Senior Cold Weather Safety Instructions

Senior citizens are vulnerable to the hazards of cold weather. Make it a practice to help family, friends and neighbors who need special attention and help during frigid and dangerous weather. Help seniors make sure their homes are safe. Let them know that they are not alone. With the right attention, senior citizens can live, walk and drive safely through the worst that winter brings.

Heating

• Senior citizens need to verify that the heat sources in their homes are safe and in good working order. Visiting Angels recommends checking furnaces, insulation and air filters before cold weather sets in. Jim Miller, editor of Savvy Senior magazine, recommends checking batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Miller advises cautious use of fireplaces, wood stoves and space heaters.

Contact

• Friends and family should arrange to stay in regular contact with their senior citizen loved ones throughout the cold season. Step up contact during especially frigid weather and winter storms.

Supplies

• Help seniors prepare by storing food in the event that travel becomes hazardous. Prepare for power outages with alternate power sources, such as working flashlights. Visiting Angels suggests providing a cell phone and charger for emergency use and for contact with others.

Navigation

• Walking and driving in harsh weather can be dangerous for senior citizens. Special devices can make shoes grab onto icy sidewalks, while door mats help absorb ice, snow and water. Seniors who still drive should get their cars maintained in advance of cold weather and storms. If possible, arrange to drive your senior loved one when she needs to run errands in inclement weather.