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During the winter in Iowa there is usually a lot of snow and ice on the ground which can make walking and getting from here to there a little bit tricky. However, there are a few things you can do do reduce your risk of falling down and getting injured.

So far this winter the weather hasn’t been very gentle on Iowans. After the few horrendous winter storms we have gotten quite a bit of snow and ice has stuck on the ground and roadways along with freezing temperatures. Having such cold temperatures makes it hard to properly treat all the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks etc, because the extreme cold doesn’t allow the sand or salt to do its job. There are many icy patches all over, you need to be careful and take your time when you are walking from here to there. Did you know that over 18,000 people die each year from falls?

There are different ways that you can protect yourself and help prevent a fall. First, when you are walking somewhere you should make sure the boots or shoes you have on have good tread which will give you better traction when you walk. Wearing high heels or other dress shoes that won’t give you any traction on the ice is not recommended, because it can highly increase your risk of falling. Also, you shouldn’t try to rush when you are walking through snow or ice, be sure to take your time. You may want to keep an eye on the ground to spot really dangerous areas while you are walking so you can avoid any really dangerous areas. You can’t fully prevent a fall from occurring but taking simple steps such as these can help you out.

If you own a home you should try your best to keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of ice and snow. This will help you from not falling, but also your neighbors and friends that might walk on your sidewalks. It is a good idea to keep some ice-melt handy so you can throw some down after it snows or if you have icy patches here and there. A common place for ice to form is at the end of your gutters coming off your house. Sometimes this can create very thick ice close to your front door, having ice-melt on hand can help prevent someone from falling on it. Obviously you can’t keep your sidewalks perfectly clear of snow and ice all winter long, especially in the weather that Iowa has been having lately. However, you can keep the area around your sidewalks and house lit up at night so people can see where they are walking.