Wellness, Safety Tips for Winter Weather

With snow and below-freezing temperatures, it’s important to remember to stay safe and stay well. Here are just a few helpful items to help improve wellness and safety courtesy of the UNO Police and Public Safety Department and UNO Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Remember: The best way to stay safe is to stay informed. UNO Alert is our campus' emergency notification service that will notify you if there is an active threat to campus that requires your immediate action. Please make sure you are signed up for text alerts and that your information is up to date through our UNO Alert portal.

Safety:

• Watch out for bad weather: Be sure to keep an eye on local weather forecasts. If weather conditions are bad, don’t go out unless you need to. If it’s necessary to go out, be prepared and take extra precautions to ensure your safety.

• Prepare ahead: If you need to do any shopping for staple/food items, do that before the snowy weather hits and travel conditions become treacherous.

• Power outages are possible: Have a plan for how to stay warm or where to go if the power goes out. Do not burn charcoal or use gasoline indoors. Make sure you have an emergency kit including blankets. Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove, or portable space heaters.

• Dress warm for the cold: Cover all exposed skin to limit exposure and the potential for frostbite. Dress in layers and wear a cap. Be prepared for emergencies such as a car accident or getting locked out of your car or building/residence, which means you could be stranded outside for long durations of time. Dressing for the weather could keep you warm in freezing temperatures while you wait for assistance.

• Be alert: Try to avoid distractions like your phone when walking alone outside so you can be aware of your surroundings in case an emergency happens, or, if you need your phone, knowing what to do in an emergency so you can be more prepared if you are victimized, or something happens to someone else.

• Have a buddy system: Have someone you can contact who is close by in case your vehicle breaks down or another emergency occurs. Making sure a friend knows where you are can help ensure your safety as well. You can use 402.554.2911 to report emergencies 24 hours a day.

• Walk with a friend: If an emergency arises, having someone with you or knowing where you are to make sure you’re okay can be extremely helpful. UNO Public Safety can escort you to your vehicle or on-campus housing unit from your class at any time, all you need to do is call 402.554.2648 to request help. Here are other UNO Public Safety Services.

Mental Wellness:

• Talk with CAPS or Health and Wellness Coaches: The Office of Counseling and Psychological Services provides a range of services available to students. Whether you need to reach them on-call, set up an appointent, or gather information to support a student close to you, CAPS can be reached at 402.554.2409.
  
  
• Get enough food, water, sleep, and exercise: Your physical wellness affects your mental well-being. Making physical wellness a priority could improve your overall mental state. If you need food support, learn more about the Maverick Food Pantry here.
  
  
• Understand your social needs: There are many ways to take care of your mental health, and everyone is different. Making sure the connections that you have with others are fulfilling can be very helpful to improving mental wellness.
  
  
• Find a support group: There are a variety of support groups that feature a community of students, faculty, and staff who are sharing your same experiences. A list of existing support groups can be found on the UNO website.
  
  
• Know your mental and emotional needs: Take the time to understand your needs. Just like physical needs, mental and emotional needs affect your overall well-being. If you need a break from studying, socializing, or something else, take it off if possible. If that’s not possible, doing something small that makes you feel better at the end of a long day can also make a big difference in how you feel.
  
  
• Treat all mental health concerns with care: Not all mental health concerns necessitate therapy or psychiatry, even though some do. If talking to a professional is what you need, please make an appointment. If you are in a mental health crisis, call a hotline and make sure you get the care that you need. If you need to take care of yourself in other ways, take the time to do so. We can all take action to improve and prioritize our mental well-being such as taking care of our physical well-being, practicing self-care, meditating, talking with loved ones, or doing other things. To get started, students can use UNO’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to utilize resources for anyone needing mental health support. Employees can make use of the Faculty-Staff Employee Assistance Program.
  
  
• Give yourself some grace: The past two years have involved a lot of shared trauma and it’s normal to feel anxious, isolated, or overwhelmed especially during the last few weeks of a semester. Take the time to take care of yourself, physically and mentally. Here are some tips for how to recognize and respond to issues such as anxiety, depression, and the need for self care.