How To Enjoy The Snow And Ice Safely

By:John Myre

It seemed so simple and routine. All Thad had to do was walk down his short driveway incline and get the morning newspaper. However, during the night a winter storm had blanketed the world in a sheet of ice.

Thad slipped and slid down the hill, but try as he might he could not climb, or even crawl, back up the small incline. He called for help, and eventually his teenaged son came to his rescue, wearing golf cleats and lugging a garden hose.

Thad only suffered a bruised ego that morning. Mrs. Burns next door was not so lucky. She fell and broke her arm.

There is nothing prettier than a frozen world twinkling in the sun, but there are also few things more treacherous.

Staying On Your Feet

* Plan ahead. If you can, shop before the winter storm hits. After the storm, don't buy more than you can easily carry.

* Stay inside when there is ice on the ground. Most people fall while getting the mail, picking up the paper, or taking out the trash.

* Be very cautious with your first step onto slick surfaces. Sometimes it's hard to detect slippery surfaces, particularly at night. Use a flashlight.

* Walking on snow or ice, take it slow. Keep your body position slightly forward and put your feet down flat, not on the heels. Bend your knees and take short, slow steps. Or, move your feet forward without lifting them from the ground.

* Always wear shoes with good traction. (Thad had on his house slippers.) Snow boots, hiking boots, and tennis shoes are the best choices. Some people prefer strap-on ice cleats, or cleated golf shoes.

* If possible, walk on the grass.

* If you must walk in the streets, be careful around intersections; cars might slide through them.

* Keep looking ahead to avoid slick spots.

Sliding And Gliding

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates there are over 35,000 sled injuries and 50,000 ice skating injuries each year, including many serious head injuries and some fatalities.

Sledding

* Sled on spacious, gently sloping hills. Avoid sledding on overcrowded hills.

* Check slopes for bare spots, holes, and other obstructions that could cause injury, especially hazards that might be hidden by snow.

* Avoid slopes near streets and roads where your momentum could carry you into traffic.

* Be sure there is a level run-off at the end of the slide path so the sled can glide safely to a halt.

* Do not sled at night unless the run is well lighted.

* Ride a sled sitting, or lying down with your head to the rear. Snow disks and plastic sliders are designed for upright use.

* Always wear a helmet.

* If a spill is unavoidable, roll off the sled. Remember, don't collide head first!

* After the ride down, get off the slope and use a safe path to go up.

Ice Skating

When playing on the ice, follow these general guidelines:

* Skate in special, designated areas, such as indoor and outdoor rinks, or frozen, shallow ponds.

* The Canadian Red Cross recommends eight inches of ice thickness for skating groups.

* Never skate alone. Carry a cell phone for emergencies.

* Stay off the ice during thawing periods.

* When in doubt, check with local authorities. If you can't get a ruling, stay off the ice. Have a bonfire.

* Make sure their skates fit children now. Kids lose control in skates that are too big.

* Keep blades properly sharpened.

* Always wear a helmet. Children should also wear knee pads and wrist guards.

* Try not to break a fall with your hands, which could shatter a bone. Instead, try to land on your backside.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Safety, accident prevention, child safety, home safety, winter safety, sledding, ice skating

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles..

Top Outdoors Articles
1). Ken-Bar and Yerf Dog Quality Go Carts By : Mitch Johnson Consider the following Go Carts for your weekend pleasure..
2). Some Tips On Backpacking By : Stanley Emerson Travelers around the world enjoy seeing the sights and wonders of different places with only a backpack for all the things they need. Because they only have a pack on their backs, the possibilities of new sightseeing and activity adventures are limitless. But of course, before you head for a faraway hiking adventure with your backpack, you must make sure that you bring all the things you need to put in your backpack.
3). Fall Foliage Scenic Drive in Connecticut By : Cliff Calderwood Fall foliage scenic drives in Connecticut include the Long Island Sound coastal routes, and the Litchfield Hills in Northwestern Connecticut. These areas offer dramatic scenic drives any season, but for me, the trip that comes alive in the fall is nestled in eastern Connecticut’s "Quiet Corner" and is Route 169. This is a gem of a fall foliage scenic drive in Connecticut.
4). Vespa Scooters By : Mitch Johnson Consider the Grand Daddy of Scooters before you buy one.
5). What Is a Dunk Tank? By : Dunk tanks are fun at festivals and can rise a lot of money. Most dunk tanks are so easy to set up it only takes one person and it is easy to maintain and operate one as well
6). Barbecue Tips For Better Taste By : Daniel Roshard We all know that for some reason there are a lot of people that volunteer to be responsible for the grilling and barbecue at every event that has this option, and many times the barbecue is destroyed for a wide variety of reasons
7). Fun Things to do Outdoors with Your Family By : Barney Garcia Spending time with you family is vital for building healthy relationships with each other. Starting spending time with your kids when they are young will strengthen your relationship, get them physically active, and teach them how to have fun without video games or T.V.
8). African Safari Preparation By : Michael Russell If you are planning on going on an African safari, the last thing you would want to do is spoil the trip right out of the chute by forgetting some essential things. Make yourself a list of things to do and check everything off as you go along. There are some important things to consider before you head to Africa. You will want to wear comfortable, but protective clothing on your safari.
9). Surprises at every turn - coastal treasures, rugged Northern Cascades - amazing Northwest By : gordonh I couldn’t believe it. The big plan: stay in nice Bellingham, Washington motels, and alternate that with camping in the countryside slightly north of Bellingham. We were off to the coast to visit our little girl going to college in Bellingham, Washington at Western Washington University. We should have realized when we were getting camping reservations.
10). Hammock Care- Cleaning and storing hammocks with spreader bars. By : Neisha Bjorklund Don’t plan on machine washing these types of hammocks for they usually have non-removable spreader bars, which makes machine washing not possible. If you plan on hand washing these particular hammocks simply lay the hammock on your driveway or deck, any hard surface that is free of debris. Using a bucket of water with mild detergent, and a soft bristle brush, clean the hammock bed on one side, then flip the hammock and clean the other side the same way.

