I Dread Walking on Slippery Ice in the Winter

Snow. It sure looks pretty unless you have a disability. I love to watch the snow fall; add a hot drink and a good book, and I am happy until I need to venture outside.

Winter is not my favorite season. I dread most things about winter in Virginia. I do not mind the cold; it is the snow and ice that I dread. And ice terrifies me. I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and wear ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on my feet. I have balance issues with CMT, and I find walking on ice scary.

I know there are various devices and aids to make walking on ice easier. I have ice cleats that go over my boots, but they don’t always work. It’s hard to find sturdy boots that are not too heavy and that fit with the AFOs.

I found some tips online to help me stay safe on the ice, and I intend to try a few:

• Wear thick rubber-soled shoes.
• Add an ice pick to a cane.
• Wear a bulky coat to cushion me if I fall.
• Walk like a penguin, taking slow, small, and shuffling steps.
• Keep hands out of pockets.
• If I do fall, try to land on a fleshy part of my body.

I do have a cane, but I have not used it on ice. Perhaps I should start. Using a cane with an ice pick may make me feel more secure when walking across icy walkways. I have a bulky coat to keep me warm during recess duty at work (we go out unless it is below freezing). I need to figure out how to fall without getting hurt. Maybe I should aim to land on my bottom as my coat covers it and there is padding there.

I am grateful that my school district closes if there is a lot of snow or ice so that I do not have to go to work. The management at my apartment complex has the sidewalks and steps cleared. However, the plows tend to block the cars in, which means I need to dig out my car. My teenage son helps me by clearing a space around the car to create a path for me. We leave a little bit of snow on the path because snow is easier to walk on than ice. And if I fall, it’s softer.

Because it is snowing again, I guess we need to go and clean the car again. I hope there is no ice or that someone has put salt down. I will try some of those tips and wish for the best. Hope you stay warm and safe out there.

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