Since Friday REMSA has responded to 70 different reports of people falling on ice, and now they want to remind the public of the dangers of walking on ice.

Washoe and surrounding counties were hit with multiple inches of snow over the past few days, and it not only made the ground slick for drivers but also for pedestrians, "when you slip and fall and hit your head obviously that is pretty dangerous. for the elderly we worry about a hip fracture," says Adam Heinz, Director of Clinical Communication for REMSA.

REMSA recommends:

  1. Wear boots or overshoes with good treads. Slick leather or plastic soles on shoes may increase the risk of slipping.
  2. Don't walk with your hands in your pockets. This reduces the ability to use your arms for balance if you do slip.
  3. Take short shuffling steps in very icy areas.
  4. Don't carry or swing heavy loads, such as large boxes, cases or purses that may cause you to become off balance when you are walking.
  5. When walking, curl your toes under and walk as flat-footed as possible.
  6. Don't step on uneven surfaces. Avoid curbs with ice on them.
  7. Place your full attention on walking. Digging in your pocketbook or backpack while walking on ice is dangerous.

Plus with all that snow home owners were spending their days shoveling, REMSA wants to remind the public to check on your elderly neighbors, "They haven't done any exercise in a while and they go and shovel snow. they then have chest pain and have a heart attack," says Heniz.

When approaching an individual who has sustained a serious injury and needs medical attention, the following tips should be used:

  • Call 9-1-1.
  • Do not move an injured person until medical assistance arrives unless there is a real danger of further injury (e.g. moving traffic).
  •  If you must move the victim, move the person as a whole, protect the victim's head at all times and watch where you are going.
  • Support every part of the body if circumstances require you to lift the victim. Keep the victim's body in a straight line, do not bend them. Always use your legs, not your back, while lifting or pulling.Â