Winter Safety Tips

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thecaretaker
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Jul 2020 10 18:43

Winter Safety Tips

Written by trout39843

WINTER SAFETY TIPS

Here are some steps people should follow to prepare and stay safe during severe winter weather:

BE PREPARED

Preparation doesn't have to start when Jack Frost comes out.

A good start in the spring will work wonders.
  • Start by preparing a brine (salt water) solution. Do this by filling a 15ltr jug (or two) with water. Add some salt tablets from the dishwashers or purifiers. Keep doing this (it takes a couple of months) until they no longer dissolve. Your mix is ready so store it to one side and label it as Salt Solution (more on using it later).
  • Take care of your equipment. Just because the warmer weather is here does not mean you can pack it away and forget it for a while. Use this time to hose the salt and grit off your tools and don't forget to use a generous amount of lubricant (WD-40 or whatever is your choice) to keep away the rust and corrosion from the salt.
  • Look out for the clearance sales on the salt and grit, and any other winter tools from your local stores. Cheaper to buy it now when nobody wants it rather than later when everyone else wants it.
FIRST FROST

Don't panic at the first frost of the year. It's now time to make sure your guns are ready.
  • You got your brine spray ready right? Get yourself a garden sprayer (one of the hand held 1.5ltr pump up type, get it in the autumn when stores are trying to get rid of them cheap) and fill it with your brine solution. Pump it up and a quick spray will melt any frost or ice in minutes.
  • Ramps and steps are the target here. The salt will melt the frost/ice and keep from refreezing.
  • Keep an eye on the weather, mainly the temperature and the humidity. Just because the temperature is down does not mean there will be frost or ice. You need water for it so a low humidity will not produce frost or ice.
  • Remember, you don't need a shovel full of grit to keep your playground clear. A little will go a long way. A light sprinkle of salt will keep the frost away for days.
IT'S HERE, THINK OF YOURSELF
  • Wear layers of clothing, a hat, mittens and waterproof, insulated boots.
  • Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.
  • Remember the acronym C.O.L.D. Wear Clean clothes. Avoid Overheating. Keep your clothing Lose and Layered. Keep it Dry (avoid sweating too much).
  • Don't stand and shiver, move around and create body heat.

Vérité Sans Peur
(Truth Without Fear)
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