Guest Post by Goodbye Crutches

There’s no worse time of the year to be nursing an injury than during the winter. It may be hard to get out on crutches during any other season, but during the winter it’s downright dangerous.

Here are 5 safety tips to help you navigate the winter months safely on one leg:

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1. Keep Your Crutches Well – Crutches are going to be dangerous no matter what, but in order to make sure they are as stable as possible, you will want them to be in the best possible working order. If the tips are even a tiny bit worn, get new ones. New tips will help prevent sliding on the snow and ice. The tips can grip the ground better and if they are worn, they could cause an accident. Make sure the crutches are adjusted to fit you perfectly so you can walk upright as comfortably and slowly as possible.
2. Use Sand or Salt – Keep some sidewalk salt or sand in your car with you at all times. Whenever you have to get out somewhere that looks slippery, spread a little sand or salt right outside your car door so you can get your crutches and steady yourself as safely as possible. You will want to keep your driveway and sidewalk salted as well, but when you have no control over the street conditions, keep that salt and sand with you to do the best you can at keeping yourself safe.
3. Check into Alternatives to Crutches – No matter how well you do on crutches, they are still dangerous mobility devices in the winter. You might want to check into alternatives, like those offered by Goodbye Crutches. Goodbye Crutches has three great devices that can help you get around easier and with more safety. The Seated Scooter, for example, is a wheeled device that allows you to sit and scoot yourself from place to place, while keeping your bad leg elevated and out of the way. You will remain stable at all times in the seated position and you don’t have to worry about slipping at all. The Knee Scooter works much the same way, only you stand and place the knee of your bad leg on the padded area. You have handlebars to keep you stable and a basket to carry your keys and other items. The Hands Free Crutch is even a better option than crutches. This device attaches to your bad leg and allows you to walk much like normal, while retaining the use of your hands. Having your hands available to balance you is never a bad thing in the winter.
4. Ask for Help – It’s hard to give up your independence for any reason, but when it comes to your safety, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Ask friends and family members to run some of your errands for you so you don’t have to venture out into the cold, icy weather. When you do go out, have someone meet you at your car to help usher you inside safely. Having one injury is bad enough, you don’t want to add another to it.
5. Think of Comfort – In order to advance your recovery, you need to think of your
   

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   comfort, as well as your safety. Things like cold toes can not only be uncomfortable and irritating, but also dangerous in colder temperatures.  CastCoverZ! Sleeperz! for legs (arms, too) and Sleeping Bagz! are made from soft micro-fiber or fleece to keep your toes warm and cozy, while protecting your sheets from snags and cooties, too!  Be sure to check out their Bootz!, BootGuardz!, and BootGuardzXtreme!, for keeping your toes & leg warm and clean while wearing a walking boot out in the elements.  Think through other comfort levels and research what you can do to fix them during the winter months.

Safety must be a high priority for you while you recover. During the winter, it is an even bigger burden. Think ahead and use these tips to get yourself to the other side of the season safely, on one leg.