December is a month of peace and joy, family gatherings and love.
It’s also a month of ice and snow, along with all the injuries they bring, so if you don’t want to end up like this guy, the Centers for Disease Control and other health agencies have a few tips to make sure you’re spending Christmas Eve in front of a fire or under the mistletoe rather than in bed, nursing an injury.
Walk like a penguin
No matter how well the snow and ice is removed from parking lots or sidewalks, slips and falls account for a large number of emergency room trips during the winter. In cold temperatures, assume all wet, dark areas on pavements are slippery and icy. Walk in designated walkways as much as possible, as they’re more likely to be salted. Also, the CDC advises mimicking our cold-weather friends, the penguins. Point your feet slightly out and walk with short, shuffling strides. This keeps your center of gravity over your feet, and makes it easier to regain control if you begin to slip.
Wear appropriate footwear
Avoid boots or shoes with smooth soles and heels when the temperature dips below freezing. Instead, wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice. Boots made of non-slip rubber or neoprene with grooved soles are best.
Keep your hands out of your pockets
Walking with your hands in your pockets may keep your hands warm, but it also decreases your balance. If you do start to fall, you can’t extend your arms to try to regain balance. If you can’t catch yourself and fall to the ground, your hands are stuck in your pockets and unavailable to break your fall.
Fall safely
If worse comes to worse and you do fall when walking, avoid landing on your knees, the CDC advises. Doing so increases the chances of knee and spine injuries. Also, try to relax as you fall. If you stiffen, the odds of a muscle injury or other back problems increase.
Be careful decking the halls
Every winter, almost 10,000 emergency room visits are attributable to accidents when putting up Christmas decorations. To keep from fa-la-la-la-laing your way into a cast, don’t decorate alone, especially if a step ladder is involved. Have someone on hand to steady the ladder and hand you needed items as you decorate. Another important reminder is not to go above the second-or-third highest step. The higher you go, even with a steadying hand, the greater the chance the ladder can tip and send you to the hospital. And, please leave the egg nog or Irish coffee until after the job is done.
Shovel smartly
Another common reason for trips to the doctor is back injuries caused by shoveling snow. Doctors advise not depending on your back while shoveling. Instead, use your legs – they’re stronger! Also, don’t try to be a one-man snow plow. Put less snow on each shovel load, reducing the weight you move each stroke. Finally, don’t twist to throw snow out of the way. That increases the odds of a back injury. Scoop up the snow, and walk it to its final destination. It’s a little more time-consuming, but your back will thank you later.
