The document provides winter safety tips for seniors, with the main points being to avoid walking on icy surfaces, ensure mobility devices have good traction, be careful with heating devices and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, get help with shoveling if at risk of falling or osteoporosis, watch for signs of hypothermia and go indoors, and prevent isolation by providing interaction for homebound seniors during winter.

1. Promoting Winter Safety for Seniors

2. The holidays are near. That means fun with family, presents and all that
good stuff. However, in some parts of the country, the holidays can also
mean dangerous temperatures and slippery conditions.

3. With family members of all ages, shapes and sizes getting together for
what should be a joyous occasion, here are a few ways Christmas can
go off without a hitch despite inclement weather.

4. Caregivers and seniors alike can heed this easy advice when it comes to
handling the icy sidewalks or extreme cold.
Here are some simple safety tips for seniors as they venture into the cold:

5. 1 Do not walk on icy or snow-filled
walking areas. If you have to, wear
boots. Do whatever you can to avoid
falling.

6. 2 If you use a cane or walker, replace
the rubber tips if they are worn.
Also, you can place an attachment
on the end of the cane to improve
traction.

7. 3 Be careful that heating devices
(furnaces, radiators, etc.) do not
become fire hazards. Regularly
monitor your smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors.

8. 4 In the cold, your heart works
overtime to keep your body warm.
Shoveling can be dangerous if you
suffer from bad balance or
osteoporosis. Ask your doctor is
shoveling is safe for you, or ask
others to help.

9. 5 Hypothermia is a serious problem for
seniors. Don’t stay in extreme cold
for long periods of time. When
outside, wear layers and don’t
expose skin. Shivering is an early sign
of rapid heat loss, so immediately go
indoors if this occurs.

10. 6 Beat the boredom. Winter can cause
isolation and even depression. This
one is important for caregivers.
Remember that homebound seniors
need plenty of interaction and
friendship, too.

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