Patch Picks: Safety Counts During Winter Weather Conditions

In my neighborhood, some teens were out in the snow in front of their home sledding. There was lots of laughter. Clearly, they were all having a great time.

Sounds like a typical joyful winter scene, right?

At first, I thought so. However, after stepping outside and looking more closely as to what was going on, the teens were barreling down their steep driveway right into the street at high speeds.

I live on a fairly busy and well traveled street, folks. 

Fortunately, an adult intervened pretty quickly at that point and thankfully before someone got seriously hurt.

Snow is sure beautiful to look at and play in. Who doesn't love a winter stroll, being cozy by a fireplace, seeing your dog frolic in the white stuff, or finding some great sledding hills?

However, as more snow is forecasted to hit the South Sound, it's probably a great time to remind ourselves on ways to stay safe.

There is a wealth of information out there about winter hazards and how to keep you, your family and neighbors, and pets safe. Here are some of the most important tips broken down into handy categories for you to check out.

Fire

Here are some important reminders from the team:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove.
• Space heaters need space; keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from each heater.
• Check electrical cords often and replace cracked or damaged electrical or extension cords. Do not try to repair them. Do not put any furniture, chairs, or heavy things on cords.
• Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home. They are not meant for this purpose and can be a fire hazard. Also, carbon monoxide (CO) gas from natural gas, propane, and other fuels can kill people and pets.
• Do not put your live or cut Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Avoid using lighted candles. If you must use candles, place them in sturdy candleholders that wont burn. Put them in places that pets will not knock them over. Extinguish them before going to sleep or when you leave.
• If you smoke, use only fire-safe cigarettes and smoke outside. Make sure they are out and not smoldering when you are done.

Additionally, if you use your fireplace, please keep in mind any local burn bans that may be in effect. Click here for more information on how these affect Pierce County.

Sledding

Did you know that thousands of sledding accidents happen each year in our country, with some of them being serious or even deadly?

So, how do you have a great time AND stay safe?

Here are some great tips from Parenting.com:

• Make sure the hill--and the space at the bottom of it--is completely clear of trees, fences, utility poles, and other obstacles. Collisions are a major fact in accidents.
• Consider a helmet. According to studies, 34 percent of sledding accidents result in head injuries. Just some food for thought.
• Only one person per sled. More people on a sled can get tangled up or bumped off raises the odds of getting hurt.
• Take turns. Tons of sledders going down on a hill all at once is a surefire way for someone to get hit.
• Get out of the way. Paying attention to oncoming traffic is a must. Sleds go fast!
• Don't rev up the experience. Never, ever tow sledders behind a motorized vehicle. It's not worth the risk.

Preventing Falls

Anyone is vulnerable to slips and falls during snowy and icy conditions. Older people are particularly vulnerable as falls can result in more serious injuries. Here's a compilation of tips from many sites on how to keep as slip and fall free as possible.

Wear good shoes with good traction.

Take your time getting to where you need to go. Rushing to get to your car on a slick driveway increases your risk of a fall.

Watch the surfaces you are walking on. If available, walk on areas that have been cleared of ice, snow, and other hazards. Also, pay attention if you have to go out after sunset or anytime in the evening when temperatures drop. A surface may look clear, but as temperatures dip, black ice could form. The same thing holds true for areas that normally don't get much daylight and stay shadowed.

Protecting Our Pets  

Did you know that a dog can lose its sense of smell and easily become lost in a snowstorm? Or that some of the chemicals used to melt snow and ice can make animals sick?

If you are a pet owner, I urge to check out the following links for pet winter safety. The links are set up to take you right where you need to go and will only take a few minutes of your time. Here are my favorites:

ASPCA (Cold Weather Tips)

About.com (Dogs)

The Humane Society of The United States video, Keeping Pets Safe in Winter

Driving

Out on a walk, I witnessed a three car fender bender on one of my neighborhood streets when the roads were still slick. Not fun! Check out the YouTube video I discovered from The Today Show that gives a little bit of driver's ed that can really pay off for a safe ride.

Have fun and stay safe Patch readers!