions. According to the RAC, braking distances can be multiplied by 10 in snow or ice.

Winter Safety Tips

Below is listed some general Winter Safety Tips and ways you can ensure your own, your families and your friend’s safety during a cold snap.

#1 – Wear Appropriate, Warm Clothing 

This should be an obvious winter safety tip but as previously touched upon in this article, cold can, will and has killed in the past so therefore it’s important that you wear appropriate and warm clothing in winter.

If you live in a particularly cold country where winters commonly get bitingly cold, it’s important to wrap up in multiple layers of clothes regularly with the first layer being a thermal underlayer and the subsequent layers being the likes of knitwear and heavy, well insulated winter coats to stop a wind chill.

#2 – Wear Non-Slip Winter Boots

Just as important as the rest of your winter attire, you should also consider wearing appropriate footwear during particularly icy or snowy conditions – for example, a pair of rugged non-slip winter boots are perfect as they:

• Stop you from slipping on ice and snow.
• Stop your feet from getting wet and cold.

Well-insulated thermal socks should also be worn to help insulate your feet.

#3 –  Stay Well-Informed Of Winter And Weather Threats

One particularly useful tool that can be utilised is technology. 

If you know a winter storm may be approaching where you live, be sure to be well-informed of all developing threats and keep a keen eye on your local meteorological authority for weather warnings. E.g; the met office in the UK.

Head weather warnings and travel notices, if it’s advised not to travel unless necessary – stay inside and make sure you’re well supplied in the winter months when it comes to food and drink to lessen the trips to the supermarket.

Also be sure that your phone is fully charged before you leave the house in case you need to use it for an emergency. 

#4 – Winter Motor Safety

The dangers of snowy & icy braking distances were previously touched upon, but what are some other winter safety tips that can help you keep safe whilst driving? We list some below.

• If possible, don’t stop when driving up-hill
• Increase following distance to 8-10 seconds behind the previous car.
• Accelerate and decrease slowly.
• Avoid using crowd control in icy conditions.
• In general, ensure that you’re driving more carefully than normally.
• Keep your car’s setting out of a “sports” mode as this often lowers suspension. 

Car maintenance is also important in winter, if within your means be sure to:

• Use winter tyres.
• Keep your gas tank full to prevent ice build-up. 
• Use a winter fluid in your windshield washer.

#5 – Be Alert

Another important winter safety tip would be in general to remain alert.

When exiting your home in winter and it’s dark, be sure to light your way forward with a heavy-duty flashlight or even phone torch so you don’t slip on snow or ice – this may help reduce accidents overall. 

#6 – Hire A Security Service 

Although not immediately obvious, hiring a security guarding service may help with personal safety during the winter period such as making sure everyone’s health & safety is accounted for if working as part of a construction site security service as an example.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, we’ve explored a variety of threats to look out for during the winter period as well as some winter safety tips to keep you, your friends and family safe. 

If you’ve liked today’s article, be sure to keep up to date with all of our latest safety tips & guides on our official blog where you can read articles such as Christmas home security tips and tips for installing security alarms.

We also have an official Region Security YouTube channel where you can keep an eye out for all the latest security news, tips, and tricks.