Guide · Safety and emergencies

Snow and Ice Safety

A friendly, practical guide to clear walkways, safe shoveling, roof snow and staying warm safely when winter arrives.

5 pages · PDF · 270 KB · free forever, no sign up needed

Where to start

Someone slipped?
Stay calm, don’t rush to lift them, and check for injury first. Call 911 for a head injury, severe pain, or if someone can’t get up. See what to do.
Storm on the way?
Tick through good winter habits, and keep ice melt, a shovel and a flashlight by the door.
Headaches, dizziness or nausea while heating?
Get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.

The short version

Most winter injuries come from icy steps, heavy shoveling and heating mishaps, and a little planning prevents most of them.

Clear snow early and often, push instead of lifting, take breaks, and use ice melt in a thin layer as directed.

Keep outdoor vents clear of snow, give space heaters about three feet of space, and never heat a home with a stove, oven, grill or generator.

Who clears what is usually set by the lease, so please read it together and put any agreement in writing.

Rules about snow removal and heat differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at your local rules. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.

Four simple rules

1
Know who handles what
The lease or a written note should say who clears walks, steps, driveways and parking areas, so nothing gets missed.
2
Clear early, clear often
Snow is much easier and safer to move before it is packed down or turns to ice.
3
Lift light, push more
Small scoops, bent knees and plenty of breaks protect your back and your heart.
4
Heat safely, always
Keep space heaters about three feet from anything that can burn, and never heat the home with a stove, oven or grill.

Try it

Good winter habits

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

0 of 7

Boots with good tread, and short, flat footed steps on icy ground, like a penguin
Snow cleared early and in layers during a big storm, rather than all at once at the end
A few minutes of warm up before shoveling, and a break every 15 minutes or so
Furnace, dryer and water heater vents outside kept clear of snow
Snow gently brushed off gas meters and outdoor equipment with a broom, never a shovel
Heating problems, roof leaks or icy spots shared in writing right away
A small bag of ice melt or sand and a sturdy shovel near the door

If someone slips or the heat fails

If someone falls, stay calm, don’t rush to lift them, and check for injury first.
Call 911 for a head injury, severe pain, or if someone can’t get up. For anything else, a doctor can help.
Put salt or sand on the spot right away so no one else slips.
If the heat goes out, layer clothing, close off unused rooms and keep everyone together in one warm room.
Let whoever handles repairs know in writing, with the time and a photo if it’s safe to take one.
If you notice headaches, dizziness or nausea while heating, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911.

You did exactly the right thing.

Please be careful with these

Please don’t shovel if you have heart concerns or haven’t been active, without checking with a doctor first.
Please don’t climb onto the roof to clear snow. Ice and height are a dangerous combination.
Please don’t use a stove, oven, grill or generator to heat the home, and never run a generator in a garage.
Please don’t leave space heaters running unattended or plug them into extension cords or power strips.

For owners: before the first snowfall

Put snow and ice duties in writing: walks, steps, driveways, parking areas and roof snow.
Have the furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified professional before cold weather.
Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear so melting snow drains away from walkways.
Fix loose handrails, uneven steps and poor outdoor lighting before the first storm.
Leave a shovel and ice melt in an easy to find spot, and label where they are.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace any past their date.

Test yourself

How much do you remember?

4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.

From The Perfect Series

Go deeper with The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook

Simple, step by step checklists you can write in, one topic at a time, to help any home stay warm, safe and dry through every season.

See The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook All books in The Perfect Series

Keep the full guide handy

The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.

Download the PDF

From the Bunklow shop

Take it with you

Bunklow Home Guide 101: Winter Walkway Snow Shoveling Posture and Concrete-Safe DeicersA printable Bunklow guide to winter walkway snow shoveling posture and concrete-safe deicers: plain steps, how often to check, and when to call a pro.
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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal, medical or safety-code advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties.