Cold Weather Health and Safety

Illness & Prevention - November 1st, 2021

Reading Time: 3 Minute/s

Cold Weather Health and Safety

Illness & Prevention

Cold Weather Health and Safety

Posted on November 1st, 2021 - Reading Time: 3 Minute/s

Health and safety tips for the cold, rainy months


Updated November 19, 2021 – We’ve added resources related to flooding and getting help during and after a severe weather or natural disaster (Jump to New Info). Please see our Flood Recovery Resources post for information specific to the November 13-15, 2021 flooding and mudslides in Skagit and Whatcom counties.

‘Tis the Season

Leaves are changing color and pumpkin spice in the air. It’s time to start thinking about how we’ll keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy when the days are shorter and the temperature drops.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite health, safety, and weather preparedness tips to help you plan for the months ahead.

General reminders, tips, and checklists

A little preparation goes a long way.

Winter Preparedness During a Pandemic – Tips from FEMA:

Physical and mental wellness

Caring for the mind and body is essential year round. It may just look a little different in the fall and winter than it did in the summertime.

If you’re stressed, it can help to talk to someone. These resources are free and confidential:

  • Call or text Washington Listens at 1-833-681-0211 (TTY: 206-461-2610) for support if you’re feeling sad, anxious, or stressed due to impacts of COVID-19 or wildfires.
  • Call the WA Warm Line at 1-877-500-9276 (TTY: 711) if you’re living with emotional or mental health challenges and need support, comfort, and/or information from specially-trained volunteers with lived experience.

Hazard prevention

We can’t prevent storms or dropping temperatures, but there are steps we can take to prepare for (and sometimes avoid) common accidents and injuries.

Finding help during and after a disaster

Part of being prepared for a disaster or emergency is knowing where to turn to when you need help.

Region-specific resources:

Where to find other resources

Consider reaching out for connections to essentials, such as warm clothing, financial assistance, food, shelter, and other supports:

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