With the winter season approaching quickly, many people are getting excited about the cold weather and snow. Of course, there are just as many who would rather live in a warm climate year round.

Regardless of whom you are, when wintertime hits it is important to do whatever it takes to avoid injury. During this time of the year, there are additional circumstances that could lead to serious injury or even death.
Here are the three most common types of winter injuries:

– Slip and fall accidents related to snow and ice
– Dangerous winter sports
– Snow shoveling

Despite the fact that you should be concerned with these potential injuries, there are steps you can take towards prevention.

Slip and Fall Prevention

As temperatures drop below freezing, ice can begin to form. When this happens, it is important to be aware of your surroundings. Thinking that you can move as quickly on ice as you can on a dry surface is a big mistake.

To protect against an accident at home, use salt on any walkways that you may be using. Not only will this protect you against a slip and fall injury, but it will also do the same for anybody who may be visiting your home.

Winter Sports

Is there anything more exciting than skiing down a hill with the wind in your face? How about snowboarding or sledding? While all of these winter sports can be exciting, you need to keep one thing in mind: they can also be extremely dangerous.

No matter how much experience you have, you should always wear the proper protection. In most cases, this includes a helmet. While it may seem like you are going “overboard” the use of a helmet can prevent serious injury and even death.

Snow Shoveling

Every year, tens of thousands of people are injured while shoveling snow. Most of the time, lifting heavy snow results in back or neck injuries.

Additionally, shoveling snow is a common cause of heart attack during the winter season. If you are not in the shape to shovel snow at home, hire somebody to do it for you. Doing this on your own is not worth the risk.

Have you hurt your back in the past when shoveling snow? If so, you don’t have to stop doing so this winter.

Instead, follow these tips to help avoid another issue:
– Stretch your back before heading out into the cold
– Don’t overload your shovel with too much snow
– Lift with your legs to avoid putting unnecessary strain on your back
– Don’t get into the habit of throwing snow over your shoulder – this is a common cause for disc injury
– Take a break if you are faced with a big job

Every winter, people all over the world are injured as a result of the accidents detailed above. When the cold weather and snow arrives, it is time to think about keeping yourself as safe as possible. Remember, there are things you can do to prevent injury this winter.