10 stay-safe tips for wintertime fun

You've cleaned your gutters, disconnected your garden hose, put on the winter tires and stocked up on deicer. But how ready are you for a day outdoors, enjoying all the Northwest has to offer?

The next time you're planning to hike, sled or even finish up some outdoor chores, follow these top tips to stay safe and chase the winter chill:

1.     Layer up and skip the cotton. Stay warm and dry with an inner layer of polypropylene, a middle layer of polar fleece and an outer layer of nylon. Skip the cotton, since it's a poor insulator and can trap moisture.

2.     Protect your feet and hands with warm, dry socks and gloves. Your extremities are most likely to get cold first.

3.     Dress to be seen. Bright colors help in low-visibility conditions.

4.     Wear a sports helmet whether you're skiing, sledding or snowmobiling.

5.     Avoid alcohol. It reduces your core temperature, even if it seems like it's warming you up.

6.     Take time to stretch. Cold tends to contract muscles, which makes you more prone to injury.

7.     Recognize signs of cold stress. Reddened skin or numbness means it's time to take a break and warm up.

8.     Penguin-walk your way across an unexpected icy patch. Here's how: Shorten your steps, widen your stance slightly, extend your arms a bit from your side, bend forward slightly and walk as flat-footed as possible until you're back on solid footing.

9.     Fall like a stunt person. What if you still lose your balance? In the split second you have before a fall, try to bend your knees and elbows and tuck or turn your head to protect it. If possible, land on your backside or thigh and roll with the fall to diffuse the impact. While it's natural to reach out an arm to catch yourself, that move unfortunately increases your risk of wrist injury.

10. Let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back. If you run into trouble (hello, dead car battery!) and don't return on time, you won't have to rely solely on cell service to get help.