Here’s how to stay safe in snow -- on sidewalks or on the slopes

The blizzard that has shut down the East Coast calls for some warnings about playing in or even walking on snow and ice. The American Assn. of Orthopedic Surgeons (and really, those docs should know) has some advice to share with the hundreds of thousands of Americans who will get injured this year.

An association report on winter sports found snowboarding the No. 1 injury sport (164,002) and sledding, snow tubing and tobogganing a close second (160,020) in 2007. Here are some safety tips from the Health Notes blog of the Newport News Daily Press and practical advice on avoiding snow sport injuries from the AAOS.

But that’s just the beginning of winter safety advice. For those seeking ice on ponds or lakes for skating or hockey, the Farmers Almanac offers this sobering “Top 5 Ways to Avoid Falling Through Ice.” A sample: “Wear shoe spikes to gain traction and prevent falls, and consider wearing a personal flotation device.”

An online tutorial from Oklahoma State University offers this advice on walking amid snow and ice: “Be prepared to fall and try to avoid using your arms to break your fall. If you fall backward, make a conscious effort to tuck your chin so your head doesn’t strike the ground with a full force.” Ouch.

And one last tip: No laughing -- unless you’re the one falling.