Winter in the Copper Country provides us with weather that is constantly changing from snow to sleet to ice. Aspirus has a Safe Worker Awareness Team that created a list of suggestions for safer walking outdoors for our staff. I thought there were some good tips to share:

Wear rubber soled WINTER BOOTS with a modest to low heel on snowy days as you enter and exit buildings to and from your vehicles.

WEAR ICE CLEATS on cold rainy, or thawing and freezing days as you enter and exit buildings to and from your vehicles. There are local stores that sell ice cleats; one popular brand is called YakTrax.

Walk ONLY on designated walkways.

SLOW DOWN!

Use a SHAKER BOTTLE OF SLIP RESISTANT MATERIAL when exiting your car. Recycling an empty liquid detergent bottle works well. Fill it with slip resistant material (Oil-Dri, kitty litter, sand or sidewalk salt) to keep in your car and pour in your pathway for added traction. Oil-Dri is available at many retail locations, including Walmart.

WIPE YOUR FEET when entering a building.

CLEAR ALL ENTRANCES AND WALKWAYS of ice and snow as well as properly sand and salt at all times.

BE PREPARED for bad weather. Follow your local news media for weather updates.

Know that preventing falls is EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY! Use caution and take steps to avoid falling down this winter.

And don’t forget to PREPARE YOUR CAR-Our home care staff is on the road seven days a week / 12 months a year so we also promote car safety, especially in the cold winter months. Here are a few more tips we use that are worth sharing with you. Service your car radiator and maintain antifreeze level; check tire tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires. Keep your car’s gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer. Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car in case you become stranded that includes blankets, food and water, booster cables, flares, tire pump, and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction); flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries; first-aid kit; and plastic bags (for sanitation). Hope these tips help you to stay safe this winter. If you have questions or need more information, call Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice at 337-5700 or contact your health care provider. Additional online resources: aspirusseniorhealth.com and cdc.gov/Features/WinterWeather.

Editor’s note: Cindy Griffin is a registered nurse and patient services director at Aspirus Keweenaw.