Winter Safety and First Aid

Winter is well and truly here now and the nation has begun to feel the effects of the winter weather. It’s unfortunate that with the winter weather comes an increase in injuries and accidents and therefore a busy period for our emergency services.

Winter brings cold and bad weather conditions which can make it difficult to go about normal, everyday activities. Accidents can happen very easily through the winter months and as with any other time of the year, it is important to be aware, be prepared and to know what to do should an accident occur.

All kind of incidents can happen during the winter period and it is a traditionally busy time for accident and emergency departments. A&E Departments tend to find themselves under increased pressure at this time of year as icy pavements and roads mean more people get injured and of course the cold and flu does its rounds and a lot of people suffer with respiratory problems.

NHS fife alone, have been awarded an additional £218,000 to assist with the increased costs that the authority will incur over the winter period[1]. Common injuries during winter months are broken bones as slippery conditions cause a lot of people to fall. Unfortunately the number of car accidents also increases at this time of year and the injuries can range from minor to extremely serious and fatal.

Regardless of the time of year, it’s always advisable to own or have access to some form of first aid equipment such as a first aid kit in the home, or a first aid kit in the car. It’s probably also advisable to adapt the contents of the kits accordingly to the season by adding or removing products to suit the type of injuries that are most common at those times of year. For instance your first aid kit could be better tailored to winter by adding foil survival blankets, perfect for preventing loss of heat and instant ice packs which are ideal for use on sprains, strains and other injuries when trying to reduce pain, swelling and bruising.

It is not always possible to avoid or prevent accidents completely which is why it is so important to be prepared and to be aware. High street retailers generally only stock standardised first aid items and kits but additional and specific products can be bought online at very competitive prices.
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[1] news.stv.tv/scotland/54324-fife-health-board-set-for-rise-in-winter-illness-and-accidents/

Mobility equipment such as Car Ramps .