Keeping Safe

Mother Nature must be angry as she is really packing a punch this winter. We are only one third through winter and whether you reside in the Northeast, the South or the Midwest we have had a snow or ice storm every week.

Last weekend it was very disturbing to hear in the local news that a woman had frozen to death in her driveway. It appears that she stepped outside to do something – slipped – hit her head and was not found for a couple of days. With the cold, snow and ice she literally “froze to death”. This particularly hits home as a couple of years ago I was leaving for a business trip; and' as I was walking to the car service I slipped on black ice and hit my head on the asphalt. I was lucky that the car driver was there and helped me up; but, it is something I worry about as my steps are icy every single morning.

This is the time of year when we can have many injuries; from back pain due to shoveling snow or a broken ankle, wrist or hip from falling on black ice. As we get older we are not be as agile or properly reactive when we anticipate a fall; in fact, we stiffen up and that is how we either get injured or break something.

There is something called “reactive training”. What is it? Reactive training is defined as quick, powerful movements involving an eccentric contraction (force reduction) followed immediately by an explosive concentric contraction (force production), http://pressrepublican.com/health_advice/x675533244/Reactive-training-helps-prevent-injury. An example would be jumping up on a step box or jumping down from a step box with stabilization. What is stabilization? It requires you to hold your body and decelerate quickly from the momentum and keeping postural alignment being able to land properly in a controlled manner. Landing properly is knees bent, feet flat, etc. As we continue to deal with the cold, snow and ice, remember:

1. Bend your knees when shoveling snow; don’t pick up anything too heavy – pick up manageable amounts of snow and shovel in a rhythm not in jerky
motions
2. Always wear gloves, a hat, scarf and boots – keep your extremities warm as that is where heat escapes
3. When you come in, drink water – rehydrate as you perspired while working outside
4. Moisturize your face, lips and hands they have been exposed to the sun, cold and wind.

Not only do you need to focus on your reactive training; but, more importantly if you live alone have you set up a communication mechanism so that people know that you are okay or that you might be in trouble? Do you follow a routine? Email or call someone daily? Do they know if you are going to be home or away? Do you walk outside and have your house keys or cell phone?

Think of the woman who “froze to death” if she had her cell phone she could have dialed 911, a family member or friend or if she had her keys with her she could have pressed the panic button on her car keys which might have bought her neighbors to her rescue. Put into place some routines which will keep you safe for the next couple of months:

1. When you step outside whether to get your mail or throw out the garbage, take your keys and cell phone
2. Have a routine where you either call or email a friend or family member daily – when they don’t receive that call or email it can alert them that something is wrong
3. If you are driving have water, a blanket and your cell phone charger in your car
4. If you are stuck in snow make sure you clear your exhaust pipe before continuing to run the car – you don’t want carbon monoxide killing you.

This was not an “upbeat” blog; but, it was written to ensure that each of you remains safe as we continue to deal with a very cold and brutal winter.

Only 8 more weeks until Spring!!