Going out in the winter can be hazardous, especially if you will be driving. Then again, staying in has its risks too. Make sure you stay safe this winter with these helpful tips:
Driving in the winter is very different than at other times of the year. Adverse weather and longer periods of darkness makes driving more hazardous. Sometimes conditions can be severe (as we have seen in recent winters in the UK).
To make sure we stay safe on the roads we need to adapt the way we drive.
RoSPA has a series of tips to help you cope better with the various seasonal weather hazards.
Click here to download the driving tips.
The tips give advice on how to:
Prepare your vehicle
Prepare your journey
Prepare yourself
Drive in snow or ice
Drive in rain
Drive in fog
Drive in strong winds
Drive in low sunshine
General advice is to avoid driving in adverse conditions if possible and, if you're feeling so ill that your driving might be affected, don't take the chance of driving.
And what about when you're staying in?
Well, with the cold weather setting in, many households will be relying on gas boilers and gas fires to keep their home warm. This increased usage can put pressure on gas appliances and could lead to them breaking down when they are needed most.
It’s vital that everyone has their gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked every year to prepare them for the cold winter months. This will help reduce any risk of carbon monoxide poisoning - a simple battery operated detector is also recommended.
Regular servicing can also help keep your heating system more efficient, thus reducing your bills (which we all know are big enough as it is!).
Stay safe and don’t be left in the cold this winter. Make sure you know what to do if your central heating fails you.
GasSafeRegister.co.uk has compiled a list of useful tips to keep you safe (and warm) this winter: download the gas safety tips