Staying Safe in the Snow

With the colder weather now setting in, it’s a great time to get out and have those much loved snowball fights. However, the snow can be hazardous and carries its own unique special dangers. Below are a few key tips to staying safe in the snow.

As we all know the roads, pavements and driveways can become very icy in the colder weather and there is a very high chance of slipping and falling. Some of these falls can just result in an embarrassing moment and a few bruises, but other can be a lot more serious.

A fall on the ice can result in a sprain or a strain which happen when the joint or muscles are stretched too far. There is a simple method to treat a strain or sprain and it’s easy to remember – RICE. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

• REST; Rest the injured limb. You will need to take the weight off it to give it time to recover.
• ICE; Ice the injury. Put ice on the injured area to prevent swelling and held there for twenty minutes every hour. Ensure that the ice is wrapped in a cloth first, never apply ice directly to the skin.
• COMPRESSION; Compress the injury. Wrap a bandage or support around the injured limb. Compression gives the injured area support as well as helping to reduce swelling.
• ELEVATION; Elevate the limb. Elevate the injured limb above the heart. This makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood to the injured area therefore reducing the swelling.

If you think you have a sprain or strain it is advised to get the injured area looked at by a doctor to check that it is healing ok and that it is nothing more serious.

If you suspect someone has a broken bone or fracture this needs to be dealt with differently. Firstly it is important not to move the injured person unless they are in danger. Do not try to put the injured limb back into place, instead it needs to be immobilised. If you have been trained to do so then apply a splint, if not then help the casualty to keep the limb as still as possible while you wait for help to arrive.

If you’re reading this article wishing you had more knowledge so you knew what to do in these types of situations, then get yourself booked onto one of our training courses.