When it s snowing, you have to walk like a penguin .

Mondo Social Updated on 2024-01-29

With the overnight snowfall, the snow scenes full of charm in Henan have been swiped. However, the slippery road surface on snowy days also brings certain safety hazards to travel.

According to the data of outpatient clinics in various regions, the day of snow and about 3 days after the snow are the most common periods for fractures and falls. So, what are the precautions for traveling after the snow?What should I do if I fall?Check out this "anti-fall cheats"!

Tip 1: Walk like a "penguin".

After snowfall, the temperature plummets, the road surface is slippery, and pedestrians are prone to falling. There is a common misconception here that needs to be reminded, that is, try not to put your hands in your pockets when going out after snow. Feng Shuai, attending physician of the Department of Hand and Foot Microscopy and Wound Repair of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, reminded that because of the low temperature in winter, people have the Xi of putting their hands in their pockets when walking, but in fact, this practice is not correct, because once they fall, their hands cannot play a supporting and protective role.

Feng Shuai. When walking, people usually put their weight between their legs. Because the legs are at an angled to the ground, it is easy to fall backwards on snowy or icy roads.

Schematic diagram of walking posture, source network.

Adjust your walking posture to greatly reduce the probability of falling. We can refer to the appearance of penguins walking, with their arms stretched out at their sides, their feet in a figure-eight shape, and their knees slightly flexed, walking forward in small steps. Feng Shuai said that when walking on the snow, you should move your center of gravity forward, try to let the soles of your feet touch the ground, and let your calves be perpendicular to the ground.

At the same time, it is recommended to avoid smooth pavements such as marble, tile, and ice as much as possible. Feng Shuai said that the elderly should try to avoid traveling after the snow, and if they need to go out, try to be accompanied by family members. Depending on the physical condition, crutches and other assistive devices can also be used.

Tip 2: After a fall, the wrist, hip, and ankle joints are most likely to be fractured.

The 3 most common areas to fracture after a fall are the wrist, hip, and ankle. Feng Shuai told reporters that most people's first reaction after slipping is to use their hands to support the ground, which will cause the force of the fall to be transmitted through the wrist to the forearm, resulting in a fracture of the distal radius. Therefore, the most common type of post-snow fracture is a wrist fracture.

Schematic diagram of an ankle sprain. The picture shows the hand-drawn hand and foot microscopic and wound repair surgeon of Henan Provincial People's Hospital.

The soft tissues of the buttocks are thicker, and if you accidentally fall, the correct thing to do is to try to let the buttocks hit the ground first, reducing or avoiding upper limb support. Feng Shuai said that the correct way to do after a fall is to observe the injury in situ first. If there is no pain in the neck, you can move your head slightly and then try to support the ground with your hands.

After falling, you should keep in mind the principle of "head and neck back pain, don't move for the time being, wait for rescue, and avoid aggravation", if a part of the injured part is very painful, do not force support, incorrect movement may cause the fracture to aggravate the displacement.

Feng Shuai reminded that if the injured part is in the spine and head and neck, do not move the patient at will, it is very easy to bring secondary injury, and in severe cases, it will even lead to paralysis of the limbs.

Tip 3: Use warm clothes and non-slip shoes to unlock equipment bonuses.

If you do want to go out, be prepared for non-slip.

Shi Mingwei's work photo.

The road surface is easy to slip on snowy days, so choose a pair of shoes with anti-slip features. Shi Mingwei, director of the Department of Preventive Treatment of Diseases (Comprehensive ** District) of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, suggested that it is best to wear a pair of high-top non-slip shoes, which can protect the ankle and prevent slip. Ladies should not wear high heels.

After the snow, pedestrians on the road wear thick clothing.

It's also important to choose thick clothing. Shi Mingwei said that you can wear warm clothes, hats, gloves and other warm supplies. It is important to note that the pants should not be too long to avoid stepping on the hem and falling.

Tip 4: Be wary of snow blindness and always "eye" to protect your eyes.

Some netizens said that they would feel uncomfortable in their eyes after walking in the snow for a long time, and they were curious about whether they were suffering from snow blindness.

Xu Lu. To this end, the reporter contacted Xu Lu, an attending physician of the Department of Ophthalmology in the Eastern District of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, to popularize how to "eye" to protect their eyes after the snow for the majority of netizens.

Snow blindness is an acute light source eye disease that is inflammation caused by damage to the cornea and conjunctival epithelium caused by ultraviolet light. Symptoms of red and swollen eyelids, conjunctival hyperemia, photophobia, tearing, and inability to open the eyes often appear. Xu Lu explained that because the snow has a high reflectivity of sunlight, looking directly at the snow is like looking directly at the sun. In some places, snow blindness can occur even on cloudy days when left unprotected in the snow for long periods of time without protection, because the uneven snow has created multiple concave surfaces that reflect more intense sunlight.

Ski mountaineering or alpine workers, children playing in the snow, and drivers driving are some of the most susceptible to snow blindness. Xu Lu said that patients do not need to panic excessively, and the damage caused by bright light to the eyes can generally begin to heal within 24 hours after seeking medical treatment, and can recover in two or three days.

It's a good idea to wear sunglasses or protective glasses when watching snow or walking in the snow for long periods of time. If you feel discomfort in your eyes, it is best to rest with your eyes closed. Move to a dark place in time and reduce eye use, but do not apply warm compresses. Xu Lu said.

Maintaining a good eyesight can also "escort" the trip after the snow. (Wang Yixiao, Dong Lei).

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