Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on icy surfaces. Here are tips from emergency officials and doctors to help you stay on your feet:
Wear the right shoes. Many people fall because they wear shoes with heels or smooth, flat surfaces instead of slip-resistant soles.
Keep your feet apart. You'll have better balance if you walk with your legs spread more than usual -- and, if it's very slippery, your knees slightly bent. "You may feel that you look funny, but it's worth it," says Dr. Ronald Grelsamer, a hip and knee surgeon at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.
Take small steps. Use a short, shuffling stride with your feet pointed slightly outward. Curl your toes under and walk as flat-footed as you can, keeping your shoes in contact with the ground as much as possible.
Always look ahead. Small patches of ice can linger on surfaces that are mostly clear. Don't let your guard down.
Turn sideways to walk down hills. But caution: never cross one foot over the other, leaving you with no balance. Bend your knees slightly if the incline is steep.
Use your arms for balance. Keep your hands out of your pockets, allowing your arms to swing normally or stretch out sideways. Also, don't carry heavy loads.
Protect your dominant arm. If you must break a bone, it's better to hurt the hand you don't rely on for writing and other daily tasks. One idea: hold your coat or anything you're carrying in your dominant hand, leaving the other one free to break any fall.
Clear paths quickly. Remove snow and spread salt on porches, sidewalks and steps immediately after a storm, before it gets packed down.
DAILY PRESS (Newport News, Va.)
