Health & Wellness

Safety tips for winter walking and snow shovelling

It’s important to wear proper footwear when walking on icy surfaces to prevent falling.

During the colder months it’s important to stay active and get fresh air. It’s also important to use caution in snowy or icy conditions to prevent injury from slipping or falling. You also need to be careful when shovelling your driveway.

 

Here are some tips to consider to stay on your feet

  • Choose the right footwear with a non-slip sole (check out www.ratemytreads.com for reliable information on the best winter footwear to buy)
  • Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going
  • Walk like a penguin (mimicking the tiny steps help you keep your balance and footing)
  • Keep your hands free
  • Remove snow and ice from walkways frequently (see tips below for shovelling)
  • Keep the exterior lights on at your home, choose well-lit pathways, or wear a headlamp, so you have clear vision
  • Scan for tripping hazards, black ice, and uneven surfaces
  • When you go out for a walk, carry a small plastic bag filled with sand or kitty litter in your pocket to sprinkle as needed on icy sidewalks

Learn some snow shovelling tips to keep your body strong and healthy

  • Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
  • Warm up before you begin, and stretch your muscles after
  • Don’t wait for the snow to stop falling – shovel early and often
  • Whenever possible, use a snow shovel to push, rather than lift, the snow
  • If you have to lift, use a smaller shovel, or only partially fill up the shovel
  • Lift the shovel with your legs and not your back
  • Don’t shovel to the point of exhaustion, take breaks
  • If you’re feeling faint or in pain, stop
  • Know the signs of a heart attack – and stop immediately if you feel chest pain

 

Stories@IH

Read our latest stories

View All Stories

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture
Closing the circle: Indigenous communities shaping future of CMH

IH’s CMH redevelopment team travelled around Cariboo to reconnect with Indigenous communities and share how their input is shaping the hospital's new building.

/stories/closing-circle-indigenous-communities-shaping-future-cmh

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture
What Worked for Me: Chris’s focus on daily skills helps recovery

Chris Turner turned to addiction as a teenager, but through his recovery has become a mentor to give hope to others battling addiction.

/stories/what-worked-me-chriss-focus-daily-skills-helps-recovery

5 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
How to walk, bike or roll to school safely

Find tips for walking, biking or rolling to school safely. Learn how to make it safer to travel to school in your community.

/stories/how-walk-bike-or-roll-school-safely

4 Minute Read
Community & Culture
We are IH: Retired nurse still makes difference in long-term care

For Kelli Hartman, nursing was never just a career choice. It was a calling. What she didn't expect was where that calling would take her.

/stories/we-are-ih-retired-nurse-still-makes-difference-long-term-care

5 Minute Read
Community & Culture
What Worked for Me: Sara’s journey from surviving to living

What worked for Saras addition recovery was the connections and relationships she formed at IH that changed her life.

/stories/what-worked-me-saras-journey-surviving-living

3 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
Knowing the signs of an opioid overdose could save a life

With B.C.’s ongoing toxic drug crisis., it’s more important than ever to know how to recognize the signs of an overdose and what to do if someone needs help.

/stories/knowing-signs-opioid-overdose-could-save-life

STAY CONNECTED

Receive news, alerts, public service announcements and articles right to your inbox.

Sign up today
mail