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How to Avoid Slip & Fall Injuries This Winter

Winter is in full swing and with it comes seasonal hazards and slippery conditions. The latest Bernstein Blog has some helpful tips to help you avoid Slip & Fall Injuries.

 

Winter is in full swing and with it comes seasonal hazards and slippery conditions. Snow, ice and sleet are the major culprits in winter slips and falls, along with improperly cleared roads and walkways. The same ingredients that make for fun, also make for walking hazards. Caution is key in slippery, winter conditions.

It is not uncommon to see a rise in emergency room visits from slips and falls after a snow or ice storm. Injuries from these falls include: wrist and hip fractures, sprains, and ligament and tendon damage. Head injuries are also common.

To avoid a trip to the emergency room, try to stay inside until roads and walkways are cleared. If that is not possible, use extra caution and wear footwear with stability and traction.

When temperatures rise during the day, remember they will drop as soon as the sun goes down. This can create unexpected spots of ice where there wasn’t any earlier in the day. Be sure to look out for hazardous black ice and snow covered ice on roads, sidewalks and uneven surfaces that have not been properly salted or plowed.  Always be on the look out for unsafe areas when walking.

Tips for avoiding a slip or fall:

  • Wear winter footwear that provides support and traction. Do not wear shoes or boots with smooth soles. Bring them along and change into them when you reach your destination.
  • Look ahead when you are walking and plan a route if you need to avoid slippery sidewalks. Walking on the perimeter can help, as there could be more traction on grassy edges.
  • Do not take shortcuts over snow piles or un-shoveled areas.
  • Use hand rails along outdoor stairs and walkways.
  • When getting out of the car or truck, use the door for support.
  • Try not to carry bulky packages or backpacks which can throw off your balance.
  • If you do feel yourself falling, relax your muscles and try to land on your side. This can help to prevent wrist or hip fractures.
  • Keep your own driveway and walkways cleared and salted.

 

If it is unavoidable to cross a slippery area, the best way is to shuffle. To do this is, keep your head up, point your feet out, put your arms out for added balance then, take very short steps barely lifting your feet from the surface. This can give you a little added stability. Have a safe and slip free winter.