New Outdoors Articles
1). Essential Hiking Equipment For Your Safety By : Ken Snow Taking a hike means expecting the unexpected, so it is best to be prepared for some of the more common things that can occur on a daylong or weeks-long trek.
2). Enjoy Great Summer Activities in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains By : Shane Winter Park has so many outdoor activities to choose from, you could spend the whole summer here and never see and do everything. Regardless of the activity you choose, you will enjoy some of the most spectacular views of the Continental Divide that Colorado has to offer. A 600-mile trail system spreads throughout Winter Park and the Fraser Valley.
3). Hiking the Continental Divide in Winter Park, Colorado By : Shane 600 miles of trails stretch throughout Winter Park and the Fraser Valley. Whether you choose to follow a babbling brook, stroll through a wildflower meadow, or climb up the side of a mountain, Winter Park offers hiking for every skill level. Winter Park Resort has 50 miles of trails that are accessible by chair lift. At the top of the lift you will find the Sunspot, which is a great place to get a bite to eat and enjoy the 360-degree views of surrounding mountains.
4). A Few Words In Praise of Birds By : Barbara Freedman-De Vito Why do birds appeal to us ? Most people enjoy the sight of birds, even people who have never been active birdwatchers. Although birds are less like us in appearance and habits than our fellow mammals, birds undeniably hold a special place in our hearts. One reason that birds capture our imaginations is that they can fly, while we remain trapped here on earth.
5). Tents By : Puja Tents are used for any occasion and event. You can look tent as an open-air shaded pavilion, or a climate controlled banquet hall, practically overnight. It can be used to complete any of your goals regarding outdoor events. Tents are used for events, meetings, weddings, parties, and promotions. Tents are not only a shelter but provide elaborate and elegant environment.
6). Party tents By : Puja Tents can play a big part in any event. Whether it is to keep the participants dry in the rain or provide cool shade in the sun. Party tents are extremely versatile shelters for outdoors and backyard events. Weather there is wedding, birthday party, celebration, block party, an outdoors wedding/reception or simply get-together picnic for that party tents are best.
7). Easy Camping Food: Devour Delicious and Easy Camping Food in Minutes By : Karin Manning Copyright 2006 Karin Manning It’s true. You too can now enjoy the same quality meals you enjoy in your home kitchen in your campfire kitchen with little fuss. Meals around the campfire are just as much the centre of camping life as meals around the kitchen bench at home. It’s possible to unleash the gourmet campfire chef within you when you know how to make your campfire work for you! For an experienced outdoorsman, the key to good outdoor cooking is both simplicity and creativity.
8). Adventure Summer Camps - Tips For Finding The Best Ones By : Oliver Turner The true reason behind any adventure summer camps is to send the children somewhere where they will not only have a great time but will learn and grow as a person. The adventure summer camp programs that you are searching, should offer a wide range of adventurous activities to choose from. If the summer camp is a special type camp, then their summer camp programs must focus on the specialty areas.
9). Moonlight Hiking By : Steve Gillman I started moonlight hiking when I was a teenager prowling the streets and fields of Michigan. I later found that if I timed my backpacking trips to coincide with a full moon, I could hike every night. The two primary motivations for doing this are the adventure and mystery of night hiking, as well as the practical advantages that it has. Moonlight Hiking - A Unique Experience It's a great experience to hike away the hours of the night under a full moon.
10). Riding the trains in Italy By : Katy Hyslop The first time I arrived in Italy by train it felt completely different to anywhere I’d travelled already. It was the summer of 2000 and I had been travelling for a nearly 2 weeks. I was more than relieved when the train pulled out of Nice on that bright August morning, what a misnomer, Nice was in my eyes not very nice at all. So when the train wound.