For Those Dealing with Ice/Sleet/Snow

[K9karen]

The one time I needed it in an emergency, I left it home. I was able to flag down a motorist but time had passed. Thanks, Karen, for the reminder.

Great reminder about ICE!

Medic Alert is wonderful. Even though I home cared my mom and was usually home, I got one for her anyway. Of course, she didn't want it, blah, blah, blah, but I put that sucker around her neck anyway. It went off every time I dusted the table where the main system was and they answered in less than 1/2 a second. I'd always tell them I was dusting them off!

[Laura's Babies]

Not just when there is ice outside. I have a neighbor who Mother died last summer, unable to get back into the house, she laid on the concrete and died in the heat. They said the heat started cooking her body. They all had nightmares about her laying there like that before she was found.

[Medusa]

Yep, I'm w/ya, Karen. I carry mine even when going out to feed the birds or get the mail, even if the weather is good. Last year I was rolling my trash can to the street and stepped in a divit in the yard. I fell and somehow got my arm caught in the handle of the trash can, so it fell on top of me. What a ridiculous situation! I laid there and laughed and finally managed to extricate myself. I wasn't hurt, until the next day, that is. Then I was plenty sore. After that incident, I always make sure I have my cell phone w/me. We just never know.

[anna_66]

Very good advice Karen. If only I could get my mother to do it!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Great advise for everyone regardless of age and weather.

My grandma fell in her garage this past October. She broke her leg pretty badly. Luckily the weather was nice and she was able to drag herself out to her driveway. It wasn't too long before a man drove by and saw her. He stopped and called 911. He stayed with her until the ambulance arrived. She was lucky everything turned out so well, it could have been a lot worse.

Last Valentines day, my husband, who was 28 at the time, had been working in the barn. He came in the house, took his boots off and then realized he didn't close the barn door. He tossed his flip flops on and ran out there to close it. It's a big, heavy, metal door and he accidentally shut it on his foot. It sliced through he toes. He didn't have his phone and he couldn't get the door off his toes. He ended up ripping his foot out from under the door, causing more damage to his toes. He then had to drag himself to the house (he couldn't walk). I drove him to the emergency room. Had he had his phone I could have help get the door off his foot and the damage to his toes wouldn't have been nearly as bad.

[Cataholic]

These stories are so alarming! I usually have my cell phone attached to my ear, literally. I have never thought of all that could go wrong in the yard, taking out the trash, etc.

I remember in early fall, I was driving J to school. It was a Wednesday morning, and our one neighbor, next block down, had started to return the garbage cans to the houses. He is a super nice guy that way, he takes the trash out, and the cans back to the house for probably 10 people. (Not me, I live on the wrong block).

Anyhow, he had fallen and couldn't get up- no joke. He suffered a stroke years ago, and has mobility issues. I saw him on the ground!!! It was all I could do not to burst out into tears, seeing him lying there. What if I hadn't happened along? I go slow, and notice stuff like that. What if, what if...

Anyhow, he told me how to help him get up, and he was so sweaty. I could tell he had tried quite a bit himself, already. Makes me sad all over again just thinking about it. I might tell him next time I see him out and about, to get a cell phone and have it with him! He walks every single am....in the dark.