Be cautious!
Often we hear the phrase "At night and during the day, there is a slight glaze, and on the roads, there is ice." But how do these seemingly identical natural phenomena differ?
Glaze ice is a layer of dense ice that accumulates on objects when supercooled rain or drizzle falls, during fog, and when low stratified clouds move at negative air temperatures near the Earth's surface, close to 0°C. The thickness of glaze ice deposits can sometimes reach several centimeters. Ice on the roads forms after a thaw or rain during a sudden drop in temperature.
These phenomena are quite familiar to us, yet they are dangerous.
Roads turn into a solid ice rink, traffic on the streets is blocked, traffic jams form, and the crust of frozen ice can cause power lines and communication lines to break, resulting in various injuries to people.
Therefore, let us remind you once again of the rules that will help reduce the likelihood of getting into an unpleasant situation.
If there is glaze ice outside, wear low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles. As banal as it may sound, stick a piece of foam rubber or adhesive tape on the sole; in extreme cases, rub it with sandpaper or sand.
Watch your step carefully, and take small steps. If it is impossible to bypass the ice, move with slightly bent legs, keeping them close to the ground (imitating skiing). Try to avoid places with sloped surfaces. Choose a safer path where there is less ice and the paths are sprinkled with sand. At the same time, it is not advisable to walk too close to the walls of buildings, where icicles often form on the roofs.
Older people are advised to go outside as little as possible in such weather, or to use a cane with a rubber tip (you can use a regular ski pole). Pregnant women should not go outside without accompaniment.
With particular caution, you should cross the roadway. If you slip and fall, it will be difficult for the driver to brake sharply, as the braking distance of the vehicle significantly increases on glaze ice.
Glaze ice poses a great danger to people when moving on stairs: entrances to the metro, open staircases of underground crossings, and steps of public transport. In this situation, it is necessary to hold onto the handrails. Under no circumstances should you chase after departing public transport during glaze ice – you may get injured or end up under the wheels of a vehicle.
If you slip, try to sit down to reduce the height of the fall, curl up, and roll to soften the impact with the ground. After falling, do not rush to get up if there are no people nearby – turn onto your stomach, get on all fours, crouch, and only then straighten up. To avoid falling again, try to hold onto something – a tree, a fence. After getting into an upright position, stand still for a few minutes, make sure you have no serious injuries, and only then continue moving cautiously.
If you were unable to avoid injury, do not attempt self-treatment; be sure to consult a medical professional.
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