Top 10 Essentials For Veterinary Teams When It Snows.

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As a veterinary professional, our job is to provide care for animals all year round, regardless of the weather. Winter and snow can bring new challenges, but with the right gear and precautions, you can stay safe, warm, and dry while still providing excellent care for your furry patients. Here are the top 5 things veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants need to stay safe, warm, and dry during the winter and snow:

Proper footwear: Investing in a good pair of insulated, waterproof boots with good traction is essential for navigating icy and snowy conditions. Look for boots with a thick sole and good grip to prevent slips and falls. Here are some of our team's favorites:

• Columbia Women's Ice Maiden II Snow Boot - comfy, warm and easy to maneuver in them

• Columbia Men's Bugaboot III Snow Boot - rugged warm and comfortable to war all day.

Warm clothing: Dressing in layers is key to staying warm and comfortable during long shifts. Choose moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and a waterproof outer layer to protect against wind and snow. Here are some of our team's favorite base layers and Jackets:

• Base Layer: Thermajane Long Johns - warm, light weight and comes in a bunch of colors.

• Base Layer: Thermajohn Long Johns - warm, light and comfy.

• Snow Pants: Dickies Premium Insulated - Keeps you warm and prevents any cold air from sneaking in.

• Parka: THE NORTH FACE Women’s Jump Down Parka - Super soft, warm and easy to move in.

• Parka: Columbia Men's South Canyon Long Down Parka - Warm and functional.

Gloves: Gloves are essential for keeping your hands warm and protected from the cold. Look for gloves that are waterproof, insulated, and have a good grip.

• Carhartt Waterproof Insulated Glove

• MCTi Winter Waterproof, 3M Thinsulate Warm, Touchscreen Gloves with Wrist Leashes

Hats and ear protection: Heat escapes through your head, so wearing a hat or headband that covers your ears is crucial for staying warm. Consider investing in a hat or headband made from moisture-wicking materials to prevent sweat from accumulating.

• Spyder Wool Blend Beanies - Basic and cute. Made from wool, so they keep you warm.

• TrailHeads Headband - Theses are SUPER soft and comfortable to wear all day.

Face protection: A face mask or balaclava can help protect your face from the cold and wind, as well as prevent frostbite. Look for a mask or balaclava made from breathable material to prevent condensation from building up.

• Balaclava Ski Mask - this one is sleek. If you have long hair, you will need to braid it.

• Balaclava for Extreme Cold Weather - Heavyweight Fleece Hood - This one is super soft and has cinch ties to customize your snug fit.

Now, in addition to the above items, and the hope that you already have a set of chains for your tires in your trunk, and a red flag to hang out your window, here are the top 5 things you should also have in your car to stay safe if you are caught in a snowstorm:

Blankets and warm clothing: Keep extra blankets, hats, gloves, and jackets in your car to stay warm if you get stranded in the snow. All of us keep a "go-bag" with a change of clothes, but this is the best blanket for staying warm. Tip: Get a blanket for each possible passenger.

• Arcturus Military Wool Blanket - affordable, washable, durable, and comes in lots of colors.

• Woolly Mammoth Merino Wool Blanket - a little more money, says it is self-cleaning, comes in lots of colors

Flashlights and extra batteries: Make sure you have a working flashlight and extra batteries in case of an emergency.

• Glocusent Neck Light, Brightness Adjustable, Rechargeable - we LOVE this little light. You wear it around your neck, so your hands are free. PLUS it can be recharged with a USB.

• Portable Charger Power Bank - 30000mAh Solar Charger - you can charge it up with a plug OR with the sun. This ensures that you can power your phone, laptop or the neck light listed above. This little unit has come in SUPER handy when the power goes out.

Non-perishable food and water: Keep a supply of non-perishable food and water in your car in case you are stuck for an extended period. For this one, you want to get something that has a long shelf life and does not take up a lot of room. Be careful NOT to get things that require reconstitution with water. Here is what we use:

• MRE STAR Survival Meal Box - All you will need to eat the meal is included. There is something for everyone. This box comes with 12 pouches,

• Blue Can - This water is in cans and the label says it has a 50 Year Shelf Life

Shovel and ice scraper: A shovel and ice scraper are essential for digging out your car and removing snow and ice from your windshield.

• Camping Survival Shovel with Axe - This has everything you will need and comes in a compact case. We added some waterproof matches to our kits too. Multifunctional Tactical Folding Shovel Hatchet Flashlight Combo with Extension Handles, 19.3-40.9Inch Survival Gear and Equipment

First aid kit: In case of an accident or injury, keep a basic first aid kit in your car with bandages, antiseptic, and other essential supplies. We avoid the plastic box kits and lead toward the ones that are MOLLE or can be clipped to a pack, since you might be taking that kit with you in an emergency.

• EVERLIT 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit - This little kit is compact and pretty comprehensive. We added OTC medications to ours too: tums, tylenol, ibuprofen and benadryl.

Winter and snow can present unique challenges for veterinary technicians and assistants, but with the right gear and precautions, you can provide excellent care for your animal patients while staying safe, warm, and dry. By investing in proper footwear, warm clothing, gloves, hats, and face protection, you can stay comfortable and focused on your job even in the harshest winter conditions. And by keeping blankets, warm clothing, flashlights, non-perishable food and water, a shovel and ice scraper, and a first aid kit in your car, you can be prepared for any unexpected winter emergencies.