Thanks to modular steps, wheelchair ramps, wheelchairs, and other disability-friendly tools and accessories, living with a disability is now a great deal easier than it was decades ago. Despite this, living with a disability of any kind is still far from simple, and what’s more, your environment and your surroundings can also have a massive impact. Here in the UK, it’s safe to say that our weather is far from predictable, and it certainly is not nice.
During the winter, our weather can be more extreme than ever, which means that the need for safe and effective modular steps, and wheelchairs, is now greater than ever. Whilst we may not see snow and ice for months on end, we do frequently see freezing temperatures, and snow is certainly a factor for many of us, and if you are confined to a wheelchair, this winter weather can be a potential hazard, and can make life a great deal more difficult than it needs to be. To make life that little bit easier, here’s a look at a few effective winter wheelchair safety tips.
Keep an Eye on the Weather Forecast
First up, it is always recommended that you keep an eye on the weather forecast during the winter, especially if you are a wheelchair user, as planning ahead could be the key. For example, if frost and ice are forecast for the next few mornings, unless your journey is absolutely essential in a morning, you may wish to postpone leaving the house until later in the day, when temperatures have hopefully risen above freezing. It always pays to know what the weather is going to be doing, as nobody wants to get caught in bad weather, and by watching the weather forecast, you can plan your day around the weather, to ensure you avoid the worst of it.
Keep Warm
During the winter, obviously it gets very cold, so when you do venture out of the house in your wheelchair, you should always wear plenty of layers, and perhaps even bring a blanket along to ensure you keep yourself nice and warm. Even though you will be expending energy when you transport yourself around in your wheelchair, in cold weather, your body temperature can quickly drop, and the last thing you want is to put yourself at risk of catching a cold, the flu, or even hypothermia in extreme cases.
Don’t Risk Venturing Out in Poor Weather
If an extreme cold snap has been forecast, whether that comes in the form of snow, ice, freezing winds, frost, or anything else, you should ideally not risk leaving the house. To begin with, modular steps and ramps could potentially become icy and slippery, not to mention the fact that paths and roads could also become icy and slippery, which could potentially cause your wheelchair to skid, lose control, and for the braking system to fail. Cold snaps do not often last long in the UK, though when we do see prolonged spells of cold weather, it may be worth having a buddy system in place, and asking for assistance from friends, family members, or anybody else.