Lake-effect snow off Lake Erie can turn a quiet Tuesday in Avon Lake or Bay Village into a shoveling day with almost no warning. Senior Helpers suggests getting the house ready early. Senior Helpers shares this checklist that covers winter safety by room, so you can handle one area an afternoon and still be done well before the holidays.

Start at the Furnace and the Alarms

Book a furnace inspection now and swap the filter before the technicians in Westlake and North Olmsted are booked into December.

Then test every alarm in the house. Carbon monoxide has no smell. The symptoms of poisoning and household sources that produce it, such as a furnace, are laid out on the CDC's carbon monoxide page. If an alarm is more than a few years old, flip it over and check the date printed on the back.

Living Room and Kitchen

Portable heaters cause a large share of winter house fires, so checking them is a smart first step in winter safety by room. The National Fire Protection Association advises keeping anything that can burn well away from a space heater, and switching it off whenever you leave the room or go to bed.

• Clear rugs and cords off the floor so the path from your chair to the kitchen is bare.
• Move the plates and coffee you use daily to the counter or a waist-high shelf, so nothing requires climbing.
• Put a lamp or a touch light near each seat you use after dark, and keep a cordless phone or your cell phone on the side table, charged.

Bathroom and Bedroom

When preparing your home for the winter months, it's important to consider winter safety by room. Here are some key upgrades and features to enhance safety:

• Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower for added support.
• Use non-slip mats inside the tub to prevent slips during showers.
• Keep a flashlight and spare blanket easily accessible in the bedroom for power outages.

Driveways and the Supply Shelf

To stay prepared for winter, it's essential to have a convenient setup at home. Consider organizing the following items for easy access during cold weather:

• A bag of ice melt stored next to a pair of boots with good tread by your main entrance.
• A waist-height shelf for winter supplies, including bottled water, canned soup with pull-tab lids, a battery-powered radio, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, and a printed list of medications and doctors' numbers.
• Remember to test the batteries in your radio again in January.

We Help Families Keep Up With Winter Safety by Room

During winter, tasks like bringing in ice melt or checking night lights can easily be overlooked. Senior Helpers Western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties assist older adults in Avon, Berea, North Ridgeville, Brook Park, and Westlake with companionship, light housekeeping, meal prep, errands, and transportation. Caregivers can also help rearrange rooms to make daily items easier to access. Contact us if you'd like a second pair of eyes on this list before the lake effect snow arrives.