Winter Safety Tips
By Sean Mason
Communications Intern
Stonehill Class of 2017
The temperature has dropped, the snow has fallen, and winter has finally arrived. So, what does that mean? Safety should be at the forefront of everyone's mind.
In the winter, injury, accidents and tragedies are much more likely to occur than in any of the other three seasons, which is why extra safety measures should be taken by students, parents and faculty.
Tobias T. Cowans, the Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator for the Brockton Public Schools, says communication is the key to safety.
"Parents need to have a plan A, B, and C when it comes to safety. Their kids should know all of these plans and work in conjunction with their parents to execute these plans," said Cowans.
- Cowans advises students to arrive at their bus stop at a minimum of 10 minutes before the arrival of the bus, and to wear appropriate winter attire to avoid getting hypothermia or frostbite.
"If possible, I would advise parents to wait with their children at bus stops in a heated car," said Cowans.
- Snowballs should not be thrown at cars or other children when waiting for the bus, as that only adds to the inherent dangers that come with the winter months, according to Cowans.
"Children do silly things, like lick metal poles, ice skate alone, and sled without helmets," said Cowans. "All of these things should be avoided in order to ensure safety."
- When playing outside, students should always play in groups, and parents should limit the amount of time students spend in the cold temperatures.
"If it gets below -28 degrees Celsius -- or -18F -- with a wind chill below –25 degrees Celsius – or – 13F -- students should not be outside," said Cowans.
- Heaters should not be kept near anything flammable, and should be kept in close proximity to a fire extinguisher.
"We provide students with all of these measures at school, but at home, it is up to the parents," said Cowans. "We can only do so much at school. The parents should be practicing safety drills, going over what to do in dangerous situations, and make sure that their smoke alarms all work."
Cowans has been an advocate for safety for as long as he can remember. He spent 14 years as a Red Cross CPR instructor, and he drove a student ambulance while in college.
"We should always be asking ourselves, what can we do to protect ourselves and ensure safety for others," said Cowans.