As winter unfolds its chilly embrace, the threat of slips, trips, and falls becomes more pronounced, with icy surfaces presenting a particular hazard. Embracing these five straightforward strategies can significantly diminish the risk of winter-related falls, ensuring a safer season for everyone.

• Seek a Falls Risk Screening: During your next visit to your primary care provider, advocate for a falls risk screening, such as the STEADI fall risk screening. Utilize the results as a foundation for discussions about concerns and strategies to mitigate risk with your doctor, friends, and family. Consider taking the Falls Free CheckUp before your appointment as a valuable starting point.

• Carry Kitty Litter for Slick Surfaces: Arm yourself with a small bag of lightweight kitty litter, easily stowed in your pocket. Cast it out ahead of you as you navigate icy surfaces, providing an additional layer of traction and stability.

• Add Fall Prevention Tips to Your Shopping List: Options include motion-sensored fall alarm systems, higher toilet seats, multifocal glasses with single vision lenses, grab bars, firm stair railings, well-lit stairways and entrances, a table for setting down bags while finding keys, and flashlights to attach to keys, hats, and coat buttons.

• "Winterize" Footwear and Assistive Devices: Upgrade your shoes, boots, and assistive devices for winter safety.

• Attach spikeless ice and snow shoe gripper sole covers to enhance stability on slippery surfaces, available at sporting goods stores.

• Opt for winter shoes with rubber soles to maintain traction on icy terrain.

• Secure an ice gripper cane tip featuring spikes for penetration into ice, ensuring a secure grip. These can be conveniently purchased online.

• Navigate Snow Safely with a Wheelchair: For those using wheelchairs, adapt and ensure safety in snowy conditions with these tips.

• In the relentless battle against winter falls, incorporating these measures can substantially fortify your defense, allowing for a more secure and accident-free winter season.

Source: Mindy Oxman Renfro, PT, PhD, DPT,  https://www.ncoa.org/article/winterize-to-prevent-falls?fbclid=IwAR0kTGGVpFkCMArFiT3eNxGhqXCxUc533cCAOVFV0Kgu6eMiDUqevPbiCyk