7 Tips for Staying Safe and Warm this Winter

• Check on neighbors: Make sure older adults or anyone without proper heating is doing okay.
• Pack a winter emergency kit: Keep a kit in your car with blankets, snacks, a flashlight, and extra clothes, just in case. Find more winter preparedness tips.
• Be salt wise: Review our Dos and Don’ts of salting in winter.
• Stay warm and take action to prevent hypothermia: CDC has great tips for recognizing the signs of hypothermia.
• Know your tenant rights: Landlords are responsible for keeping your living spaces 67 degrees at a minimum. For more information, check out this blog from the Tenant Resource Center on winter issues for tenants.
• Get heating assistance: If you’re having trouble heating your home, programs like the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) can help.

Heating your home with fuel-burning appliances can create risks like carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

• Install CO detectors: Put them on every floor, especially near bedrooms. Test them regularly and change the batteries. Check your smoke detectors too while you’re doing your testing sweep!
• Check your heating system: Have a pro look at your furnace, water heater, and any gas appliances each year.
• Keep vents clear: Make sure snow or ice isn’t blocking outdoor vents.
• Know the signs of CO poisoning: Headache, dizziness, and nausea can be warning signs. If your alarm goes off, get outside right away and call 911.

There’s still time to get your updated COVID and flu vaccines. Visit our website to make an appointment or check with your healthcare provider or an area pharmacy.

Radon is a gas that causes lung cancer and is found in many homes throughout Wisconsin and Dane County. Nearly half of homes tested in Dane County had high levels of radon last year. Winter is the best time to test, since your doors and windows are all sealed up for the cold.

• Get a radon test kit: We sell testing kits for $10 each (see our website for details). You can also find kits at most hardware stores for under $25.
• Fix high levels: If the test shows high radon levels, you can hire a professional to reduce it.

Check out fun outdoor activities in Madison parks like cross-country skiing, ice skating, and sledding. Make sure to layer up your clothing!

Winter can be especially hard on mental health. See a list of organizations in Dane County providing mental health services or call 211 for help finding resources. 

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