One young mother is encouraging everyone to do their part in clearing ice from sidewalks and roadways after a fall last week left her with ìmajor whiplash and a mild concussion.î
Christine Lowe left work at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 and was on her way to Ecole Olds Elementary School where her daughter is a student, when she slipped on a piece of ice at Olds College. Lowe said a light dusting of snow hid the ice from view and also made it more treacherous. When she fell, Lowe hit her head on the ground.
She said she visited a doctor the following day after the soreness she experienced in her neck hadn't subsided, adding she found it difficult to hold her head up. Lowe said the doctor diagnosed the injuries as ìmajor whiplash and a mild concussion.î She said she is now wearing a neck brace to support her neck.
ìIt's a good reminder for people to take care of the ice. We live in Alberta. We're in that season where everything is icing over. It's everybody's responsibility to look after the ice,î Lowe said.
As a result of her injuries, Lowe, a single mother, said she would be taking five days off work, but couldn't afford to take off any more time than that. She said her workplace has been extremely supportive while she recuperates for the next two months from her injuries.
ìI'm just going to have a really hard time for the next six to eight weeks while I deal with my five-year-old,î she said.
Meanwhile, the town is doing all it can to clear ice from roadways and public sidewalks in light of recent thawing and freezing.
ìIt's been a nice break in the weather with not having to haul snow day after day, but chinooks always come with a price as well. It's nice for everybody to get snow off their roofs, but our crews have been very busy as well,î said Scott Chant, the town's interim director of operations.
Town staff are currently monitoring intersections for icy spots and will be applying a mixture of sand and salt as required. During warmer spells, the town's staff are going throughout the town with a steamer unit and clearing any catch basins that might be iced over.
ìWhat we've done is people can basically come to the shop and get a pail of salt and sand and put it down on their sidewalk, so it gives them some traction. The salt will help them melt the ice a little bit, but the rock and the aggregate will give safe traction,î Chant said, adding people need to bring their own bucket.
The mixture is free. The town shop is located at 4825-51 St.
