Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Fall 2019

8 FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES WHEN THE CHILL OF WINTER settles in, even a short walk from your front door to your driveway can become a dangerous journey. When surfaces are snowy, icy and slippery, you’re more likely to fall and injure your head or break a bone. Falling can be serious for any- one, but it’s especially so for older adults who are less likely to recover from a fractured hip or other injury. For safer walking, no matter what your age, consider these tips: Gear up. Choose cold-weather boots with grooved soles made from rubber or other nonslip materials. If you encounter ice, try to go Step into winter safely Be sled- savvy To help prevent head injuries while sledding, children should come down the hill sitting up and feet first—not lying down and head first. Requiring kids to wear helmets is added protection against them getting hurt. American Academy of Pediatrics around it. Look for a nearby snowy or grassy patch that you can step on for better traction. Beware of black ice. It may just look like a wet or glazed spot on a sidewalk. Slow down. Take shorter steps, and walk with your knees slightly bent. Leave for your destination early so you won’t be tempted to walk quickly to your car or the bus. Use deicer on walkways. And remove snow before it piles up. Snow removal can be strenuous work. If you have a medical condi- tion, check with your doctor before you shovel, or, better yet, have someone else shovel it for you. Sources: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Labor