Wear a helmet when sliding in the snow. A paper published in the latest issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal crunched the numbers from 12 studies that looked at helmet use and injuries among skiers and snowboarders. The bottom line: “The use of helmets significantly reduced the risk of head injury.” In fact, by 35 percent. While the scope of this study did not include other downhill racers such as tubers and sledders, more and more experts are calling for helmet use for anyone who speeds down the slopes. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.

Home and car snow safety. A recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center revealed that only 1 percent of respondents had all 16 of the home-emergency-kit items necessary to weather a winter storm or other disaster. Read Stock your emergency kit to find out what essentials you might be missing. Plan to use a space heater? See our space heater safety tips. A final note: If conditions are severe, don't venture out on the roadways unless you really have to. If you have no choice, take a look at our Guide to Safe Winter Driving first, and don't forget to stock your car with the 12 things you'll need if you get stuck or stranded, starting with a cell phone. And be sure to clear all the snow from your car to keep yourself and other motorists safe. Learn more in the full Home and Cars blogs.

See how to safely use a snow blower for related information.