The beginning of winter means remembering how to handle slippery, wet, snowy, and icy sidewalks and highways.

Because our winter’s so short, it’s easy to completely forget how to navigate typically safe terrain.

We treat lots of sprained and broken ankles because of slips-and-falls on icy sidewalks, parking lots, steps, and driveways.

Here’s how you avoid slipping and falling in the first place. It’s not always completely avoidable, but this does minimize your chances of an accident or injury:

1. Add traction devices to your footwear. Just like cars can get studs for their tires, you can get ice grippers or microspikes to add to the bottom of your footwear. Any sporting goods store will know exactly what you’re talking about. If, for whatever reason, you don’t like this idea, make sure your footwear has rubber soles, which grip ice better than any other material.
2. Make sure you’re not in a rush. The likelihood of both car accidents and slips-and-falls skyrockets when you have to rush to your destination. Make sure you leave with plenty of time leftover to make it to wherever you need to go.
3. Copy the penguin. Yes, they look awkward, but when it comes to walking on ice, penguins know what they’re doing. Take short steps, which keeps your balance underneath you. Spread your feet out a little wider than normal. Bend your knees slightly to lower your center of gravity. And if you’re carrying stuff, carry lower weight than you normally would so you don’t throw off your balance.
4. Stay in shape with exercise. You don’t have to workout like a maniac. But, being in decent shape helps you avoid slips-and-falls. Work at balancing on one foot for a full minute. Work on your core with ab workouts, keep good upper body strength, and work your legs a little too. Besides being helpful for preventing slips-and-falls, this is generally healthy for your body.
5. Use railings whenever possible. Most slips-and-falls happen when you step from one height to another. Use extra caution when on steps. And always hold onto railings.
6. Walk on snow if you can. Sometimes, it’s impossible to see ice – even if you have perfect vision. If you know it’s icy out, or if weather conditions favor the formation of ice, walk on the snow where possible because of the high traction it offers.
7. Take classes on falling. Yes, no joke here. Your local martial arts school may actually offer classes that can help you with this. And if you find yourself falling, try to contort your body so you land on your thighs, hips, or shoulders. Your arms, knees, wrists, spine, and ankles all are much more easily broken. Will you have a painful bruise for a while? Yes. But at least you won’t have broken bones.
8. Help someone else. Finally, if you see someone else who’s obviously having a hard time walking in slippery conditions, especially an elderly person, offer to help them out. It’s the right thing to do, and you’ll feel good about yourself for making the offer.

Not all slips-and-falls can be prevented. However, with these eight tips at your disposal, you’ll keep your risk of a broken or severely sprained ankle to near zero.