Increase in falls forces Montreal to redirect operations toward slippery sidewalks
The City of Montreal has had to slow down on snow removal operations in recent days to focus on slippery sidewalks after an increased number of people taking falls.
It's also been busy for the city's ERs, which are dealing with a higher-than-normal volume of weather-related falls due to the mix of snow, ice and rain in the last few days.
Seniors are especially at risk, explains emergency medicine specialist Dr. Mitch Shulman.
"These are accidents, and you can have them in young people or old people. The only reason why we disproportionately see older people is because of balance, strength and bone fragility," he said.
The city has also been inundated with 311 calls.
Last Thursday alone, there were 551 calls reporting icy sidewalks, prompting the city to increase its salting operations.
"The number of falls is always a big preoccupation, because no one should fall. Since the beginning, we’ve said that sidewalks are a priority, but it’s boroughs that take care of the different sidewalks in their borough. There’s more of a constant communication with them," said Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.
"Last weekend, we did call and contact all the boroughs and told them if you have to slow down all the snow removal to make sure sidewalks are clean and safe, do it. So, we will continue to accompany the different boroughs. For sure, there’s always room for improvement."
While the city is responsible for clearing 6,000 kilometres of sidewalks, Shulman said many falls happen a lot closer to home.
"I ask people this: How well do you protect your own staircase, your own sidewalk, your own parking area? If you look at the statistics, a significant number of these falls aren’t on city property sidewalks and streets, a significant number are in parking lots and private driveways and walkways and stairs," he said.
Shulman said the best defence is to take your time and stay home when the weather gets bad.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
One dead, 26 wounded in overnight shooting in Ohio: reports
A shooting on a street in Akron, Ohio, killed one man and wounded 26 other people early Sunday morning, according to reports by local news outlets.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Ambassador says interactions with Russia 'quite limited' but 'not unfriendly'
Canada's ambassador to Russia says while Ottawa has 'grave concerns' about the Kremlin's 'longer-term trends,' the war in Ukraine is 'a primary barrier to a change in the relationship.'
South Korea vows 'unbearable' retaliation against North Korea over its launch of trash balloons
South Korea said Sunday it’ll soon take retaliatory steps against North Korea over its launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border and other provocations.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.