What isΒ your winter personality? Do you dream of warm nights by the fire, watching theΒ snow fall? Or do you cringe at the thought of runny noses and leaky radiators? Whichever category you fall intoΒ its important to be prepared toΒ ensure a safe, warm, and happy winter.
The first step towards winter preparedness is making sure your facilityΒ is ready for the freezing temperatures. Instead of cranking up the thermostat quicklyΒ when it drops to 50 degrees outside, gradually raise the temperatureΒ over time toΒ allowΒ the heating unit to ease into the cold after a hot summer of being unused.
For those who will beΒ commutingΒ toΒ work at a facility,Β it is just as important to prepare your car for the drop in temperatureΒ as it is to prepare your residents living quarters.Β In case of a winter drivingΒ emergency keep a kit of blankets, flashlights, and jumper cables stashed in your trunk.
The last step for total winterΒ readinessΒ isΒ making sure your mind and body are taken care of. When the summer ends and we stop spending timeΒ in the sun it canΒ cause our bodies to lose importantΒ vitamins, especially vitaminΒ D.Β Make sure to have your facilities stocked to provide your residents withΒ multivitamins toΒ ensure they areΒ getting all the nutrientsΒ theirΒ body needs. IfΒ you find yourselfΒ or your residentsΒ with the winter blues, try getting outside on those space warmer days and rememberΒ toΒ exercise,Β both proven to help lift your spirits. However, most importantlyΒ remember thatΒ winterΒ won’t lastΒ forever so enjoy the beautifulΒ snow and changing seasons while it lasts!