 |
| These boots are gorgeous, but hardly suitable for walking on winter ice. |
We all know how it is when you buy a gorgeous new pair of boots or shoes and you can’t wait to wear them. Although you may be set on showing those beautiful short leather boots off with their crystal-embellished buckle, thin stiletto heels of a safe 2-1/2-inches, you may want to rethink that decision during winter. When there is a chance of walking on ice on the roads or running into those slick black patches, you are taking a dangerous risk.
Before you leave the house, I suggest checking the soles of your boots or the shoes that you plan to wear first to prevent a possible tumble and trip to the emergency room on those snowy, icy days. Make sure that whatever boots or shoes that you want to wear have grooved bottoms for traction once your feet encounter those slick spots. Smooth flat soles will give you no help when walking on ice.
Maybe you hate wearing gloves and prefer sticking your hands in your coat or jacket pockets to keep them free. After all, you might be riding the bus and need quick access to your bus pass or money instead of fumbling for those things with gloves and a crowded bus. The problem is when your hands are inside the pockets, then you have less control balancing when suddenly meeting up with a slick spot. On the other hand, if you wore gloves and had your arms free then you could stick them out to balance yourself much easier.
Naturally, we all try to leave early to work on those bad winter days. Though your commute may get you to your destination without much of a delay, you still need to pace yourself and walk slower than usual when trying to make it to your office. Instead of being preoccupied with your smart phone, watch where you walk because there could be a white patch that you might miss.
Finally, you might want to change how you walk when walking on ice. Try shorter strides instead of longer ones that will keep your legs rooted to the ground more. Another thing that helps is putting your whole foot down as you step for distributing your weight for better control.
Sometimes, a little extra precaution when walking on ice can help keep you safer. After all, pain from an ice-related injury is not beautiful.