For more Bernstein Blogs, please visit callsam.com/blog

Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 04:02 pm
If you, or anyone else, is really "blogging" just for the purpose of giving useful advice then you don't need to include your contact information. People can comment on your posts, if need be. By putting your contact information it makes it look like you are really soliciting business, which is honestly what you're trying to do. I doubt if you would be "blogging" if you didn't have a business that you were trying to promote!
todd b March 4, 2013 at 04:12 pm
MRPC 7.1 are Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct governing promotion of attorney services. I feel infomercial content in this blog crosses the guidelines for such marketing. MRPC 7.1 clearly defines that attorneys in the State of Michigan can't use/infer the words expert, certified or specialist in any promotional message they make unless such claim is backed by verifiable facts validated by a reputable & independent organization. The advice itself in this infomercial is not objectionable ... but infers specific expertise by the author on Winter outdoor walking safety, defining with great clarity exactly what to do and not to do. Does the author have independent certification as an expert for such recommendations? If certification exists, it is clearly not defined in this infomercial. I contend this effort is just manipulation of a free medium to create top-of-mind brand (name) awareness. I would hope the Patch strongly condemns this type of 'infomercial' in the future. At a minimum, the Patch should mandate that the sponsor provides certified references backing the claim (advice) they are providing.
It is bad enough the general public has to put up with ubiquitous and relentless "paid" advertising on the subject of how to sue, but allowing free messages to now penetrate another layer of consumer armor with content stretching governance on the topic has gone too far. I would encourage all readers to review MRPC 7.1, form your own opinion and become vocal on the topic.
Paul R. March 4, 2013 at 04:27 pm
9 posts (and counting) from the Travel Agent shill on the Attorney shill's blog. Maybe the Attorney shill will slap a cease and desist order on her to prevent hijacking and dominating this string. We can only hope.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 04:34 pm
"Local Voices" is meant for true blogging. Like I stated, the only reason you are "blogging" is to drum up business! Plain and simple. If you weren't running a business you wouldn't be blogging. And, like you stated, "It's a great way to promote local small business". Glad to see you finally fessed up that you are really just trying to promote your business.
Mark Itall March 4, 2013 at 04:48 pm
Biased editorials is a silly comment. All editorials are inherently biased. Has nothing to do with the Detroit News not publishing daily print anymore. Same with the Freep.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 04:54 pm
Meredith, where did your comment go? Why did you delete it? Is it because you realized that saying "It's a great way to promote local small business" hurt your stance that you're only "blogging" to provide hard-to-get information for people and supported the point others, like myself, are making that you're only blogging to drum up business? Oops!
Meredith McCutcheon March 4, 2013 at 05:07 pm
Hi Geoff. I honestly don't know what happened. I completely stand by what I said. As far as I understood it, the "Local Voices" section of the Patch allows ANYONE to share their expertise...including, but not limited to, small business owners. I LOVE reading the blogs in this section, because I learn something new all of the time. If I'm not interested in a particular topic, I skip it, but I never feel the need to attack the author. I appreciate the fact that they're sharing their expertise to begin with. And if the author happens to be a small-business owner, I want to know about it because I I'd rather patronize a local small business than a big corporation, and I know that many people share this sentiment. I think that the Patch does a great job of supporting small business (by profiling them, etc.), as do many local news publications, which I appreciate. So, yes, promoting small businesses is a good thing. There's nothing wrong with that. It strengthens our communities. And if readers would like to patronize our business, that's not a bad thing. If they don't want to, that's fine, too. I'm honestly still glad to have the opportunity to share information about something that I love with my neighbors...because that's what we all are, really. Thanks, Geoff!
Shawn Letwin March 4, 2013 at 05:09 pm
Sorry to get off topic of this article, but when did Mill Creek get a new Assistant Principal? What happened to the prior Assistant Principal?
Why is he blogging for an organization different than the school district? Why does he currently run a wellness program three days a week for all faculty and staff of Dexter Schools? That leaves only two days worth of work as the assistant principal at a school that is in the top 10% of the state with an achievement gap...incredible strategy to address that issue...not. Why does the district pay for this type of administrative position? When does the district become on the hook financially for the 5 Communities director? How much will that be? Why are school district facilities being used for this meeting? Is Cobler's role on the School Board and the CWF board a conflict of interest? Maybe the program is a good one, but the interconnectedness with the school district and CWF is too interwoven between paid public employees, elected public servants, locally owned school district properties and the foundation. I would have posted under the Local Voices article for this blog, but it did not have a "Leave a Comment" like some of the other business/local voices blogs. Why?
