Darkness closing in early

Darkness closing in early

From this Sunday the days get shorter and darkness comes earlier as Daylight Saving ends. With it comes the greater risk of injury around the home when we step outside and forget to turn on the outside lights.

Okay this sounds depressing but we have enjoyed a wonderful summer with longer hours of daylight in which to enjoy it. Just the change of one hour makes a difference especially after the long Easter holiday weekend.

More than 6,000 Kiwis get injured on paths and driveways around the home each year, and over 13,000 get injured while out jogging.

To reduce your risk of injury this winter make sure you have good outdoor lighting and wear high-viz gear if you are out running or walking after dark.

Take a torch or wear a head torch so you can see where you are going and avoid the risk of stepping into a hole on the footpath or tripping on the kerb.

There are many places where people live that may have poorly lit access to their home especially if the path is long, steep and includes steps or in rural areas the driveway may have no lighting at all.

These days there’s a wide range of outdoor lighting products available on the market, from relatively inexpensive solar-power lighting to more sophisticated, mains-powered options. These not only provide a safer environment but can also add a decorative effect to your house and garden.

The trend of creating “a fairy wonderland” of lights in your garden at Christmas could be extended into the winter months with great effect while at the same time increasing safety.

Being thoroughly familiar with paths and access ways is fine but conditions can change and catch out the unwary. For example the cooler winter months can see moss and slippery slime form on outdoor paths, especially if they are in shaded areas, so removing this is a good idea to prevent injuries at all times of the day.

ENDS

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