Winter sidewalks might look manageable, but there could be ice you might not even see. Even a simple walk to work or the shop can quickly become dangerous, when a frozen surface combines with poor visibility or a rushed pace combine.
Choosing The Right Footwear For Icy Conditions
Before you go outside, the footwear you choose has an impact on how safely you’ll handle icy streets. If you have them, start with insulated boots to keep your feet warm, as cold and numb feet will react slower and be more likely to slip.
Look for footwear with deep tread patterns and rubber soles that are designed for winter, and you can even add a friction device over the shoes, like microspikes or coil grips, which will help you tread safely over the ice.
Choose footwear that has waterproof materials so the meltwater and slush won’t soak through your shoes and make your feet super cold. Ensure the footwear has good lacing and firm ankle support, to keep your feet and ankles supported if you do end up standing on an uneven or slippery section of path.
Why Small Changes In The Way You Walk Matter
The way you walk on ice is just as important as your footwear. You can reduce the risk of slipping with small changes in how you place your feet, your stride length and your body posture when walking.
If you take shorter steps, and place your whole foot down flat, it increases your contact with the ground, and that improves your stability.
Try and keep your center of gravity slightly forward, with your knees relaxed, so you keep your weight distribution over your feet, instead of being behind your feet, allowing you to react quickly if one of your feet start slipping.
Avoid locking your legs or leaning back while walking, as it’ll make it harder to control, if you do end up falling over.
Keep your hands out of your pockets, when walking, to help you balance, and let your arms move slightly as you walk.
How To Spot Hidden Ice Before It Catches You Out
Look several steps ahead of you, looking for dull or glassy sheens, or oddly smooth sections, as they could either be black ice patches or thin icy patches, which will be very slippery.
Check the recent weather conditions. If there’s been a quick thaw, followed by a drop below freezing, it’ll cause refrozen slick spots, especially overnight or early morning. When there’s been light rain, or melting snow, ice appears where the water usually pools, like curb ramps, driveway edges and around the drains.
Keep an eye out for reflective surfaces, as pavement that mirrors the streetlights or car headlights is often coated with ice, and will be slippery under foot.
What To Do With Your Hands For Better Balance
Keep your hands out of your pockets, hold them out, and keep them slightly away from your body. Holding your hands like this, widens your base of support, and helps you to react quickly, if one of your feet starts to slips.
Bend your elbows at about 90 degrees, and do gentle arm movements to counter your steps, like a relaxed and slower version of power-walking.
You can use your fingers for subtle grip enhancement, but lightly curling them, as if you’re holding something fragile. This activates the muscles up your arms into your core, and it’ll help stabilize your posture as you walk.
Avoid carrying anything heavy in one hand, as it could throw you off center. Try and split the weight between both of your hands, or wear a backpack, so the weight is evenly distributed.
