Cold Weather Safety Tips

Protect Yourself:

-Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat.
-Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
-Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
-Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.
-Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
-Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of frostbite including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.

Protect Yourself at Home:

-Be careful with candles – do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
-Prevent frozen pipes - when the weather is very cold outside, open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature.
-Check smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button and replace batteries as necessary.
-Don’t overload your electrical outlets.
-Don’t forget your pets – bring them indoors. If you can’t bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water.
-If you plan on using an alternate heating source, never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
Keep a glass or metal fire screen around the fireplace and never leave a fireplace fire unattended.
-If using a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use the heater. Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface. Turn the space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from your space heater and do not use it to dry wet clothing.

Hints from the Red Cross

Internet safety

- Don’t give out any personal information - Guard your home address, date of birth, bank or credit card information and phone numbers.

- Use caution when opening attached files - A file attached to an e-mail is a common way for a virus to spread. Think first before opening attachments even if you know the sender, and check with the sender if you’re not sure about an attachment.

- Use chat rooms that have moderators. You can usually tell if a site is moderated when you sign up or enter the chat room. Report incidents of bullying, sexual exploitation or other fraud to the chat room moderator straight away.

- Make sure your personal information is protected. Read a site’s privacy statement before you give out any personal information or download software. Check for signs that the Web site protects sensitive data; look for “https” in the Web address and for a yellow padlock or an unbroken key in the lower-right corner.

- Use strong passwords. Strong passwords have at least eight characters; include letters, numbers, and symbols; and are easy for you to remember but tough for others to guess. Protect your passwords, and change them regularly.

- Keep your computer current A computer that’s up-to-date is far more likely to be secure. Use a firewall and install antivirus software. You can find a selection of antivirus software providers reviewed at: http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/index.html
Although this site quotes prices for all products some are available for free or as trials.

Home Safety Tips

The StairSteady team has done some research and come up with a long list of hints and tips to keep you and your property safe:

* Don’t walk around in socks or stockings on non carpeted floors. Try to wear rubber soled, low-heeled shoes when ever possible

* Get rid of small rugs as they are easy to trip up over.

* Make sure all of your carpets are properly fitted and all the edges are properly secured.

* Keep you home well lit using long life energy saving bulbs. Pay particular attention to stairs and walkways.

* Talk to your council, Social Services or local Independent Living Centre about having grab rails installed by steps, stairs, toilets and baths and showers.

* Get an anti slip mat for the bath and shower and replace it when it starts to loose its adherance.

* Avoid having any trailing wires. Try to group appliances next to power sockets if possible or consider having more sockets installed.

* Consider using a cordless phone or mobile to avoid having long telephone wires.

* Be tidy! Pick up anything that falls as soon as possible and think about putting small objects such as magazine racks and bins out of the way or beside large pieces of furniture.

* Wipe up any spills as soon as possible

* Never store heavy items or things you use often in high or hard to reach cupboards.

* Never keep anything on the stairs, keep stairs and walkways clear at all times.

* Take your time when getting up to answer the phone or door. Once you stand up take a second to make sure you don’t feel dizzy.

* Consider using nightlights for your bedroom and route to the bathroom or make sure you always switch the lights on before you walk across a room.

* If you need spectacles make sure you wear them at all times and get your eyes checked regularly.

* If you need a walking aid use it at all times and make sure you have one upstairs and downstairs so you don’t have to carry one on the stairs.

* Write out a plan if you fall so you know what to do as it is often difficult to think after the shock of a fall. You could also consider having a personal alarm system so you can get help if you need it.

* Install smoke detectors/fire alarms in your home. Some fire and rescue services in England offer free home fire risk checks. This involves firefighters visiting your home and offering fire safety advice for you and your household. They may be able to install your smoke alarm for free.

* Ensure your doors have adequate locks. Fit deadlocks to all outside doors and fit a security chain to the front door.

* Close and lock your doors and windows – even if you are only going out for a short time.

* Don’t leave valuables (handbags, keys, mobile phones, etc) in sight thought windows where burglars can see them.

* Remove keys from their locks and ensure they are put away, even if you are at home.

* Ensure that all ground and basement windows are fitted with locks.

* Never leave door keys under a doormat or plant pot outside.

* Use a security marker pen to mark your postcode on your property – this will enable the police to return any stolen property to you. Make an inventory and keep the list in a safe place.

* Light up inside your home – ensure that you have appropriate lighting and set some internal lights on timer switches, it gives the impression that a home is occupied.

* Secure important documents and valuable items in a safe place within your home or deposit them in a bank.

* Check all callers I.D. cards – all official callers from gas, electric, council, repair men etc all have I.D. cards with photographs and with a telephone number on and they should be happy for you to verify their identity.

Stay safe!

StairSteady Home Safety Tips

-Don’t walk around in socks or stockings on non carpeted floors. Try to wear rubber soled, low-heeled shoes when ever possible
- Get rid of small rugs as they are easy to trip up over.
- Make sure all of your carpets are properly fitted and all the edges are properly secured.
- Keep you home well lit using long life energy saving bulbs. Pay particular attention to stairs and walkways.
- Talk to your council, Social Services or local Independent Living Centre about having grab rails installed by steps, stairs, toilets and baths and showers.
- Get an anti slip mat for the bath and shower and replace it when it starts to loose its adherance.
- Avoid having any trailing wires. Try to group appliances next to power sockets if possible or consider having more sockets installed.
- Consider using a cordless phone or mobile to avoid having long telephone wires.
- Be tidy! Pick up anything that falls as soon as possible and think about putting small objects such as magazine racks and bins out of the way or beside large pieces of furniture.
- Wipe up any spills as soon as possible
- Never store heavy items or things you use often in high or hard to reach cupboards.
- Never keep anything on the stairs, keep stairs and walkways clear at all times.
- Take your time when getting up to answer the phone or door. Once you stand up take a second to make sure you don’t feel dizzy.
- Consider using nightlights for your bedroom and route to the bathroom or make sure you always switch the lights on before you walk across a room.
- If you need spectacles make sure you wear them at all times and get your eyese checked regularly.
-If you need a walking aid use it at all times and make sure you have one upstairs and downstairs so you don’t have to carry one on the stairs.
-Write out a plan if you fall so you know what to do as it is often difficult to think after the shock of a fall. You could also consider having a personal alarm system so you can get help if you need it.