How to avoid a slip and fall on the ice

Unfortunately, not everyone can handle an icy slip and fall. In fact, the older your bones the more brittle they are. 

According to Dr. Ronan Factora of Cleveland Clinic, people over the age of 65 are more prone to suffering a broken bone from a slip and fall on the ice.

"Osteoporosis is a condition where individuals have thin bones and they're at risk for breaking things, like their hip or their vertebrae or their wrist. It leads to hospitalization and it's the number one reason why people end up in nursing homes," he says. 

Dr. Factora says if you're over the age of 65, or have a history of osteoporosis, it's best to have someone else clear your driveway and walkway whenever possible.

If you really need to clear the snow yourself, be very methodical and take your time, and make sure you wear proper footwear with good traction.

If you have to go outdoors for travel, Dr. Factora says it's wise to have someone go with you. That way if something were to happen and you needed help right away, there is someone there to help you out.

He says that the onset of winter weather doesn't mean you have to stay confined to your home, but if you do plan to venture outdoors, it's best to have a plan in place.

"You shouldn't be feeling like you have to be isolated in the home when the weather really turns bad. And if you have to do these jobs, then just think ahead and make sure that you're taking extra steps to make sure you're going to avoid falling, avoiding an injury and avoiding a situation where you have to be by yourself if something like that were to occur," he says. 

Women are about four times more likely to develop osteoporosis.

For anyone walking on ice, the advice is walk like a penguin. You want a center of gravity to stay low.