Bundle up, Union, it’s layering season

Advice for staying warm as the weather gets colder

Winter is approaching here in the beautiful state of Nebraska and the weather is getting colder, so it's time to start getting ourselves into our nice and cozy winter clothes. This is the time of year where we have to start layering. In terms of types, there is first the inner layer which is where your thermal underwear or long sleeve shirts go. The middle is where you put your sweaters or fleece jackets. This is the layer that traps the heat for your body to stay warm. Meanwhile, the outer layer shields you from the wind and snow; this could be composed of windbreakers or insulated coats. 

In terms of building up, here are some of the things that you might need: jackets, waterproof boots with traction, warm thick socks, scarves that help protect your neck and face from the cold, gloves, beanies that help keep the heat from escaping through your head, and some nice good thermal underwear. It is so important to be prepared when it comes to winter because it can get very cold at Union.

Campus can get a lot of snow and ice. You don't necessarily need to watch out for the snow, but you do need to watch out for the ice. Sometimes ice can look like snow so please don't make the mistake of jumping in it. The worst kind of ice that you need to look out for is black ice. It is like camouflage, it can look like wet pavement, but be advised that it is not. Stepping on it is the easiest way to slip and fall down, and you really don't want that. Some ways that you can avoid the ice are by taking small, short steps when walking down the pavement. Make sure to keep your feet close to the ground. Definitely do not run. While walking, try to keep your center of gravity. Lean slightly forward — not backwards. Keep your hands outside your pockets so that if you happen to slip you have access to your hands, and it will be easier to grab onto something for balance. 

But, even though it does get cold and there is a lot of snow, it is one of my favorite sights to see. The snow falling down and nothing but frozen rain drops around is such a beautiful sight to see, so I hope you enjoy it as well.

By Chris Martinez