Yesterday, we explored just a few of the ways that citizens can avoid injuries related to slipping on the ice, but those were just the tip of the iceberg (pardon the pun) for the ways that a person can protect themselves from an injury. With snow being dumped on many parts of the country, it becomes imperative for citizens to protect themselves from harm, especially those pedestrians who are going to be walking to and from work as part of their commute. If you fit this profile, avoid injury by thinking about the tips on hand from the Snow & Ice Management Association.
After you’ve loaded yourself up with the right clothing and a pair of shoes that will provide you with the right amount of tread, you’ll need to make yourself aware of your environment. Although it may be difficult to plan a route that allows you to go around icy patches, you can at the very least keep your head up to identify places where ice is apparent. You also want to stick to heavily trafficked paths where there’s a better chance that the road and sidewalk have been cleared. When you avoid these relatively safe areas, you increase your chances of finding uncleared ice.
When you come across icy spots, make sure to walk along them as safely as possible to avoid an orthopedic injury. Make every step you take a conscious movement, keeping your hands out of your pockets in case you slip. Keep headphones out of your ears and a phone in your pocket so that you can keep all your focus on the task at hand. This also allows you to more readily spot the type of black ice that would otherwise go unidentified.
There are certain situations where ice becomes particularly dangerous, starting with stairwells. These don’t even have to be outdoors to pose a threat. If a lot of people are walking on a given flight of stairs after coming in from the cold, those steps will get wet quickly. Make sure that you’re using the available handrail when you’re ascending or descending, and don’t skip any steps on your way.
Similar precautions need to be taken when you reach the foyer of something like an office space. People are trudging through all day, and that floor will get slick rather quickly. Use a rug if one is available, and if not, then at the very least take it easy as you’re heading toward your workspace.
Finally, realize the concussion threat posed by overhanging chunks of ice. These can do some fairly serious damage if they fall on you from above.
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