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Winter Safety

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The fall and winter seasons are full of safety hazards: cold, snow, and ice; heating and maintenance challenges; and seasonal décor hazards and workplace safety challenges. Taking time ahead of the cooler seasons to make sure you and your family are prepared for whatever winter brings will help you reduce your chances of illness, injury, or death from winter conditions.

Before You Start, be Safety Smart” in this year’s winter safety campaign. It provides information and advice on fire safety, driving safety, home maintenance safety, hunting safety, winter alcohol safety, emergency preparation, home decoration safety, and weather safety tips, to include signs of frostbite and hyperthermia.

Background

“Before You Start, be Safety Smart” in this year’s winter safety campaign. It provides information and advice on fire safety, driving safety, home maintenance safety, hunting safety, winter alcohol safety, emergency preparation, home decoration safety, and weather safety tips, to include signs of frostbite and hyperthermia. The campaign begins in mid-November 2022 and ends in early March 2023.

Purpose

The winter safety campaign educates beneficiaries and other stakeholders about how to prepare for and avoid hazards caused by winter weather. The purpose of this campaign is to highlight good safety practices during the winter season.

Key Messages

Message for Communicators

The winter season is full of safety hazards: cold, snow, and ice; home heating and maintenance challenges; and seasonal décor hazards.
Taking time ahead of the winter season to make sure you and your family are prepared for whatever winter brings will help you reduce your chances of illness, injury, or death from winter conditions.
Driving during winter can be hazardous and scary, especially in regions that receive a lot of snow and ice this time of year. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer. It is important to follow the safe winter driving practices. The holidays are full of cheer and merriment.
Being outdoors in the autumn and winter can be a great way to get fresh air and exercise. For many, the cooler weather also means hunting season which can pose dangers, sending hunters to the hospital or worse. Heart attacks, injured backs and broken bones are among the most common medical emergencies in hunting.
There’s nothing cozier than spending time next using a fireplace, furnace, or heater to keep warm as the weather turns colder. But they do present certain safety hazards. Remember these tips as the weather grows colder:
Candles give wonderful ambience to a room but can also pose a fire hazard. Per the National Candle Association, careless candle use accounts for almost 10,000 house fires a year. Never leave candles unattended and keep them away from pets and children.
There are always safety risks associated with drinking alcohol, but it’s important to remember that having a few drinks during the winter months can make your body very vulnerable.
Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us may not be ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you are more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall. Preparing your home for the winter months keeps your family and friends safe.
Playing in the snow can be fun, but the fun can fade if one becomes victim to hypothermia or frostbite. Staying out in the cold for extended periods of time can cause cold-related problems and put health in jeopardy, so learn how to avoid, spot, and treat these conditions. Also, keep other vulnerable populations in mind and check on loved ones.
If you work in a field and location where winter weather presents some safety concerns, you may wish to take some precautions. Winter presents safety hazards in possible frostbite, wind-chapped skin, and hypothermia, and winter weather can often be severe enough to cause amputation or death.

Videos to Share

Please share these videos on your social media channels and on video platforms.

Winter Safety 2022: Winter Drinking

Suggested Social Media Message: Driving during winter can be hazardous and scary, especially in regions that receive a lot of snow and ice this time of year. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer. It is important to follow the safe winter driving practices. The holidays are full of cheer and merriment. Follow these tips to keep you and your loved ones safe and prepared this time of year. #winterandalcoholdontmix

Winter Safety 2022: Fire Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: There’s nothing cozier than spending time next using a fireplace, furnace, or heater to keep warm as the weather turns colder. But they do present certain safety hazards. #firesafemeanslongerlife

Winter Safety 2022: Frostbite Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: Playing in the snow can be fun, but the fun can fade if one becomes victim to hypothermia or frostbite. Staying out in the cold for extended periods of time can cause cold-related problems and put health in jeopardy, so learn how to avoid, spot, and treat these conditions. Also, keep other vulnerable populations in mind and check on loved ones. #dontfreezeplease

Winter Safety 2022: Hunting Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: Being outdoors in the autumn and winter can be a great way to get fresh air and exercise. For many, the cooler weather also means hunting season which can pose dangers, sending hunters to the hospital or worse. Heart attacks, injured backs and broken bones are among the most common medical emergencies in hunting. #huntsafewearorange

