TV channel NSK 49 // PRO program // Air // March 2021
In March 2021, in the midst of spring ice, the NSC 49 TV channel aired an information program, where the channel’s correspondent Mikhail Kirillov, together with experts, figured out how not to fall on the ice, and which of the proven methods is the most effective.
According to statistics, in winter, the number of visits to emergency rooms increases many times over. The reason for this is ice, on which people cannot stand on their feet. The correspondent of the NSC 49 channel decided to find out how to properly navigate the slippery sidewalk in order to avoid the consequences and whether it is possible not to fall at all.
Oleg Zakharov, aikido trainer, stuntman, a man who has to fall a lot by profession, gave an explanation and showed Mikhail in practice how to group and fall correctly in order to avoid injury. Of course, it takes time and skill to learn stunt skills, so if you are not prepared and fall, contact the emergency room. There can be unpleasant consequences of falls that you do not immediately detect. And also, you can protect yourself to the maximum by preparing your shoes for ice.
Option one is to stick a plaster. Inconvenience – peel off and short-lived
Option two is to deliver the so-called prophylaxis. Inconvenience – a little expensive if you have not one, but several pairs of winter shoes, and it wears out over time
Option three is to buy special boots. The inconvenience is expensive, and you can’t go to the theater in such shoes …
And, finally, another option is to acquire ice cleats. This is such a deicing device that you can put on your shoes and protect yourself from falls.
Danil Nikitenko, a technical specialist of Polyurethane, helped Mikhail to find out the details and test the ice steps:
I fall on the ice all the time, they told me that you can get rid of this misfortune with the help of ice shoes, but what is it?
Ice shoes, they are also ice cleats, are devices with which you can move on the ice. Today they can be conditionally divided into 2 categories. The first includes professional products used by climbers, survival tourists, who are in difficult conditions.
This is something like “crampons” for climbers, right?
Right! And the second category of products is ice shoes worn by fishermen, city dwellers, lovers of winter recreation and hiking. The most common option for the city is rubber, silicone, or polyurethane ice shoes, on which metal spikes are attached.
And what material is the best for ice cleats? And how many spikes should there be?
Polyurethane ice shoes are perhaps the best solution for our winter roads. They are 2-4 times stronger than rubber, and as many times more wear-resistant: they do not tear with frequent use, retain elasticity at temperatures up to minus forty and do not damage shoes.
In addition, polyurethane ice-breakers do not deteriorate from the effects of expensive chemicals – salt, binord, etc.
Polyurethane ice cleats are easy to put on shoes. There are models for small and large sizes from 35 to 47 sizes, as well as for high-heeled shoes. The universal shoe ice boots are available in nine colors, so it is possible to match the ice boots to the color of your shoes.
Your stability on the ice depends on the number of thorns on the ice cleats. The optimal number of spikes on one ice-shoe for movement is from 4 to 6 pieces.
So, in order to feel as comfortable as possible during the icy period, you can master “stunt skills” and learn how to fall correctly or keep balance, or you can get ice shoes and gain confidence in movement.