Whether you live somewhere that gets extreme cold and snow every winter, or somewhere it’s more of a rare event, it pays to be ready for a cold snap. A little preparation at home, outdoors and on the road can make winter weather much less stressful for the whole family.
Here are some essential winter safety tips for families to help you get through a spell of icy or snowy weather.
You may also enjoy: Top Tips for Winter Driving with Children
In Ireland, we’re lucky that severe cold snaps and heavy snow don’t happen every year — but that’s exactly why it’s worth having a plan in place before one hits. From keeping your home running, to getting the kids safely outdoors, to driving in tricky conditions, a few simple precautions go a long way.
Stock Up on Some Essentials
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Make sure you have a good supply of the essentials at home before bad weather sets in, such as:
- Medication
- Bottled water
- Basic rations — loaves of bread freeze well, so you’ll always have one to hand if you can’t get to the shops
- Batteries
- Tealights and candles
It’s worth thinking through what would happen if you lost power for a while. Do you have enough candles or a torch? Could you heat at least one room? Could you cook without electricity? Would your shower still work? A little planning now makes a real difference if the power does go.
Keep Attic Pipes Insulated
Insulate the pipes running through your attic, but don’t insulate underneath your water storage tank — instead, insulate a box around the tank itself. This helps keep the air around the tank a little warmer and reduces the risk of it freezing.
Protecting Your Water Supply
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It used to be common advice to leave a tap running slowly to stop pipes freezing — but experts now say this can actually make things worse. Instead, if temperatures drop sharply and you’re worried about your pipes, try these:
- If your attic tank has a trap door, leave it open so rising heat from the house can reach the tank space.
- Keep a separate supply of drinking water on hand in case a pipe freezes or bursts.
- Fix any dripping taps.
- Seal or cover gaps under doors and around windows — draughts of cold air can cause pipes inside the home to freeze.
Going Outside with the Kids
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You can still get plenty of fun out of cold weather — just keep these tips in mind:
- Dress in layers. Your child will usually need one more layer than you’re wearing to stay warm.
- Pay extra attention to the head, hands and feet, which lose heat fastest.
- A brisk walk of 15 minutes or more will warm you up, even in very cold weather.
- Shoe grips designed for icy, snowy ground are widely available and worth having. Be aware they wear out quickly on cleared pavements and can damage indoor floors, so it’s worth packing a spare pair of shoes if swapping them in and out is a hassle.
You may also enjoy: Fun Outdoor Activities to Help Avoid Cabin Fever
Free Winter Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Winter is a brilliant time of year for a scavenger hunt, since there’s so much to spot that’s unique to the season. Get the kids outdoors with our free Winter Scavenger Hunt printable — it’s a fun, low-cost way to turn a cold walk into an adventure.
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Winter Driving Tips
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- You don’t need special packaged salt from the garage — a bag of dishwasher salt works just as well for clearing icy paths or your car, and it’s usually more affordable. Keep a shovel in the boot too, for clearing deep snow before salting.
- Keep a spare warm coat in the car, just in case.
- Pack a warm drink and some snacks for longer journeys.
- Some drivers like to keep a few tealights and matches in the glove box as a small emergency heat source if the car breaks down — if you do this, only ever burn them with a window cracked for ventilation, and never leave them unattended.
- Before setting out, check your antifreeze, battery, defroster, wipers and windscreen washer fluid, and clear all snow and ice from your vehicle — including the roof.
- Only travel if the journey is genuinely necessary.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I stock up on before a cold snap?
Keep a small supply of essentials on hand, including any regular medication, bottled water, basic rations like bread (which freezes well), batteries and candles or tealights. It’s also worth thinking through how you’d manage a short power cut — heating, cooking and hot water included.
How can I stop my pipes from freezing?
Insulate any pipes running through the attic, and insulate around (not underneath) your water storage tank. Fix dripping taps, seal draughty gaps around doors and windows, and keep the attic trap door open during very cold spells so rising heat can help protect the tank.
Is it safe to leave a tap dripping to prevent frozen pipes?
This used to be common advice, but it’s now generally not recommended, as it can add to the problem rather than solve it. Focus instead on insulation, sealing draughts and fixing leaks.
What should kids wear to play outside safely in winter?
Dress them in layers — usually one more layer than you’d wear yourself — with particular attention to hats, gloves and warm, waterproof footwear. A brisk walk of 15 minutes or so will help everyone warm up, even in icy conditions.
What should I keep in the car for winter driving?
A shovel, some dishwasher salt for grip, a spare warm coat, and a warm drink and snacks for longer trips are all sensible. Check your battery, antifreeze, wipers and washer fluid before setting off, clear all snow and ice from the car first, and only travel if the journey is really necessary.
Related Articles
- Top Tips for Winter Driving with Children
- Fun Outdoor Activities to Help Avoid Cabin Fever
- Winter Scavenger Hunt for Kids
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