advice on ice: from sk8r

[Sk8r]

Having gotten into my own little black ice adventure on the back walk [nope, I didn't fall down]...I thought it might be a timely moment, given a storm unsually far south, to give some tips on walking on ice.

1. don't. If you have the choice to stay in, just do.
2. respect it: Dick Button, one of our former Olympians, got caught by a patch outside his NYC brownstone and nearly killed himself. If you know there could be ice---test with a toe.
3. don't overload yourself with packages: you've got enough problems with balance.

All that's for avoiding it.
But say there was an ice storm while you were at work. Now you've got to reach your car---on a downhill.

4. walk very flatfooted, no toes, no heels, just whole foot down flat, and about 8" apart.
keep your feet pointed straight ahead, even if they start to slide with you. Do not flail with arms: hold your hands, if you can, palm down in front of you. Keep your knees a little bent, and use your leg muscles to keep the width of your stance exactly the same---ie, if your feet are going to slide, they should do it as a set, not independently. This also applies to the forward/back axis---don't let one foot get in front, or out to the side. Think of skiing. If you have to lean, lean forward, not back; but don't lean if you can avoid it. Just ride the slide until it stops, with feet set in position. Then take up flat-footed walking again, calmly.

5. Getting into car. Keep your feet at 8" apart and even and pointed forward. Move slowly, always flatfooted. Get a door open. Get in. Get home real soon.

Good luck, all.