Winter weather brings risk of falls, injuries - safety tips from University of Mo. Health Care

Winter weather brings risk of falls, injuries

With the threat of more severe winter weather, physicians at University of Missouri Health Care are reminding everyone of some important safety tips to avoid accidents on the snow and ice. This weekend, University Hospital’s Emergency Room treated dozens of patients with injuries resulting from weather-related slips, falls and automobile accidents.

“Many of the injuries we treated this weekend were sprains, broken bones or head injuries that resulted from falls on the slick sidewalks and streets,” said John Yanos, M.D., University of Missouri Health Care physician and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the MU School of Medicine.

Yanos advises people to stay home to prevent winter weather accidents and injuries. If you must leave your home, go slow and take extra precautions in icy areas.

“The elderly are most at risk for fall injuries,” said Yanos. “If possible, they should avoid going outdoors in any winter weather event.”

Here are a few important winter walking tips to remember:

Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.
Wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice.
Avoid high-heeled, plastic and leather soled shoes.
Walk flat-footed.
Move at a comfortable speed and shorten the length of your step.
Keep both hands free for balance, rather than in your pockets.
Use handrails when available.
Walk in designated walkways as much as possible.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Avoid walking on snow and ice piles where removal has not taken place.

University Hospital and Clinics, a part of the University of Missouri Health Care system, serves patients from every county in Missouri. The 274-bed hospital specializes in treating the most severe illnesses and injuries, offering the only Level I trauma center in mid-Missouri, intensive care units and highly specialized medical and surgical services.

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