Morning frosts start suddenly here in the New England region. Here are practical tips for keeping safe if walking over ice without boots during the cold half of the year.
- Keep Your Weight Centered: Most people have a normal tendency to lean forward or backward while they walk. While walking over ice, however, it’s important to keep your weight as square over your hips as possible. Do this by straightening up your back.
- Think About the Force of Your Feet: You’ll be steady as long as you don’t ask too much of your sneakers’ treads. If you try for more force than the ice’s friction can supply, it’ll be a short fall towards a cold wall. Example: normally walking while leaning forward, a person keeps balance by pushing harder into her step to keep herself from falling forward. If you try to do that on a sheet of ice, however…
- Take Very Short Strides: This makes balancing and centering weight much easier (less ab-straining) and encourages light steps.
- Go Slowly and Maintain Concentration: Getting absent-minded about balance for even a short time could leave a bruise on your bum for weeks. Never rush across ice- you won’t have bruises, and you won’t feel foolish!