Accident Prevention . . . The Dangers of Falling
“The weather outside is frightful!”
One of the assurances my children gave us when they encouraged our move to the northwest was - “It rarely snows. When it does, it’s gone within a couple of hours.” They lied! This very morning we even had THUNDERSNOW!
Last night, it started snowing once again. It wasn’t the 32″ we experienced our last winter in Rhode Island, but enough for ice to form under your feet. That ice will not go away within two hours because the thermometer is projected to stay below freezing for a number of days. I have to admit, I am very wary.
I fell twice on the ice during the week we moved out of Connecticut in 2003. I learned then that a ‘frozen shoulder’ has nothing to do with the cold. I landed more softly on my Rhode Island slips. However, I managed to find black ice during my first winter in Seattle and had to have my scalp stapled. That’s why I am wary.
I have since learned that simple falls become the greatest accident exposure for senior citizens. We need activity to keep our bodily systems engaged, and the simple act of falling can result in enough damage to curtail that activity for prolonged periods. The snow may be pretty, but the ice is dangerous.
To cope with the situation, I am -
- staying indoors as much as possible despite the fact that I can’t stand the cabin fever,
- wearing ugly high-traction boots whenever I must go out,
- driving only on tires with decent tread,
- carefully selecting parking places that are somewhat drier and closer to covered walkways,
- noticing some of my fellow seniors using ski poles while walking, and am considering adapting their style, and
- spreading kitty litter (my latest ‘wonder product’ discovery) on the walks around our house.
Love to hear any other ideas that would forestall a visit to the ER. Other than that, the snow is beautiful to see. I love to watch the kids rolling around in it.
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