Keeping Your Home Safe During The Snow Season

I love snow. I can walk in it for hours. I love the pristine feeling of it, the clean, pure smell of it and the solitude that comes with an evening snowfall. However, as beautiful as it is, for some, snowy and icy winters are called ‘hip season' due to the many falls on snow and ice covered walkways and sidewalks. I have lived in several parts of the country where there was a considerable amount of snow. While living outside of New York City, we had over three feet of snow one winter. It was up to the windowsill. It was icy and dangerous to navigate on foot or by car. Shoveling the walkway was a huge chore and one of my least favorite things to do. We lived in a little apartment complex of four units and I just held my breath every time one of the elders would venture out onto the sidewalk to get the paper or the mail.

Snow isn't so much the problem as is the ice underneath it. Falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths in older Americans. Each year, one out of every three people over the age of 65 falls and children to fourteen years of age visit the emergency room 2.5 million times a year.

If you live in snow and ice climate, there are some things you can do to prevent slipping and falling on ice or snow covered walkways. Some tips to make walking in the winter snow and ice safe are; to wear the right kind of footwear and take small steps, don't run but walk slowly and keep your hands free (don't put them in your pockets), avoid carrying heavy or too high loads, walk bent slightly over and flat footed with your center over your feet as best you can, watch where you are going and test patches by tapping your foot on an area to see if they are slick, avoid inclines, keep walkways free of debris, shoveled and perhaps use a heated mat made out of non-slip rubber to melt the snow or ice, and don't jump out of your vehicle. If, however, something does happen and you know you are going to fall, try to relax and roll with the fall, and avoid using your arms and hands to break the fall, and toss anything you may have in your hands. If your feet shoot out in front of you and you are falling backwards, bend your back and head forward so you won't slam your head onto the walkway. Objects can be replaced - your bones cannot.

Even though you may have shoveled or scraped your walkway, there could still be a thin layer of ice - enough to make you fall, so constantly be aware of that fact. If you are going someplace, allow yourself plenty of time to get there, making sure you wear shoes that have traction on snow and ice.

It is important to remember after being outside on the snow and ice that the accumulation of moisture will be on your shoes. So to prevent from falling once you step inside, remove the snow and ice from your shoes or take them off.

Please, take the necessary precautions during the snow and ice season. The suggestions above apply to property - residential and business owners, too, to keep their walkways safe for themselves, seniors, children going to and from school and the well being of all concerned.