Edmonton records nearly 400 ER visits due to slips and falls: AHS
Posted February 26, 2025 4:20 pm.
Last Updated February 26, 2025 6:37 pm.
After a long cold snap, Edmonton is finishing the month with warmer weather getting up to 10 C. But, the spring-like temperatures come at a slippery cost.
Alex Scheuerman has been scraping the ice on his sidewalk in the Parkallen neighbourhood, something he knows, he should’ve done earlier.
“I was a little slow to do some shovelling a few weeks ago, the snow ended up getting packed down and I’m now paying the price. The sidewalk is not melting as much and it’s a lot harder to chip off. We’ve done about a bit much yesterday,” Scheuerman explained.
As he clears his sidewalk, Scheuerman knows firsthand the danger of icy conditions.
“I was out for a walk at Whitemud Creek not too long ago and just on a slope part of the trail and I fell,” he explained.
Slips and falls are not uncommon in the city during this freeze-thaw period.
According to Alberta Health Services, there have been a total of 389 emergency visits because of slips and falls in icy conditions between February 2 and 24.
- Feb. 2-8 — 113 visits;
- Feb. 9-15 — 95 visits;
- Feb. 16-22 — 119 visits;
- Feb. 23-24 — 62 visits.
The City reminds residents to keep their sidewalks next to their property clear of ice. Failure to do so could result in a $100 bylaw fine. Personal injury lawyers warn, you could also be liable if someone is injured.
But, If you do encounter a very slipper sidewalk, it sounds silly, but health experts recommend you walk like a penguin.