Kate March 4, 2013 at 05:18 pm
Sponsors/advertising are everywhere in media, this is nothing new. Stop acting like it's The Worst Thing Ever.
These are tips, no one is forcing anyone to 'Call Sam'.
Joshua Raymond March 4, 2013 at 05:21 pm
I enjoy reading Meredith's posts and have found them helpful. She is great about promptly answering questions regarding Disney and has a lot of information to share. In planning a trip to Disney, I've read many blogs and asked many questions and easily found Meredith the blogger who responds quickest.
She has been very helpful even though I have not spent a cent with her company. I prefer to do my own planning and booking, but if someone is looking to use a travel agent for Disney, I would absolutely recommend her. She's local, professional, prompt, and knowledgeable. I happen to enjoy reading a local blog by an industry expert. I would like to see more of them. Perhaps a compromise would be a section called "Industry Experts". Then I enjoy content I like and anyone who wants to skip it has been forewarned.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 05:31 pm
Michelle, interesting that you have issues with my dialogue with Meredith and then go and suggest the Bernstein's "take this post down" and "close the conversation". My point is that if small businesses want to advertise, then advertise! Unfortunately, you need to pay for advertising because, guess what, Patch isn't providing this service for free. They have employees to pay, bills to pay, etc. not just the small businesses that abuse their wonderful service by saying they're just "blogging".
John David March 4, 2013 at 05:33 pm
Todd,
MRPC 7.1 is about law firms making claims about their legal services. This blog item does not mention any service, only advice on how to avoid slips on ice. No service claims nor claims of expertise. Also, your paraphrasing appears to be imprecise. I've attached a link to MRPC 7.1 and the text of 7.1. As you say, the blog has unobjectionable content, but in no way appears to not comply with the MPRC. http://www.law.cornell.edu/ethics/mi/code/MI_CODE.HTM#Rule_7.1 A lawyer may, on the lawyer's own behalf, on behalf of a partner or associate, or on behalf of any other lawyer affiliated with the lawyer or the lawyer's law firm, use or participate in the use of any form of public communication that is not false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive. A communication shall not: (a) contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a fact necessary to make the statement considered as a whole not materially misleading; (b) be likely to create an unjustified expectation about results the lawyer can achieve, or state or imply that the lawyer can achieve results by means that violate the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law; or (c) compares the lawyer's services with other lawyers' services, unless the comparison can be factually substantiated.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 05:34 pm
Kate, drugs like K-2 are nothing new either. So I guess we should just ignore them as well. Wrong is wrong.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 06:02 pm
michelle, you have the same freedom to not read my comments and move on to the next one that interests you that you say I have. It's also funny that you cared enough about me to look me up. Just one question, why is it okay for you to attack people expressing their opinions at the same time you don't like it when they do the same?
michelle March 4, 2013 at 06:26 pm
You are welcome Meredith! Keep it up. Maybe you would be more welcome in Trenton/Downriver blogs since we are a small community who values our small businesses more. I know most of my fellow Trenton Patch readers truly enjoy hearing about local businesses, who they are and what they do. They are welcome in our community in every shape and form. They get highlighted weekly so we can support each other.
I'm sorry you have had such an unpleasant response from people. You are a local voice, you do have the experience to make your blog of value and never once did I feel I had to buy anything you were selling. I learned a lot from you and the people who comment on your articles. I took down my other comments because I let the nastiness creep in when all I really want to see is a pleasant experience on here not a negative one. We should all have a voice and I hope you can tune out the negative ones like I choose to do from now on.
Sandy Wood March 4, 2013 at 06:37 pm
Geoff, it's because you're NOT stating an opinion. You're trying to dictate. Your comments say things like:
+++ "Local Voices" is meant for true blogging. and ...Patch isn't providing this service [advertising] for free. and If you, or anyone else, is really "blogging" just for the purpose of giving useful advice then you don't need to include your contact information. +++ None of those statements say "should" or "in my opinion" or "I think that..." You're trying to tell an organization you have nothing to do with - and pay nothing for - how to run its business. The only people who have the right to say what Patch should or should not be publishing - and what the various sections of their site are intended for - are the owners and employees of the Patch.
Gerry S March 4, 2013 at 06:48 pm
For the love of god please delete this thread...
GP For Life March 4, 2013 at 06:50 pm
Please close this abomination of a thread. Seriously, let the ambulance chasing happen in the physical world and not this one.
Ronald Wolf March 4, 2013 at 06:58 pm
I expected my remarks to snowball but not an avalanche! Now every lawyer in town is going to post advice!
