In this article, we discuss the ways those with spinal cord injuries can prepare for winter and how to get the best support in the colder months.
Keeping warm in the cold
It is obvious advice that you should try to keep warm in winter. With spinal cord injury, you may experience temperature dysregulation or circulatory problems. These issues make feeling the cold or dealing with it very difficult and more stressful than usual.
Wearing extra layers can keep you warm while also having the option to remove layers if you get too hot. Wear a light base layer, thick medium layer and most importantly, a waterproof outer layer.
The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. The system regulates via signals sent from the brain through the spinal cord. Once injured, the brain will be unable to communicate with the cardiac nerves, causing the heart to beat either slowly or erratically.
With spinal cord injury, the way that the blood circulates throughout the body will change. Your heart may not pump blood efficiently, and the body will find it difficult for oxygenated blood to reach its extremities, the feet especially. With low blood circulation, your feet may swell and become cold to the touch.
Check your wheelchair and the way you manage it
You must take extra time and care to look after your wheelchair in the colder months. With snow comes grit, which can be a less than comforting experience as a wheelchair user. Make sure to wash your hands and wheelchair rims regularly after going out to keep clean and safe. Moisturising is also essential to help avoid drying out your hands in the cold.
A good pair of gloves is necessary for the cold and to protect your hands when operating your wheelchair. Find a pair of gloves that are well-insulated and give you a firm grip in slippery conditions.
Sometimes colder weather can cause electric wheelchair batteries to drain quicker than usual. Batteries die sooner because the ground you travel on is often tougher in cold conditions, causing the wheelchair to work even harder. Make sure your batteries are fully charged before leaving the house and try not to travel too far from home.
Make yourself visible
With darker evenings, it becomes difficult for vehicles or passers-by to see in the distance. It is recommended that you wear some form of hi-visibility or reflective accessories or clothing. Whether it be wearing a hi-visibility vest, reflective armbands or LED lighting on your wheelchair.
Keep active
There is a shared struggle between us all in winter, and that is trying to fight the seasonal blues as the nights are set to begin from 4pm. While we all love a cosy evening when it is chilly outside, it is important to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, especially for those with a spinal cord injury to look after their muscles.
As we mentioned in our previous blog, there are many sports and events that people with spinal cord injuries can enjoy and benefit from. Activities like wheelchair basketball will often take place indoors in a local sports hall, so the colder weather won’t affect you while playing.
Soak up your Vitamin D
With limited sunshine on shorter days, it is so important to ensure you are getting enough vitamin D. From January to March, more than a quarter of adults in the UK are said to be vitamin D deficient. To try and prevent this issue, Public Health England recommends considering taking vitamin D supplements between October and March.
Seek support from loved ones
It is okay to ask for help when needed. Whether you need support to travel, an extra pair of hands to help at home or simply quality time with a friend, it is important that you seek guidance and comfort from others to get through a time of year that is often difficult for many people. Keeping in touch with helping hands is one of the best ways to get through winter.
Keeping you safe in winter
Raquel Siganporia is a Senior Solicitor and Director of Business Development at Aspire Law – the only law firm dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injuries. Not only do we support people through spinal cord injury compensation claims, but we work tirelessly to get the best possible outcomes for people with SCIs – regardless of whether they have a claim.
Contact Raquel free of charge and in confidence on 0800 030 20 40 or at Raquel.Siganporia@aspirelaw.co.uk.
