Here in the North, winter can be a time of “hibernation,” where the short days and inhospitible outdoor weather can contribute to a winter malaise. Even now, several days in the single digits and nights in the double digits below zero are forecast, making the thought of outdoor fun somewhat more difficult.

One suggestion we here at Midwest Disaster Medical have to beat the Winter Doldrums is: Study and train! It doesn’t have to be with us, though we’d be honored and happy to help you learn some useful medical skills. No, any study and training will do.

*Get out your First Aid Manual, read it and write an outline of it to cement it in your brain.

*Go through your emergency car, bugout, or Get Home bag. All the meds still within expiration date? What about that item you took from the bag that you swore you’d replace? Is it in there?

*Have your CCW? When was the last time you (safely!) practiced your draw? Try doing 100 draws a night for 2 weeks!

*Remember that “how-to” book you bought, but never found time to read? Take 30 minutes a night and read it cover to cover, then read it again while making an outline of it in a notebook.

*Taken a blood pressure lately? Hassle your wife, kids, parents or friends into submitting to one. Accept our challenge to check 5 blood pressures this week!

*How old are your smoke detector batteries? Got a cartridge-style CO detector? How old is it? Time for a new one?

*Check your fire extinguishers. How old are they? Still in the green?

*When was the last time you started your generator? Ran it under load?

Take a few minutes and break out of the Winter Doldrums by making sure yoru skills and equipment are ready to meet any challenge.