Question of the Week: Preventing Falls on Ice

Pam Flores is a wife, paralegal, friend, advocate, and caregiver Living With It a wife, paralegal, friend, advocate, and caregiver I graduated from the University of West L.A. School of Paralegal... Send Message Subscribe: Pam Flores

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
View All of Pam Flores's Posts

Winter is almost here again, and many of you will have to deal with snow, ice and slush, and the things they cause, like slippery sidewalks, roads and driveways. What ideas do you have to make this season safer while walking in these conditions? "Snow and ice cause a substantia...

Hide Comments | Add comment

Untitled Comment
phyllis
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 07:41 AM

What a good timely question, it is time to start thining about the winter to come. Ice and snow are something that we do have to deal with here in Il...its not an all the time problem but when its on the ground it means time to be more careful about where you put your feet. Being careful is the main thing when walking on slippery surfaces so that is my prevention program for nasty roads and sidewalks. We have a few brick streets here that can be very trecherous when covers in ice. Our town uses salt and cinders to clean the streets. What you have on your feet is also something to think about..some shoes are fine while others will send you flying. I don't wear special shoes., but do avoid wearing the ones i know have slicker bottoms. No matter what you do there is always a risk of stepping wrong or not seeing that one little patch missed by the plows or sidewalk sweepers. Around the house we use products to melt ice and use a snow shovel to clear the driveway and walks around the house and yard. As for the acutal work of shoveling we just try to use good body mechanics and not try to move all the snow at one time. The type of snow also matters..wet snow is much harder to move than the dry fluffy kind, so common sense plays a part to. take care...phyllis

re: Dangerous Ice and Snow
Pam Flores
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 02:42 PM

Hi Phyllis, thanks for joining us once again. I think you hit the nail on the head in pointing out the importance of BEING CAREFUL. What's the saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

We rarely get snow here, but every once in a while we do, like last year so we really are novices when it comes to dealing with ice. While thinking about this question, I ran across some suggestions on how you should walk on ice, if you absolutely have to, because most recommend avoiding it all together if you can. But the advice was to talk small (baby steps) in a shuffling motion. Have you heard of this? This sounds strange to me and almost like it would make you more prone to fall, so I'll have to find the article and link so you guys can read it and give your opinion.

There also a device or tread like thing you can put on the bottom of your shoes, has anyone tried those?

Hopefully others will join in and help us out on some of these things. I hope your winter doesn't come too soon, and when it does I hope you don't have a ton of ice. Just be careful, as you say, which is the best advice you can give. Oh, and try not to carry things in your arms if you have to step on ice, keep your arms free to use for balance.

Thanks again,

Pam

Untitled Comment
Dean
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 06:31 PM

I found that I slip much easier if I'm wearing leather-soled shoes, so those never get used outside in the winter here in Eastern Washington. I frequently have to walk to homes along steep snowy driveways. I try to avoid walking in the ruts made by the cars, because that's where the super-slick compacted snow is, even under a fresh snowfall. I know this might result in some snow inside my shoes or boots, but it beats taking a spill. Plus, the unplowed/unpacked snow makes for a softer landing if I do slip. I dread the winters around here - not near as much fun as when I was a kid!

Dean

re: Untitled Comment
Pam Flores
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 07:46 PM

Hi Dean, welcome and thanks so much for sharing your tips on ice and snow. I hope everyone pays attention to your warning about leather-soled shoes.

I'm glad you can evaluate the situations that cause the most problems in winter; that's great that you've been able to apply that in your daily winter concerns with falls.

Have you tried any of the products that attach to the soles of shoes that add a device for the sole that acts like golf or football shoe types of cleats? Sorry I can't think of the name of it right now--oh how I hate aging--but will post the name as soon as I find it again.

Do you mind if I ask if you are in Washington State or DC? Maybe you mentioned this already, and I missed it

Join us anytime, your input is invaluable to all of us, and thanks also for clarifying the post on Lactoferrin; that does help to explain the studies Dr. Naidu published on this topic at PubMed and also thanks for including the link. I'm getting off topic here, but wanted to mention it to you out of great appreciation!! I'll ask you more questions on this on the other thread so the readers don't get confused here, since it has nothing to do with the risks of falls from ice and snow.

I would love to talk to you more about this on the other thread you replied to. If you enjoy our community input and SharePosts please consider telling your friends about us and all the things we have to offer to registerd members. Registration is really simple and you get so many cool features with it.

Don't hesitate to include us in your wonderful insight, we can all use the help!!

Thanks again,

Pam Flores (Community Leader, Patient Educator and Moderator on the OsteoporosisConnection site).

re: re: ice
Raven
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 07:00 PM

I live on the Eastern tip of Long Island and we get lots of snow and ice. It's very dangerous no matter how careful one treads and what kind of shoes you wear. However, there are some devices that you can attach to the bottoms of your shoes. google ice fishing, then go to safety devices on the web sites, you'll find all kinds of cleats that ice fishermen & women wear for a variety of prices. I like SGT-0 which comes in different sizes (about 3) . it's made of a rubbery material with steel teeth in the bottom. I've worn them for years and they have saved my life on numerous occasions. I also sometimes go Ice sailing if it gets cold enough to freeze the bay. I'd never be able to walk out on the ice. The cleats I wear don't slide off. I also wear them in NYC. Good luck out there this winter!

re: re: re: ice
Pam Flores
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 03:15 PM

Hi Raven, thanks so much for the info on HGT-0; I was hoping some of our members could explain what they use on their shoes or boots for this very purpose.

Be careful on the ice, and I'm glad you know about these cleat-like attachments for shoes to keep you safe walking around on ice and snow.

Thanks for joining us and for the excellent info.