Whether out for a hike or headed to your car, it’s important to pay attention to where you’re walking.  This is especially true in the winter because of the increased risk of slipping and falling. In fact, in 2002-2003 almost 12 000 Ontarians visited an emergency room after falling on ice (CIHI, 2005).

Here are a few simple precautions to help make your winter walking enjoyable and safe.

• Keep entranceways and sidewalks clear of ice and snow. Put sand, kittylitter or salt on walkways.
• Look where you step and take note of the ground conditions before you exit a vehicle.
• When entering buildings, remove snow from footwear to prevent indoor wet, slippery conditions.
• Ice grippers on footwear can help you walk on hard packed snow and ice. Note that grippers are slippery on smooth surfaces such as stone and ceramic. Be sure that you can attach and remove them easily.
• A cane with an ice pick (found in most drug stores) is an excellent walking aid. Speak to your healthcare provider or cane supplier about how to properly size and use a cane.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going. Otherwise, you may not notice an ice patch until it’s too late. 

Footwear

The footwear you use helps keep you comfortable and dry. In winter, proper footwear also helps reduce your risk of falling. For warmth and stability look for these features:

• Proper size and fit, along with being easy to put on and take off.
• Well insulated and waterproof.
• Wide, low heels.
• Thick, non-slip soles provide traction, such as rubber or neoprene composite. Beware that smooth soles, such as plastic and leather, increase chances of slipping.

Other ways to minimize your chance of slipping include strength and balance exercises, and being physically active. Knowing how to fall can reduce the severity of injury if you do slip. For information on how to fall properly, visit www.senioryears.com/fallsart.html.

Key References:

Canada Safety Council. (2006, October).Safety tips for winter walking. Member Newsletter of the Canada Safety Council, vol XLX (4). Retrieved November 14, 2006 from http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/winter.html

CIHI(Canadian Institute for Health Information). (2005, March 2). Almost 12,000 Ontarians landed in ER after falling on ice. Retrieved November 14, 2006, from http://www.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_02mar05_e , 85(5), 819-828.