Senior Citizen Safety Tips: Be Careful This Winter

The hazards of summer vis a vis senior citizens is well documented: they may have inadequate cooling in their home, may suffer from dehydration, or are vulnerable to heat stroke if they choose to go out during the hottest part of the day. But winter presents its own problems for seniors. If you or someone you love is living through his or her golden years, here are some tips for staying safer when the cold weather sets in.

-- Leave the shoveling to the youngsters. Many seniors may forget that their bodies simply cannot do what they used to years ago. To avoid heart attacks, other injury, or accidental slips and falls, bite the bullet and make a deal with a neighborhood teen to take care of your shoveling or snow blowing needs for the season.

-- Many penny-pinching seniors hesitate to turn the thermostat up when the weather gets cold, but it's essential to stay warm. If you like to keep the temperature on the lower side, compensate by wearing layers of clothing that can be added or taken away as the situation warrants. If you are shivering, this is a sign of rapid heat loss in the body: turn the heat up or add layers.

-- Do not go outside on extremely cold days if you can possibly help it. High winds are especially hazardous to seniors since they can quite literally blow older people over, exposing them to the risk of broken hips or worse. By all means do not venture onto snowy or icy sidewalks where the likelihood of a slip and fall are greater.

-- If you must go out, dress appropriately for the weather. As a teen, you may have walked to school and back in 30 below weather with no hat on, but your body is no longer a self-heating machine and needs extra help. Take the time to put on all the accoutrements: boots, mittens or gloves, hat, coat, woolen socks, and a scarf. Find boots or galoshes that have deep treads that will grip any surface strongly, even when wet.

-- Do not drive if you are not comfortable doing so. One of the hardest things for seniors to do is to ask for help when they need it, and driving is no exception. But if you need to go to the doctor or have another essential errand that requires you to go out in inclement weather, you mustn't hesitate to ask someone to drive you there. Being insecure behind the wheel in bad weather and slow reaction time should you hit a patch of ice will put you and others at risk.

-- Make sure to wear a medical alert button both at home and when you go out in order to be able to call for help in case of a fall or other mishap. Seniors are especially prone to hypothermia, and if something unfortunate occurs, you will want to have access to immediate help.