By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Guest Blogger

We usually have mild winter weather in the Pacific Northwest, but yesterday we had sprinkling of snow when I got out of bed.

I debated about taking my morning walk, bit I decided to try it. The snow was slushy and melting. I was careful and my 20-minute walk went well.

Beth Webber, 51, wasn’t so lucky. She fell in December during a walk with her husband neighborhood, according to an article on Indystar.com. About two blocks from the house, Webber, who was wearing walking shoes, slipped and broke her left arm.

I thought of the harsh winter conditions many people are having throughout the U.S. I also remembered the image I had of injured people in the orthopedic surgeon’s office when I fractured my arm and knee cap because I fell.

I decided to write this post on how to avoid the slips and falls that can occur during the winter months.

Nearly two-thirds of mishaps occur on snow, ice, or wet surfaces near entrances or on parking lots, according to the Utah Safety Council.

The council offers these tips to help you prevent falls this winter season:

• Wear shoes that provide good traction.

• Dress warmly. Being cold might cause you to hurry or tense your muscles – both of which can affect your balance.

• Give yourself plenty of time. Take short steps with your feet pointed slightly outward. This will help keep your center of balance under you and provide a stable base for support.

• Be extremely careful getting out of your vehicle. If possible, swing your legs around and place both feet on the pavement before you attempt to stand. Steady yourself on the door frame until you have gained your balance. Avoid reaching beyond your center of balance to take hold of the door, because this might cause a fall.

• Don’t take shortcuts. Always use sidewalks and the cleared paths in parking lots. Never walk between parked cars. Be especially careful when stepping to different levels — down or up steps or from curbs (don’t step on curbs). And remember, grassy slopes can be as dangerous as snowy steps.

• Pay attention to the walking surface. It might become wetter or slicker ahead of you. Look down, however, only with your eyes. If you bow your head, it could propel you forward.

• When walking after sunset or in shadowed areas, be alert for black ice — particularly in the days after a storm. Once parking lots, sidewalks, and steps have been cleared, a thin layer of water remains and re-freezes when the temperature drops.

• Carry only those items necessary. Carrying weighted or bulky packages is also risky.

Here are additional tips from the Indystar article:

• Stay inside when it’s icy or snowy if you’re prone to falls, waiting until the sidewalks are salted or the ice and snow melts.

• Be prepared by being informed about the weather so you aren’t caught by surprise by freezing rain.

• Keep salt by your front door so you don’t slip on that first step.

• Stay on the porch while you dog goes out in the yard.

• Spread the impact out over a wider area if you fall rather than having one focused spot of impact.

• Change your gait to a slow shuffle and move slowly, walk flat-footed, and take mincing steps if you realize the surface underfoot is slippery.

Good luck in the winter weather. I hope the rest of the season is a safe one for you.

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