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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.