Home Improvements: How to Prevent Slips and Falls from Rain, Snow, and Ice This Winter
From bruised tailbones to broken hips, avoiding slip and fall accidents in winter is challenging at every age. The good news is that it doesn't have to be. With the right footwear, diligent clean-up, and cautious movements, you can keep your front door and indoor areas completely accident-free. Following are 7 easy ways to keep sure footing this cold season.
1. Set up a Solid Shovel and Salt Routine
One of the biggest slip and fall hazards during the winter season is misinformation. Many people think that salt melts ice. In reality, it doesn't. Salt only has the capacity to limits water's ability to form ice crystals. When you add salt to existing ice, it actually prevents it from thawing. This is why rock salt has been used in ice cream makers for centuries.
Understanding this, you should avoid salting walkways, porches, and stairs that already have generous coatings of ice or snow. It's also important to avoid using salt when outside temperatures are already freezing. You'll note that cities like Glendale, Brookfield, and Germantown treat roads with a salt-water solution before freezing precipitation falls, and before outside temperatures plummet. Using salt any time after the ground is excessively cold will create a thin and dangerously slick sheet of ice.
When people go out and come back in from shoveling snow, make sure that they wipe their feet or remove their shoes. Puddles of melted snow in the front hall can be a slip and fall hazard too.
2. Get the Right Shoes
As far as slip-and-fall prevention is concerned, getting geared up for winter is about far more than making sure that you've got warm toes. Choose durable winter boots with deeply treaded, slip-proof soles or have a pair of ice-grippers installed on your shoes.
3. Know When to Stay In
Don't take unnecessary chances. If the ground is covered in ice, consider rescheduling your appointments. Certain surfaces in Glendale, Brookfield, and Germantown area are never safe to walk on irrespective of your age or any special precautions that you take. It's far easier to reschedule than it is to heal from an injury.
4. Change Your Gait for Sure Footing
Take it slow and easy during winter. Change your gait so that you're taking short, even steps rather than longer and potentially unsteady ones. Pointing your toes outward rather than inward or straight forward will give you a stable base of support. You can also widen your stance to improve your balance.
5. Install Handrails
If you don't have a stable handrail leading from your front door to the end of your walk, consider having one installed. Holding onto this while negotiating challenging terrain will give you better balance, reliable support, and a way to regain your footing if you happen to lose it.
6. Grab a Bag of Sand or Kitty Litter
Keep a bag of sand or kitty litter in-hand when heading out onto frosty ground. You can scatter small handfuls just in front of you as you walk. This coarse, gritty material will give you better traction on slippery ground.
7. Install Quality Outdoor Lighting and Keep Your Glasses On
Poor vision and low-visibility areas are both major risk factors for winter falls. Make sure that your porch light has a functional bulb, and that this light is always on when you're going out or coming in at night. If you need additional outdoor lighting, ask a family member or friend to install it. This is also the best time of the year to schedule a vision appointment. If you need glasses, get them. If you have a pair of prescription lenses already, be sure to put them on before stepping out your door. It's always easiest to prevent or mitigate falls when you have a clear view of the surface that you're standing on and of what lies ahead.
Always Carry Your Phone
If a fall does occur, you'll want to have your phone nearby. Invest in a fanny pack or shoulder bag for safe phone storage or keep your phone in your pocket. This way, you can keep your hands free from using handrails and can still call for help if you need it.
You can also count on Senior Helpers of Milwaukee when you need a helping hand. With our companion care, getting around during the winter months is infinitely easier. We also offer personal care and wellness watch services in Glendale, Brookfield, and Germantown area. Get in touch with us today to find out more!