Tips to keep you out of the ER this holiday season

Winter is in full force here in North Idaho and it looks like we'll be having a white Christmas. Outside may be a winter wonderland, but all that beauty can be treacherous.

Here are some tips that can keep us all safe and injury-free this holiday season.

Just walking out your front door can be an adventure this time of year. Injuries caused by slipping on the ice are all too common and can be very serious. No one wants to spend Christmas laid up in the hospital with a broken hip … or worse.

The easiest way to prevent a fall is by wearing appropriate foot gear. Make sure your shoes have good traction on the soles. If not, you can get traction devices to wear over your shoes at most outdoor gear stores. It's also wise to keep your paths and driveway snow-free and use some form of ice-melter to prevent ice build-up.

Many of us enjoy wintertime sports such as skiing, snowboarding or sledding. One of the best ways to ensure a good time outdoors is to dress appropriately. Wearing lots of layers in addition to hats and gloves helps prevent hypothermia and frostbite. It may seem like a nuisance, but imagine being stuck for a half hour on a chair lift with a cold wind and you might be glad for the protection of a few extra layers of clothing. After you've warmed up, simply peel off your outer layers to get comfortable indoors.

Snow shoveling can put a lot of stress on our hearts and bodies. Every year people suffer from heart attacks and severe back injuries that could have been prevented if they had used safer techniques. Wear layers of clothing to avoid overheating and drink plenty of fluids. Lift smaller amounts of snow at a time — it doesn't have to be a race. Lifting less will help save your back as well as your heart. Take frequent rests as often and as long as you need. Seek help immediately if you do experience any chest pain, generalized weakness or faintness, or prolonged shortness of breath.

Decorating your home for the holidays can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. It sounds silly, but people really do get hurt while decorating. Fractures and head injuries caused by a fall off of a ladder are common. This year, when you head out to put up the Christmas lights and life-sized Santa and Rudolph, make sure you're being safe. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers some tips for decking the walls without taking any falls. Make sure ladders are on safe, secure ground and that the supports are locked into the open position. If accessing a roof, make sure your ladder extends three feet past the roof's edge. Don't stand on the top two rungs or the very top of the ladder — you know, the part with the sign that reads, "Do not sit or stand." And, if the Santa and Rudolph decorations seem to have put on a few pounds this year, ask for some help instead of trying to lug them into place on your own.

Almost all of us put ourselves at risk for a winter injury every day simply by getting into our cars. Driving on winter's icy roads is one of the most dangerous activities we can do. This doesn't mean that we should just forget about going out and lock ourselves away until the spring thaw, but do exercise extra caution while behind the wheel. According to FEMA, the leading cause of death during winter storms is from transportation accidents. In winter, slower is safer. If others on the road seem impatient with your cautious speed, pull over onto the first available turnout.

Heed winter storm warnings. Though all too often they don't seem to have any merit, the warnings are given for a reason. When a warning is issued, stay as close to home as possible. This means avoiding any unnecessary shopping trips to Spokane or rescheduling a lunch outing in Coeur d'Alene. You should be able to go about your regular routine locally, it's not a "get out of jail free" card for work or school, but do pay attention to the weather and further warnings. You wouldn't want to be stranded on the highway halfway between here and Moscow if a blizzard were to hit our area.

And finally, one of the best tips for being outside this winter is knowing when to come inside. When you start to shiver and your lips and fingers turn an unbecoming shade of periwinkle blue, it's best to get inside as soon as possible.

Treat yourself to a cup of hot tea or cocoa and enjoy the snow by looking out the window rather than being out in it. By using caution and common sense, we should be able to enjoy the fun that winter has to offer.