 Hi, I'm Tom Wood, Trauma Program Manager here at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland. And I'm Kelly Jenkins, the Trauma Prevention and Outreach Coordinator. Today, we're here to talk about avoiding falls in the winter. Tom and I are going to share some of our insights and what you can do to keep yourself safe. A basic way of preventing a fall on snow and ice is to have good traction. You can do this by having proper tread on your shoe or boot. Another thing you can do to protect yourself in the winter is make certain that you have at least one hand available, preferably two, to hang on to something. So say you slip and you need to grab something to prevent a fall or perhaps you need to use your hands to brace a fall. Either way, it's a good idea not to be going up the steps holding two bags of groceries without one hand free to protect yourself. Be careful when exiting your vehicle. You can use your steering wheel or your door to brace yourself, especially when stepping out onto ice. If you have to walk on the ice, try and choose paths that have either been sanded or salted and be particularly cautious of black ice because you can't see it and you don't know that you're necessarily stepping onto it, so extra precaution is advised. When shoveling, clear a level path to stand on so you don't lose your balance. A simple suggestion is to remember to wipe your feet when you come in from the outdoors. They may have ice accumulation or salt and be aware of what you're stepping onto. It could be a slippery ceramic surface versus a carpeted one. We at MidMichigan Health care about your safety, so take the proper precautions and be safe out there.