1. Stop germs cold! Wash your hands often for 15 seconds using soap and water.
Visit the Porter Health System website
Valparaiso Campus
814 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-263-4600
2. Be road wise. Make sure everyone is buckled up, and children should use a safety or booster seat.
3. Breathe easy. Check your heating system for proper ventilation and install a carbon monoxide detector.
4. Wrap up. If you're out in the cold, wear several thin layers of clothing, gloves and a hat.
5. Snuff it. Every home needs at least one fire extinguisher. Check to see that yours is working.
6. Be snow smart. Supervise children who are outside. Keep them away from slippery streets and frozen ponds or lakes.
7. Exercise. If the cold keeps you inside, keep them moving. Walk the mall
8. Watch your waist. Eat in moderation, because too much food sets the table for gastrointestinal rebellion.
9. Stay sober. If alcohol is involved, think in moderation. Alcohol and driving - don't even think about it.
10. Stock up. Pack your pantry with enough non-perishable foods to keep you healthy if you're trapped at home by a storm.
11. Shake salt. Eating salty foods and snacks at parties or during the big game can put blood pressure on the rise and aggravate heart disease.
12. Check in. Look in on elderly relatives and friends and include them in your activities. See that they're staying warm and eating well.
13. Play it safe. Always have a screen around your fireplace, and never close the damper when ashes are hot.
14. Power up. Avoid trips and falls during a power outage. Have extra batteries on hand to power flashlights.
15. Give it space. Keep space heaters away from curtains and bedding, and turn them off when you leave the room.
16. Watch the sparkle. Holiday decorations can be choking hazards. See that yours are safe for children.
17. Back off. If roads are slick, keep extra distance between you and other cars.
18. Know where to go to for an Emergency. 
Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus
814 LaPorte Ave
Valparaiso, IN 46383
219.263.4600
Porter Portage Hospital Campus
3630 Willowcreek Rd
Portage, IN 46368
219.364.3000
All of our E.R. physicians are Board Certified in Emergency Medicine:
- Kip Adrian, MD
- Janu Singh Bohra, DO
- Heather Dieperink, MD
- David Hill, Jr., MD
- Dan Kaup, MD
- Samara Kester, MD
- Christina Murray, MD
- Kenji Oyasu, MD
- Michael Painter, DO
- Natalie Painter, DO
- Soumiya Prakasam, MD
- Vish Rao, DO
- Scott Samian, MD
- Shirley Sheth, DO
- Richard Watson, MD
- Patrick Whitely, MD
- Michael Woods, MD
- William Yount, MD