It has been two weeks since the major snowstorms hit Durango, but hazardous ice lingered Monday along roadways, sidewalks and parking lots, giving resident cause for caution.
“When we get a lot of cold, cold weather, we always get an increase in accidents,” said Paul Gibson, director of the emergency department at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
It’s generally an equal increase in residents slipping both on foot and with their cars, he said.
Falls commonly injure wrists, arms and shoulders and older people are likely to injure their hips, he said. Concussions are possible, but not as common.
When crossing ice, he recommends smaller steps.
“The biggest thing is to slow down, you need to take a little extra time,” he said.
At Purgatory, icy conditions also can cause injuries, but the holiday weekend was fairly quiet.
“When the snow is really good at Purgatory, we see less injuries,” he said.
Crossing icy areas in town, former Minnesotan Tom Zajicek was cautious.
“I do the tai chi walk. ... It really works,” he said.
The gentle walk taught in tai chi could get you across a frozen lake, the former practitioner said.
After warily walking up Narrow Gauge Avenue, Helen Aldaco said that while the snow makes the town look like a postcard, she hated the ice.
Snowmelt from sunny days freezes during the cold nights, in some places creating super slick conditions.
“I’ve almost fallen a lot,” she said.
A high near 38 degrees on Monday helped melt some of the ice, but more snow was forecast to fall Monday night.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
