Avoid icy mishaps: Expert tips for fall prevention in Tri-Cities' winter

Tri-Cities, Wash. — Slick roads and sidewalks around the Tri-Cities as snow and ice continues. Thursday afternoon, Action News spoke with local and state health officials about how to avoid a fall.

Doctors from the Fall Prevention Clinic at Harborview say falling on an icy surface can result in a variety of injuries. Dr. Elizabeth Phelan, Director of the Fall Prevention Clinic at Harborview, UW Medicine, says. "People who are traversing snow and ice are, even if they have the best balance in the world, they're equally prone to having a fall. The injuries are full range. So, everything from back injuries, soft tissue injuries, head injuries, to fractures – and the fractures can involve the upper extremity, people falling on outstretched hands break their wrists."

Leaders from the Benton-Franklin Health District say there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of falls when out on the streets.

Doctors and health leaders say in younger adults, ankle fractures are the most common, and in older adults, hip fractures are what emergency rooms see most. Dr. Phelan, says. "The peak of the timing of injuries and people showing up for injury care has found that the injuries occur anywhere from 5 to 8 days after an ice or snow event."

Joel Erickson, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at the Benton-Franklin Health District, says. "First and foremost, take your time, making sure that you're allotting plenty of time when you're going to the grocery store, or going out to get the mail. Just giving yourself extra time. It's important to stick to pathways that are clear, or have salt or sand. If able, it's important t wear shoes that have extra traction. I think we can all attest that it's very hard to see the ice sometimes, and it can be unexpected. So trying to limit your distractions as much as you can."

Research out of Nordic countries, and the UK shows the number of emergency room visits double to triple due to falls from ice and snow. Leaders say if you do take a tumble, there are things to remember which could help reduce the injury.

"The best way to fall if you can, is sequentially, and trying not to use your arms as much as you can. So if you do feel yourself falling, trying to go down onto your thigh, onto your hip, and then on to your shoulder. It's important to protect your head to prevent any sort of head injury, or traumatic brain injuries." says, Erickson.

Health District leaders say it's also important to clear sidewalks and driveways for pedestrians, and say especially in these temperatures to check on our neighbors and elderly, and offer a hand to help if you can.

You can find more about Winter Weather Preparedness from the Benton-Franklin Health District here.

You can find a full list of shelters to get out of the cold below.