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How to walk on ice without falling, and clear your path safely

In short: Wear boots with good grip, take short, slow "penguin" steps and keep your weight over your feet. Clear your path early, never with water, and spread grit. If you fall, get up slowly, or call for help if you're hurt.

Co-authored by Sonia Abu Bakar✓, MSc Botany

By 8 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Last updated: 30 October 2026References

Set preferred
Illustration of a woman and her older mother walking arm in arm with short, careful steps along an icy, gritted pavement in a snowy streetIllustration

At a glance

Shoes
Good grip, non-slip soles, ankle support (NHS Lanarkshire)
Walk
Short, slow steps, weight over your feet (NHS Lanarkshire)
Clear
Early in the day, never with water (GOV.UK)
Grit
Salt, sand or ash; salt banned in Berlin (GOV.UK, Berlin)
If you fall
Don't get up too quickly (NHS)
Call
999 UK, 112 Germany, 911 US if hurt
Checked
October 2026

Ice makes falls more likely, especially as you get older. The safest way through is good boots, short slow steps and paths that have been cleared and gritted (NHS Lanarkshire, GOV.UK). If you do fall, the NHS has a simple way to get up safely. Who has to clear the pavement differs a lot between the UK, Germany and the US: see the table near the end.

Call 999 (UK), 112 (Germany) or 911 (US) if you may have hurt your head, back, neck or hip in a fall, or you can't get up. Keep warm while you wait (NHS).

What do you need?

I'm going out on ice

Get ready, then walk like a penguin. Start at Before you go out.

Someone has fallen

Don't rush up. Go to If you fall.

My path or pavement is icy

Clear early, then grit. Go to Clear your path.

Our example: Mira and her mum on the first icy morning

Every step below follows one story, and each drawing shows that moment. Mira lives in Berlin with her mum, Hana, who is 76 and walks with a stick. On the first icy morning of the winter they walk to the bakery together. On the way home Hana slips. Next morning, after fresh snow, Mira clears and grits their path so Hana can get out safely.

Before you go out

  1. Wear shoes or boots with good grip.

    Illustration of a woman on a hallway bench holding up two soles: a smooth sole crossed out, and a boot with deep, chunky tread with a green tick
    Illustration

    In our story: Mira holds up her smooth-soled shoe next to her boot and picks the boots, with deep tread and ankle support. Hana wears her grippy ankle boots too.

    Shoes or boots with good grip, non-slip soles and ankle support are best on slippery ground (NHS Lanarkshire). The NHS also says to wear shoes that fit well, don't slip off and have a good grip.

  2. Dress warmly in layers, with something reflective.

    Illustration of a woman helping her older mother into a warm coat in the hallway on a dark winter morning, fastening a reflective band on her sleeve
    Illustration

    In our story: It is still dark outside. Mira helps Hana into her coat over a jumper and fastens a reflective band round her sleeve.

    Layers keep your muscles warm, and cold muscles are more prone to injury. Reflective clothing helps others see you on dark winter days (NHS Lanarkshire).

  3. Check the rubber tip on your walking stick.

    Illustration of a close-up of a woman checking the rubber tip of her mother's walking stick
    Illustration

    In our story: Mira turns Hana's stick over and checks the rubber tip. It still has its grooves, so it will grip.

    If you use a walking stick or frame, make sure it has a non-slip rubber tip (ferrule) (NHS Lanarkshire). A worn tip slips more easily.

  4. Give yourself extra time.

    Illustration of a woman and her mother calmly locking their front door, with a small crossed-out picture of someone hurrying on ice
    Illustration

    In our story: They leave early, so nobody needs to rush. Mira locks the door while Hana waits by the handrail.

    Avoid rushing out in icy weather (NHS Lanarkshire). Leaving a little earlier means you won't need to hurry.

Walk like a penguin

  1. Take short, slow steps with your weight over your feet.

    Illustration of two panels on an icy pavement: long, fast strides crossed out, and the same woman and her mother taking short, slow steps with a green tick
    Illustration

    In our story: Mira usually takes long strides. Today she matches Hana: short, slow steps, weight over their feet.

    NHS Lanarkshire calls it the "penguin walk": keep your weight over your feet, take shorter steps and go slowly.

  2. Watch for icy patches, and go round them.

    Illustration of a woman guiding her mother around a shiny, glassy patch of ice onto the gritted part of the pavement
    Illustration

    In our story: Outside the bakery, a shiny patch looks wet. Mira steers Hana round it onto the gritted part.

    Be mindful of icy patches (NHS Lanarkshire). Black ice can form where water has refrozen (GOV.UK), so a wet-looking patch on a cold day may be ice.

  3. Ask for help when you need it.

    Illustration of an older woman holding her daughter's arm on the walk home while the daughter carries the bakery bag
    Illustration

    In our story: On the way home Mira carries the bread, so Hana has one hand for her stick and one for Mira's arm.

    Ask family, friends or neighbours for help when you need it (NHS Lanarkshire), for example with shopping on icy days.

If you fall

  1. Take your time. Roll onto your side, then onto your hands and knees.

    Illustration of three panels: an older woman lying still for a moment after slipping on an icy pavement, rolling onto her side, then on her hands and knees
    Illustration

    In our story: On a corner nobody has gritted, Hana slips and sits down hard. She lies still for a moment and checks herself. Nothing hurts, so she rolls onto her side, then onto her hands and knees.