Ronald Wolf March 4, 2013 at 07:15 pm
Good advice for ice fishing Mark but black ice slips are too often "noseeums", especially at night in front of stores who do not salt proactively, so by the time you realize you are on ice you are already airborne. The city to save themselves from costly "SAMS" should post a site directed at business owners, or minimally fine those that do not salt. That would do a lot more than forcing residents to replace at their expense entire slabs. Maybe the Oak tree symbol of our city should be replaced by a money tree that our commission and city mangager thinks every resident has.
Ronald Wolf March 4, 2013 at 07:37 pm
acro (is that ok for short?) You are so correct. There should be a law against lawyers who encourage lawsuits for their own enrichment. Who pays for it all, the consumer, with higher prices at the stores, for services, for insurance.
Fat chance as the courts would probably end up clogged with so many protesting lawyers complaining about a violation of their first amendment right there would no room for genuine complaints. I have a divorced friend suffering from a painful rare spinal condition who has been waiting for years for a judge only because hundreds of legal greedheads are encouraging the unemployed to explore social security disability as an option with slick television adds. Ditto with medical supply parasites draining medicare and medicaid. If Shakespeare were alive today he would write a new tragedy involving the fall of a great country based on slip and fall and malpractice lawyers.
Kate March 4, 2013 at 07:38 pm
Yes, compare drugs to advertising. That makes absolutely no sense, Geoff.
Make sure you don't watch television, read a newspaper, magazine, look at a billboard, listen to the radio, etc. Because, advertising is everywhere. Sorry. It's probably what helps these blogs stay afloat. Y'know, the blogs that you're reading and complaining about, when you really could just stop complaining and read something else.
Brooke Tajer (Editor) March 4, 2013 at 07:52 pm
Hi Shawn, I'm not sure why you were unable to leave a comment there... but you should be able to now. Here is the link: http://dexter.patch.com/blog_posts/the-dexter-wellness-coalition-is-making-moves-and-needs-you. Thanks! And let me know if you have any other issues.
Jade March 4, 2013 at 08:16 pm
After the travel agent posted her ninth post on this thread, I poked my eyes out. Someone tell me what is happening here.
Kate March 4, 2013 at 08:22 pm
Geoff, ya know what I'm not doing? Acting like a big old Grinch over something that is completely, and utterly unimportant in the grand scheme of things. These ornery comments are silly. Go outside, have a donut, have a good day instead of nit-picking ridiculous things.
Jade March 4, 2013 at 08:24 pm
Was this one of the signs of the Apocolypse?
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 08:25 pm
If everyone switches to blogging and they stop paying for advertising how long do you think the Patch will survive? Thank's for making my point.
Geoff Hoffman March 4, 2013 at 08:29 pm
You're right your "ornery comments are silly".
Brooke Tajer (Editor) March 4, 2013 at 08:34 pm
Thank you all for the interesting comments. Because we have gone so far off topic, the comments on this thread are now being closed. Thanks!
movinon March 4, 2013 at 08:35 pm
Meredith, I applaud your tenacity & composure as you continue to blog on this 'community' based business known as Patch. Never surrender!
As if this free online resource somehow belongs to the people, the people want to run it. I'm not sure who decided to pronounce themselves "king" of Patch, but if you are from Fenton you would know that we already have a "king" who thinks he runs the town. That could be some of the problem here. I think the "Patch" is next to a bald spot on most of the comment contributors sun burnt heads.AOL owns this place. They are not in it for enjoyment, yours or anyone else's. Like everything else that seems to start out great you will see this Patch experience move toward AOL's prime directive. That is the indoctrination of smaller mindset's, more control over people's opinions, and their assets. Corporations are after ALL 'people'. Citizens United. Speaking of laws...someone up there ^ mentioned the Bernstein Bears can charge whatever they like. That isn't true. They are limited by law to taking most of the profit... but anyway...thinking because you are free to badger people here you somehow have a say in what is published here is just....hysterical!!! They can & will allow you to ruin peoples sleep & reputation if it draws enough attention to the site. Page hits for advertisers. That behavior will be reined in by the occasional lawsuit but money is no object for 'them', or should I say 'It'. Who owns AOL? It own's you.

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grama June 12, 2013 at 05:12 pm
I don't know what to "click" on to find the garage sales. They used to be "rightRead More there" when I opened the Patch email everyday. I am assuming they are now listed under something else and I guess I need instructions as to where to find it and what to click on to get to them. thanks
Joni Hubred-Golden (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 08:56 pm
Grama, in addition to our Thursday map, you can click on the Events link at the top of the page, andRead More along the left side, you'll see "Garage Sales". Just click on that, and you'll see all the listings. They should be among the events in our newsletter, too. Hope that helps!
grama June 14, 2013 at 07:39 am
I see a garage sale listed in today's upcoming events. That's great. I didn't have to keepRead More clicking on stuff to find it. Keep it up. Thanks.!!