November 28 :Giving the ”slip” to wintry conditions  

There may be a good reason why penguins shuffle their feet when they walk: It's one way to guard against slipping and falling on the ice.

Taking short steps or shuffling over slippery areas is certainly one way you can protect yourself against a potentially serious fall this winter.

Your wrists and arms are especially susceptible to fractures and other injuries in such falls because your natural response is to thrust out your arms to break your fall. Instead, you should try to roll into your fall with sequential contacts at your thigh, hip and shoulder.

Here are some tips on how to safely walk and stay upright on slippery winter surfaces :

• When you're walking to work or doing errands in the winter, plan your route and give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going so you don't have to rush. Your footwear should have rubber or neoprene soles that provide traction on snow and ice. Don't wear shoes or boots with plastic or leather soles.
• Stay on designated walkways. Don't take shortcuts over snow piles or areas that aren't cleared of snow and ice. If a sidewalk is covered with ice, try to walk along the grassy edge for traction.
• If you have no choice but to walk on icy or slippery areas, take short steps or shuffle your feet. Bend your body slightly and walk flat-footed, keeping your center of gravity over your feet as much as possible. Be prepared to fall and roll into the fall as much as possible.

If you would like more information, visit HealthyOntario.com

George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, introduced a bill today that would make universal, public medicare the law in Ontario and put an end to the creeping privatization of the system in recent years.

”We are slamming the door shut on two-tier, pay-your-way-to-the-front-of- the-line health care in Ontario,” said Minister Smitherman.

”This bill would enshrine into law what we already deeply believe in our hearts -- that every member of our society has an equal right to quality health care based on need, not income.”

The Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act would also entrench accountability as a principle of medicare in Ontario and create a provincial health council to keep an eye on the system.

”Unlike the previous government, our commitment to medicare is total,” said Minister Smitherman. ”That's why we strongly support the creation of a national health council, which they opposed; and that's why we overturned their plans and moved quickly to ensure that new hospitals in Ottawa and Brampton will be publicly owned, publicly controlled, and publicly accountable.”

The Health Minister said the bill reflects the public's overwhelming desire for quality, accessible health care, now and into the future.

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