How to be safe this winter

The United States is full of a wide variety of weather zones. One state’s winter could be mild and balmy, while those in New York could be experiencing serious snow-drifts. If you’re worried about staying safe this winter and want to protect both yourself and your home, here’s how to keep your self nice and snug and out of harm’s way.

Keep your car in the garage

The winter season could spell heavy bouts of snow and hail storms, and so your car is bound to be collateral if you leave it outside. You also have to be mindful of snow falling from high places, which could also cause damage to the metalwork and glass. If you want to be really safe, keep your car in the garage. You may have to get the snow shovel out to clear a path, but a bit of an arm workout every morning could be far better than writing-off your vehicle.

Wear suitable shoes

If you’re one for shoving your shoes on at the last minute before you run out of the door with a sandwich in hand – pack your work shoes, ready to go in a separate bag. Some of us are required to wear formal footwear, but this might not be appropriate for icy conditions. Have sturdy walking shoes that can cope with slippery surfaces, and then pop your fancier shoes on once you arrive at your workplace. This could spare you a painful trip and fall. If you’re based in a treacherously icy city such as New York, it’s worth bearing in mind that there’s no need to tolerate bad sidewalk or property conditions as well as poor weather. However, despite taking precautions, sometimes you can’t stop an accident from taking place. If you do slip and fall and hurt yourself badly, then you may need legal help, such as Schwartzapfel Lawyers in New York. Getting in contact with lawyers such as these will ensure that you can get compensation for an accident that might not have been your fault but resulted in an injury occurring.

Get your home ready

While it may be the most wonderful time of the year, you will still need to ensure your home can truly handle the dramatic shift in temperature. At the very least, you will need to:

  • Ensure your roof is not loose or damaged.
  • Disconnect any hoses or other water features; these will freeze and could cause problems.
  • Ensure your pipes are ready to handle the cold snap; keep your heating on a winter setting, too, if you’re going away.

If you have the time to do so before the winter, it might be a good idea to update your central heating if you are using a very old system. Exposed and glowing elements are incredibly dangerous, and not very useful for heating your home.

Being safe this winter is about getting both you and your home ready to handle the dramatic change in weather. Unfortunately, you can’t always be as complacent as you once were in the summer months. It’s important to know, too, that businesses and landowners also have a responsibility to keep their property safe and usable during this time.

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Adam

Adam runs the grooming section at Unfinished Man, where he reviews the latest hair, skin, and shave products for men. With a passion for men's grooming, he continuously tests shampoos, conditioners, gels, moisturizers, razors, and more. Adam provides knowledgeable, trustworthy recommendations to help readers upgrade their routines. His background in evaluating hundreds of products makes him an expert on finding the best innovations for every guy's needs.

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