Over the recent cold snap our hospitals have been treating increased numbers of people suffering from breaks, strains and other injuries related to slips and falls.
If you have to go out, one thing you can do to reduce your chances of injury is to walk like a penguin #walklikeapenguin
This involves leaning your body forward to ensure that your weight rests on your front leg. This helps to keep balance, as more falls are caused on ice when the body weight is split evenly, as per a normal walk. Try to avoid taking a heavy bag as this will cause your weight to shift unevenly. If you do need to walk across icy pavements, this could be the way to help you keep your balance, although avoiding icy paths altogether is advised.
To find out more about preparing for winter visit NHS Inform Winter