Winter is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the snowy scenery and fun activities. Having a visual impairment should not keep you stuck at home in dicey winter weather conditions. The following tips can help you stay safe when traveling in wintery conditions:
Traction
Proper footwear is important when navigating slippery winter terrain. Boots with good traction can help keep you on your feet but if boots aren’t an option for you (and even if they are), you may want to invest in additional traction for your footwear. There are numerous styles of slip-on traction devices. Before buying, think about how you’re going to use them (i.e. walking on snowy/icy sidewalks or challenging winter hikes). Choose the option you like best in your price range.
The staff at Gear Junkie tested some options and this article provides recommendations for different needs and budgets.
When stepping out of a vehicle onto icy pavement or navigating exterior stairs you may want a bit more traction. A handheld spreader for sand or salt could be useful for slippery situations. Some models are small enough to fit in a backpack. Available in local hardware stores or online, there are options for less than $15 or you can DIY it by filling a plastic water bottle with sand.
Cane Tips
If you are a white cane user then traveling winter terrain can be challenging. Most cane tips get easily caught up in snow, in cracks, and on rough surfaces. The Ambutech Dakota Disk cane tip is designed specifically for rough terrain and to be used on snow. It is a wide circle with a flat top and rounded bottom to skim over surfaces. A roller ball tip or the new Ambutech Pathfinder 360 cane tip (similar to the roller ball but it can roll forward and back as well as side-to-side) may also work. These tips may work better in snow than smaller cane tip types, but can still have usability issues. With the roller ball and Pathfinder snow and ice can get trapped in the roller mechanism and impede movement. The cane tips may not provide the level of sensitivity for tactile feedback that some users require. The Pathfinder is a loud cane tip, although some terrain will quiet the sound, and not every user is happy with a loud tip. The Dakota Disk and roller ball can be bought online for $10-$12. The Pathfinder costs $40.
Visibility
The shorter days of winter can mean more time navigating in darker conditions. Reflective clothing and lighting options that call attention to the pedestrian are an important safety consideration. Even if you don’t plan to travel when it is dark unexpected circumstances or weather can put you in the position of having to do so. Plan ahead and wear outerwear that is reflective or keep a reflective vest handy. Carry a small flashlight or use your phone to provide visibility for you and make you more visible to drivers. White canes often have reflective surfaces or you can apply reflective tape yourself. LED lights can also be attached to the cane.
Navigation
Knowing your travel route and the conditions is important at any time of year but winter weather can make being prepared even more important. Before you leave the house consider:
- Appropriate clothing and safety gear
- Check the weather and be prepared for unexpected conditions
- Confirm that public transportation is running on-time and have a back-up plan if transportation is delayed or cancelled
- Prepare for poor surface conditions on sidewalks, etc.
Plan ahead and stay safe, and if you or someone you love is experiencing vision loss and could benefit from our services, please contact Future In Sight at [email protected] or 603-224-4039 today!
About the Author: Rhonda Haller, M.Ed., COMS is an Orientation & Mobility Specialist at Future In Sight.