Stay safe this Winter

THE days have become shorter and the nights, longer and colder.

This means that winter has crept in.

Although the best way to keep away from the blistering cold is to stay snug and warm in bed, it is not always possible in the real world.

Winter does not have to be miserable if you do the little things to keep the cold out.

Food

There’s a notion that cold temperatures enhance your appetite.

Many of the reasons for this being true are not based in scientific fact, however, there are certain foods that can help keep you warm especially when you are at work.

Instead of the typical summer salads, rather eat hearty vegetable dishes such as soups with vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.

Keep a flask with warm beverages at the office to occasionally warm up your core.

Clothing

When you hear the word clothing, you tend to imagine the works: heavy jackets, gloves and scarves.

These are essential for keeping warm, however, for those that lead active lives, they can be inconvenient.

Thermal underwear, commonly known as ‘long johns’, is one solution for this.

Usually, people participating in cold sports wear these garments, but they are very useful for those working outdoors.

They are commonly made from cotton or a cotton-polyester-blend and are designed to keep heat in and minimise sweating.

Thermal underwear garments are available at most clothing retail stores.

You can never underestimate the effect that socks have on a body.

Frozen toes are never easy to deal with, so stock up on socks to wear with your shoes and some to wear to bed.

This winter may not be too hard to bear if you look after yourself.

Safety

Be mindful of fire prevention and safety in your home.

Firstly, do not leave burning candles unattended and make sure that you have working smoke alarms.

If you are making use of a gas heater, ensure that you have it tested before using it because pipes perish over time and could cause gas leaks.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have some form of ventilation in the room with a lit gas heater to avoid carbon monoxide building up.

The best way to do this is to leave a window open in the room.

Electric blankets should not have exposed portions where you can see coils or cabling.

They must not be left unattended when switched on and any blanket that is torn or damaged should not be used.

Fires at home occur most often in winter therefore, keep anything that can catch fire away from heating equipment and avoid using an oven or stove to heat up your home.

Ensure that you turn heaters off when you leave the room and if you make use of a fireplace, get the chimney serviced and cleaned regularly by a qualified professional.

Lastly, do not leave lit fireplaces unattended.