The winter nights are drawing in and the temperature is getting colder. Here are some top tips to help keep you safe this winter.
1 – Keep you mobility scooter battery charged up over night
This may seem like an obvious first point but if you are not using your mobility scooter regularly through the winter then the battery power will eventually drain. The best way to prevent this from happening is to use a tricle charger. The leading mobility scooter brands such as Pride Mobility have a tricle feature built into the charger so you do not have to worry about leaving the mobility scooter on charge over night and damaging the battery.
2 – Keep warm and wrap up if you decide to go out
The weather can soon take a toll for the worse during winter so we highly recommend wrapping up warm even if it looks sunny outside. Mobility scooter users can keep themselves out of the cold by using our mobility scooter accessories. The covers help keep the wind and rain off your body so you can get back home safe and dry. The mobility accessories are also a great Christmas present for a loved one.
3 – Keep a mobile phone with you all the time
Everybody has a mobile phone these days. Whether you use it on a daily basis or just for emergencies it is a very handy communication device. Keep your mobile phone charged whenever you are in the house and take it with you when you go out. There is usually a battery icon on the screen so you will have a rough idea with the state of the battery.
We highly recommend you add your next of kin into your phone under the name of ICE. ICE stands for Incase of Emergency and this is usually what the emergency services will look for if you ever need them.
4 – Heating your home
To keep warm at home during the day:
* set your thermostat at around 21ºC (70ºF)
* heat all the rooms you use in the day
* if you can’t heat all your rooms, make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
* set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed
* in very cold weather set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up, so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up
To keep warm at home during the night you should:
* try to keep a temperature of above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight
* if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter, open the window or door a little at night for ventilation
* never use an electric blanket or a hot water bottle together as you could electrocute yourself
* if you have an electric blanket, check what type it is – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not to be used throughout the night
* make sure your electric blanket is safe to use by getting it tested every three years (the Fire Brigade, Trading Standards and Age Concern can test your electric blanket for safety)
This tip was provided by the Direct Government Website
5 – Save money by purchasing online
Buying your mobility aids or general day to day shopping online can be much more cost effective than travelling to the local shops or town centre. If you are able to wait for the product to be delivered then you can usually save upto 30% on normal product retail prices. All of our web prices at Mobility Experts are competitively priced because we know how important it is to save your money for heating and other essential needs. Not only that you will minimise the risk of falling or suffering from the severe weather outside.
