New warnings for citizens for safe walking on ice during winter months
Due to increasingly severe cold weather conditions and icing, notable measures have come to the fore to ensure that the public can walk safely during the winter months.
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Snowfall and - especially in the Northern Hemisphere - icing cause thousands of people to be injured every year. While experts offer different solutions to prevent such accidents, the "walk like a penguin" model is currently quite popular all over the world.
Following icing warnings that have reached dangerous levels due to cold weather, particularly in England, Scotland, and Wales, authorities are sharing unconventional but proven advice with citizens. Experts state that the number of people who apply to hospitals as a result of falls caused by slipping on ice is more than 7 thousand per year in the United Kingdom alone.
"PENGUIN WALK" REDUCES THE RISK OF FALLING
The "penguin-style walk," which has gone viral in the last few years and has been added to the recommendation lists of health authorities, aims to prevent injuries on icy surfaces. Health officials emphasize that this method distributes body weight more safely and balanced, and thus can help reduce hip and wrist fractures caused by falls.
Experts draw attention to the importance of this technique, especially for elderly individuals and in situations where balance is difficult to maintain. Their suggestion is as follows: "It may look ridiculous from the outside, but walking like a penguin prevents hip and wrist fractures because it distributes body weight evenly. Find yourself a 'waddle-walking buddy' and get through this winter without injury."
Applying this method is quite easy: Moving with knees slightly bent, keeping hands out of pockets, and taking small steps are among the main principles.
Turkey has also had its share of winter conditions. The cold weather and icing warnings issued repeatedly by the General Directorate of Meteorology are showing their effect in Istanbul, Ankara, and the Eastern Anatolia regions. Following the increasing number of cases, health experts in Turkey are also calling on citizens to walk "like a penguin." It is aimed to reduce injuries caused by slipping on ice, which are frequently encountered in emergency services throughout the year, with this method.
In addition to classic warnings such as being extra careful in daily movements both in transportation and as a pedestrian during this period, and never walking with hands in pockets, citizens are also asked to adopt the "penguin walk." Thus, it is expected that cases of falling on ice, which are among the most common accidents of the winter months, will be prevented.