5 rules of behavior on ice
New Year is on the doorstep. A long and eventful weekend awaits us. Someone is going to go to the resort, someone is going for a walk with children in the snowy forest, someone is going to visit or receive guests at home. Everyone dreams of relaxing and having fun during the holidays. However, there is a downside to New Year's entertainment: the workload of surgeons and traumatologists increases significantly. According to statistics, the number of injuries in winter almost doubles. Unfortunately, in many cases the victims themselves become the culprits of the troubles, who stubbornly ignore the rules for safe movement on icy streets.
Today we want to remind readers about how to behave on ice.
Source: depositphotos.com
Choose the right shoes
One of the main causes of winter street injuries in women is shoes that are not suitable for walking on slippery surfaces. It is clear that complete with a beautiful fur coat, you want to wear elegant boots with high thin heels. However, such shoes not only slip on the icy asphalt, but also contribute to the constant tucking of the feet on the frozen lumps of snow. As a result, the woman of fashion runs the risk of getting multiple fractures, sprains and ligament ruptures. They say that beauty requires sacrifice, but in this case the sacrifice is hardly worth it: a complex injury acquired during icy conditions can knock a person out of their usual way of life for several months.
Today it is possible to buy comfortable and elegant winter shoes with a small heel and a non-slip sole. The risk of falling can be easily reduced by attaching metal heels to boots and gluing adhesive plaster strips to the soles. There are also special devices (deicing pads) on sale that you can carry and put on over your shoes as needed.
Remember how to get around on ice
Elderly and sick people should not go outside in severe icy conditions, but not everyone is able to stay at home. If you have to move on slippery surfaces, heed the advice:
- do not hurry. It is better to leave the house early and even be late than to get hurt. Walk along the street slowly, carefully looking at your feet and choosing the least slippery places;
- while moving on the ice, bend your knees slightly. Step on your entire foot. Walking on slippery asphalt on tiptoe or on your heels is very dangerous;
- if you are forced to walk on the surface of a frozen puddle or icy, rolled path, move your feet in small sliding movements, almost without lifting your feet from the ground. This is especially important in the event of a thaw, when slippery areas are hidden under fresh snow or melted snow "mush";
- make sure your hands are free. This will make it easier to maintain balance if you slip;
- clothes should not be too heavy, soft and warm. For frosty weather, a short coat or a long jacket is best. A massive fur coat and a long sheepskin coat restrict freedom of movement, increasing the risk of falling;
- if you walk with a stick, make sure that its lower end is equipped with a reliable rubber pad;
- do not keep your hands in your pockets. Don't try to do things on the go. Stop before putting on mittens, taking out a handkerchief from your pocket, answering a cell phone call - this way you reduce the risk of an accidental fall;
- do not leave the house on ice without a mobile phone. Add the numbers of loved ones, ambulance and rescue services to his list so that you can quickly get support in a difficult situation.
Keep your safety on the street
Correct behavior in ice is important not only in terms of maintaining health. By trying to avoid falls and injuries, you reduce the risk of creating a dangerous situation for others. Therefore, going outside on ice, do not neglect the following rules:
- be especially careful when crossing the street. If you slip on the carriageway, you will not only get injured from falling, but also provoke a traffic accident;
- when crossing the street, do not try to save time and cross the carriageway next to vehicles. On a slippery surface, the braking distance becomes longer, and the risk of being hit by a car increases significantly;
- try not to go under eaves of buildings and near tall buildings. In case of ice, snow accumulated on eaves and roofs can easily fall down, causing serious damage to you;
- pay attention to the position of the wires of power lines. In case of ice, they often become covered with an ice crust and sag or break off under its weight, which is fraught with electric shock to passers-by. If you notice low hanging wires, call emergency services immediately.
Fall right
Sometimes, despite all the precautions, it is not possible to avoid falling on an icy street, and you need to be prepared for such a development of events. To fall with minimal loss, it is important to do it right:
- if you feel a loss of balance, try to sit down - the lower the height of the fall, the easier the injury;
- walk forward on slippery surfaces. Then at the time of the fall it will be easier for you to group, and the contact with the ground will be softer;
- if you slip, release the bag handles immediately. You still cannot save their fragile contents, but you will have a chance to keep your balance;
- As you fall forward, bend your arms slightly. This will help avoid severe injuries to the upper limbs;
- if it turns out that you fall on your back, do not put your hands under the body, otherwise a fracture of the bones of the hands is almost inevitable;
- after falling, do not try to rise immediately, but at least approximately estimate the severity of the injuries received. If you feel severe dizziness, sharp pain in your head, back, or neck, do not get up at all. Call your mobile phone to call an ambulance, or ask passers-by.
Visit your doctor if needed
Returning to the room after the fall, examine your body for bruises and abrasions. Apply cold compresses to the bruises for a short time. If you experience swelling and severe pain, see a traumatologist as soon as possible. Do not take pain relievers before visiting your doctor, as this can mask dangerous symptoms.
It is especially important to get qualified help in time for severe head or back injury. Untreated, these injuries can have long-term consequences: many people suffer for years from diseases that began with a forgotten fall.
Falling injuries on ice are injuries that we can insure ourselves against. In the winter cold, we need to be especially careful and prudent. By wisely approaching seasonal risks, we will save ourselves from serious problems, and doctors, who also deserve a holiday, from unnecessary work.
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Maria Kulkes Medical journalist About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov, specialty "General Medicine".
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