Safety Reminder: tips to keep sidewalks safe & clear in freeze-thaw conditions
As spring gets closer, the Saskatoon Fire Department would like to pass on some tips to help make sidewalks safer during the freeze-thaw cycle that is beginning to occur.
Keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians
Be a good neighbour to help prevent slips and falls: residents are required to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property within 48 hours from when any snow, ice, or debris forms or builds up.
What you can do:
- Clear snow before it settles, hardens, and packs-down
- Chip ice during the day when it is soft and easier to break
- Use sand or salt to increase traction and/or melt ice from the sidewalk
- Leave snow on your yard to keep drains and curbs clear
Be careful walking on icy or snow-covered sidewalks.
Preventing a fall:
If you encounter snow and/or ice on the sidewalk, walk like a penguin!
Keep your weight over your front leg, take small steps, and maintain a shoulder-width foot separation with your toes angled outwards; doing this will increase your stability and helps reduce the risk of a fall.
Help firefighters!
If you have a hydrant located on or near your property, please clear about a meter or a 3-foot perimeter around it. In an emergency, seconds count; this will help firefighters locate and efficiently connect to the hydrant in the event that you or your neighbours experience a fire emergency.
In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
For more information regarding Bylaw No. 8463, The Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw, visit www.saskatoon.ca/bylaws.