At Long Island Foot & Ankle Group, PC, we know that as temperatures drop and snow and ice fall, the risk of our patients slipping and injuring themselves goes up. What’s unfortunate is that many injuries that our foot and ankle surgeons Dr. Russell Caprioli, Dr. Mary Ann Bilotti, Dr. John Haight or Dr. Marzana Mleczko treat are caused by falls that could have been prevented. See if you recognize yourself in any of the following scenarios:
The Harried Shopper—it’s been a long day of running around the mall getting gifts for everyone on your list. But, if you just pick up those last few now, you won’t have to go out again tomorrow. As you leave the mall, it’s dark and your arms are full. You don’t properly judge where the curb is, and you can’t see it because there are too many packages in your arms. You misstep and twist your ankle.
The Distracted Doer—as you park the car and get out, you’re going over your list of errands and tasks to complete before the day is over. You hurriedly head to your office and fail to notice that one entrance has been salted and the other has not. Your feet go out from under you on the icy pavement and you fall.
The “No Compromises” Fashionista—holiday parties are so much fun! You’re dressed to impress all the way down to your high heels. You need to run into the store to pick up the cheese platter you promised to bring, but the sleety mix in the parking lot proves unfriendly to your footwear and down you go!
At this time of the year, it’s more important than ever to observe a few precautions:
Pay attention to where you are walking and look for slippery spots.
Don’t carry so many packages that you can’t see where you are going.
Wear shoes that are suitable for the weather—pack the party shoes and change when you arrive!
Slow down—a few minutes won’t make a difference to your party time or your task list, but it could save you from a fall.
If you do sustain an injury, seek treatment promptly. Contact our Valley Stream (516-825-4070 ) or Lake Success (516-327-0074) office as soon as possible.