Winter Safety Tips

As I am writing this, we are getting the first snow of the season locally and much of the nation is under weather warnings or advisories. So, I offer some winter safety tips for people of all ages. Avoid Slipping on Ice: Make sure to wear shoes with good traction and non-skid soles, and stay inside until the roads are clear. Replace a worn cane tip to make walking easier. Take off shoes as soon as you return indoors because often snow and ice attach to the soles and, once melted, can lead to slippery conditions inside. Dress for Warmth: Cold temperatures can lead to frostbite and hypothermia. Don’t let indoor temperatures go too low and dress in layers. Going outside? Wear warm socks, a heavy coat, a warm hat, gloves and a scarf. Cover all exposed skill in very cold temperatures. Use a scarf to cover your mouth and protect your lungs. Check the Car: Get your car serviced before wintertime hits, or ask a family member to bring it to the garage for you. Checking oil, tires, brakes, battery and wipers can make a big difference on winter roads. Make sure wiper fluid is filled and there is a proper mixture of antifreeze in the cooling system. Also, make sure your road emergency membership is up to date. Parking Lot Safety: When walking in a parking lot, stay to the sides of the aisle and watch for cars. Make eye contact with an approaching driver; stop walking if you don’t think the driver has seen you. Use all your senses and do not talk on the phone or use headphones while walking in a parking lot. Snow can muffle sound of an approaching vehicle. Before you exit a parking space, adjust seat, mirrors, etc. and do not cut across parking space lines or park near drifts. Prepare for Power Outages: Winter storms can lead to power outages. Make sure you have easy access to flashlights and battery powered radio in case the power goes out. Stockpile warm blankets. Keep a supply of non-perishable foods that can be eaten cold on hand. If the power goes out, wear several layers of clothing, including a hat. Keep moving to raise your body temperature. Fight Wintertime Depression: To help avoid depression having less contact with others during cold months, arrange a check-in system with family members or neighbors and friends (or The Dale Association’s Telephone Reassurance Program). Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Using a fireplace, gas heater or lanterns can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Ensure your safety by checking the batteries on your carbon monoxide detector and buying an updated one if you need to. Walk like a penguin on slippery surfaces: Here is a fun little poem to help you be safe and remember to walk like a penguin when walking on slippery surfaces. When things get cold and icy, and your path looks kind of dicey – waddle On. Keep your toes all pointed out-y, keep your knees all loosey-goosey – waddle on. Keep your hands outside your pockets, take short steps so you won’t rocket – waddle on. Take it slowly, holy-moly, so you don’t fall down and roll-y – waddle on. Walking like a penguin with short steps is the way to walk safely on slippery surfaces. I hope you find these winter safety tips helpful.

A Year End Thank You

As the year ends and we celebrate the holidays – I wish each of you a joyous and healthy holiday and a happy new year. And, on behalf of The Dale Association and all charitable organizations in our community thank you for your kindness and seemingly endless generosity this past year. The end of the year is a good time to look back and reflect on those things we are thankful for. I’d like to say thank you to all of the people who have donated time, money, and/or items that support our fundraising efforts – those fundraising efforts help pay for the things we do, and therefore help us fulfill our mission in this community. Our mission statement… “To provide comprehensive services and coordinate connections for Adults in Niagara and neighboring counties with enhance their health and Wellness and empower them to strengthen bridges to their communities.” … it serves as a reminder of the reason The Dale Association exists in this community. And therefore, the reason we do the things we do – it may be supporting older individuals with our senior services… it may be assisting seriously and persistently mentally ill adults achieve mental wellness and to stabilize their emotions… it may be enriching the lives of people through our educational classes and volunteering programs… or it may be supporting caregivers by providing resources that help them be better caregivers …or it may be assisting older adults with vision and/or hearing impairments maintain their independence. Whatever the service, all focus on believing each person has value and we hope to enhance their potential to live their life to the fullest. Regardless what your charity of choice is, it is probably their mission and what they do that you believe in. Almost certainly, I can speak for all charitable organizations when I say that we are so grateful for the generosity of this community, our community, when it comes to delivering each of our missions. All fundraising activities support programs of charities and as I said above, it is what is accomplished with the money and donation of time that really defines each of our purposes. The purpose of fundraising is more than about the money – it’s about the results accomplished by our use of the money. It is through our donors and volunteer supporters and what they give that enables us to make a difference. Fundraising is at its best when we can match our need for donations with your desire to support organizations that have made a difference in your life or the lives of family and friends. Many non-profit charitable organizations all across the nation rely more and more on fundraising as a means to support their mission and the Dale Association is no different. You may be astonished to know that we need to raise over $300,000 to continue to serve the adults of this community. This past year, many of you have supported Dale Association fundraising efforts by making a gift to the Annual Giving Campaign, by pledging at our Dale Hearts and Caring People fund, through general donations, by attending events, by becoming a sponsor, or by making a charitable gift through you estate planning. The money raised helps us sustain our mission in this community. To all of you – THANK YOU! And thank you on behalf of all the charities you support all year long.