Safety Awareness: Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice
 
By EMT Ken Sterner
January 11, 2017
 

There is nothing worse than battling weather conditions and traffic, finally arriving at your destination and parking the car, THEN take a tumble and hurt yourself just feet from the door! Falling injuries on ice in parking lots and sidewalks are more common than you would think. In many cases they involve serious fractures, especially in the arms, as people try to break their fall as they go down.

Here are some tips to consider when conditions are icy:
• Bend your knees a bit and place your feet slightly apart to give you better balance while walking.
• Take very small steps when you walk, sliding your feet across the pavement rather than using your typical stride.
• If you have to walk up or down an incline, turn sideways and slide your feet apart and together in a sliding side-step motion.
• And of course, look at the ground while walking. Slips on ice can often be avoided by looking out for potential danger areas.