Winter Safety 2022: Driving Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: Content Leonard Jones from Air Force Safety Center Risk Management aka “Dr. Love” demonstrates how to best clean your windshield in the snow of snow and ice to keep drivers line of vision clear. #cleanyourwindshield

Winter Safety 2022: Do Your Part

Suggested Social Media Message: Leonard Jones from Air Force Safety Center Risk Management aka “Dr. Love” shares life-saving winter tips for you and your family during the fall and winter months. #holidaysafe

Graphics and Social Media Messages

Winter Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #safetyfirstthiswinter The winter season is full of safety hazards: cold, snow, and ice; home heating and maintenance challenges; and seasonal décor hazards. Taking time ahead of the winter season to make sure you and your family are prepared for whatever winter brings will help you reduce your chances of illness, injury, or death from winter conditions. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Driving Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: #Drivesafelythiswinter #Scrapethosewindshields #Cleanwindowsmeansafety #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart Scraping your windshield clean of all ice and snow will increase your line of vision this winter. Keep your vehicle maintained for safe winter driving. Driving during winter can be hazardous and scary, especially in regions that receive a lot of snow and ice this time of year. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer. It is important to follow the safe winter driving practices. The holidays are full of cheer and merriment. Follow these tips to keep you and your loved ones safe and prepared this time of year. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Decoration Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: Holiday trees may intend to bring cheer, but they can also be a holiday hazard if not set up carefully. Be cautious when decorating your home for the holidays. https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/News/Pages/NIH-Holiday-Decorating-Guidance.aspxNational Institute of Health webpage

Workplace Safety Tips

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #besafeatwork The DHA urges service members and staff to be safe in the workplace. Know your surroundings and take safety precautions this winter. Safety Management - A safe workplace is sound business | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)National Institute of Health webpage

Winter Weather Warnings

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart Understanding and preparing for winter advisory notices is an important part of staying safe in the winter. Winter Weather Warnings, Watches and AdvisoriesWeather channel webpage

Winter Emergency Preparedness

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages. Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Winter Outdoor Preparedness

Winter Safety Outside

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #besafeoutside Playing in the snow can be fun, but the fun can fade if one becomes victim to hypothermia or frostbite. Staying out in the cold for extended periods of time can cause cold-related problems and put health in jeopardy, so learn how to avoid, spot, and treat these conditions. Also, keep other vulnerable populations in mind and check on loved ones. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/inclement-weather-informationNational Institute of Health webpage

Hunting Safety Tips

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #huntsafe Being outdoors in the autumn and winter can be a great way to get fresh air and exercise. For many, the cooler weather also means hunting season which can pose dangers, sending hunters to the hospital or worse. Heart attacks, injured backs and broken bones are among the most common medical emergencies in hunting. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Winter Home Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #homesafehomewise Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us may not be ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you are more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall. Preparing your home for the winter months keeps your family and friends safe. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Home Maintenance Safety

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #homesafety Be safe this winter while maintain your home. Be sure to look up before pruning trees, be careful on ladders and be sure to clean up fallen leaves. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Fire Safety Tips

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart #learnhownot2burn There’s nothing cozier than spending time next using a fireplace, furnace, or heater to keep warm as the weather turns colder. But they do present certain safety hazards. Winter Safety | Health.mil

Alcohol In Winter Safety Tips

Suggested Social Media Message: #beforeyoustartbesafetysmart, #winterdrinks2besafe There are always safety risks associated with drinking alcohol, but it’s important to remember that having a few drinks during the winter months can make your body very vulnerable. Here is why drinking during the winter can put you at risk–and the steps you can take to stay safe during these cold months. Winter Safety | Health.mil

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Winter Safety

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11/21/2022

#beforeyoustartbesafetysmart, #safetyfirstthiswinter The winter season is full of safety hazards: cold, snow, and ice; home heating and maintenance challenges; and seasonal décor hazards. Taking time ahead of the winter season to make sure you and your family are prepared for whatever winter brings will help you reduce your chances of illness, injury, or death from winter conditions.

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