    Don't get up too quickly. If you're not hurt, roll onto your side, then push up onto your hands and knees (NHS).

  2. Use something sturdy to stand up slowly, then rest.

    Illustration of two panels: the older woman holding a sturdy bench with one foot flat on the ground, rising slowly, then sitting on the bench to rest
    Illustration

    In our story: A bench stands right beside them. Hana holds its seat, puts one foot flat, stands up slowly, then sits down to rest.

    Find something sturdy to hold, put one foot flat on the ground and stand up slowly. Then sit down and rest (NHS).

  3. If you're hurt or can't get up, call for help and keep warm.

    Illustration of what to do if the older woman could not get up: her daughter laying a coat over her legs and phoning for help
    Illustration

    In our story: Hana is fine. If she had hurt her hip or couldn't get up, Mira would cover her with her coat and call 112, as this drawing shows.

    Call 999 (UK) if you may have hurt your head, back, neck or hip, or can't get up. While you wait, cover yourself with a coat or blanket to stay warm, and gently move your arms and legs (NHS). In Germany call 112, in the US 911.

Clear your path

  1. Clear snow early in the day.

    Illustration of a woman shovelling fresh, loose snow off the path in front of her house in the early morning light
    Illustration

    In our story: Next morning there is fresh snow. Before 7, Mira shovels it off their path and the pavement in front of the house.

    Do it early in the day: fresh, loose snow is easier to move (GOV.UK). In Germany and many US cities, there are set times to have it done (see the table below).

  2. Never pour water on it.

    Illustration of a woman about to pour a kettle of hot water onto icy front steps while her mother stops her, crossed out, with a small picture of the same steps turned to shiny ice
    Illustration

    In our story: Mira reaches for a kettle of hot water to melt the icy steps. Hana stops her: the water would freeze again into black ice.

    Don't use water: it might refreeze and turn to black ice (GOV.UK).

  3. Spread grit on the cleared path.

    Illustration of a gloved hand scattering grit from a scoop across the cleared path, with a bucket of grit beside it
    Illustration

    In our story: They live in Berlin, where salt is banned on pavements, so Mira scatters grit from a bucket over the cleared path.

    In the UK, use salt if you can: it melts ice and stops it refreezing overnight. Don't take salt from the roadside grit bins, which are for the roads. Ash or sand give grip if you don't have enough salt (GOV.UK). Some German towns ban salt: in Berlin, all de-icers are banned on pavements, so use sand, chippings or granules (Berlin Senate).

  4. Take extra care on steps and slopes.

    Illustration of an older woman walking down gritted front steps holding the handrail, her daughter beside her
    Illustration

    In our story: Mira adds extra grit on the steps and checks the handrail is firm. Hana comes down holding the rail, safe and steady, ready to go out again.

    Pay extra attention to steps and steep paths; more salt may help (GOV.UK). Make sure handrails are secure (NHS Lanarkshire).

Who has to clear the pavement: UK, Germany and the US

UKGermany (Berlin example)US (New York City example)
Who clears itYou can clear it yourself; it's unlikely you'll be sued if you clear it carefully (GOV.UK)Each town sets its own rules. In Berlin, the owners of the next-door property must (Berlin Senate)Each city sets its own rules. In NYC, property owners must (NYC311)
By whenEarly in the day is easiest (GOV.UK)Straight after snowfall; if it snows or freezes after 8 pm, by 7 am the next day (9 am on Sundays and holidays) (Berlin Senate)Within 4 hours if snow stops 7 am to 5 pm; within 14 hours if 5 to 9 pm; by 11 am if 9 pm to 7 am (NYC311)
How wideNo rule foundAt least 1 m, or 1.5 m on busier streets (Berlin Senate)A path at least 4 feet wide (NYC311)
SaltUse salt if you can, but not from grit bins (GOV.UK)Banned on pavements; use sand, chippings or granules (Berlin Senate)Spread salt, sand or other grit if the ground is frozen (NYC311)
If you don'tNo duty foundRules and fines vary by townFine of up to $250 (NYC311)

We found no national pavement-clearing rule for Pakistan or India; check with your local council.

How to tell you're doing it right

  • Your boots grip and your ankles feel supported (NHS Lanarkshire).
  • You're taking short, slow steps with your weight over your feet (NHS Lanarkshire).
  • Your path is clear and gritted, with no water left to refreeze (GOV.UK).

If something goes wrong

What happensWhat it meansWhat to do
The path is icy again next morningMelted snow or water refrozeClear it again and add grit; never use water (GOV.UK)
You slip even in bootsSteps too long or too fastShorter, slower steps, weight over your feet (NHS Lanarkshire)
You fell but feel fineYou may still be shakenGet up slowly, then sit and rest (NHS)
Pain or trouble moving after a fallYou may be injuredGet help promptly (NHS Lanarkshire); call 999, 112 or 911 for head, back, neck or hip (NHS)
You can't clear your own pathYou need a handAsk family, friends or neighbours (NHS Lanarkshire)

Questions readers ask

What is the safest way to walk on ice?

NHS Lanarkshire calls it the "penguin walk": keep your weight over your feet, take shorter steps and go slowly. Wear shoes or boots with good grip, non-slip soles and ankle support.

Can I be sued for clearing the pavement outside my house in the UK?

GOV.UK says it's unlikely you'll be sued or held responsible if someone is injured on a path you've cleared, if you cleared it carefully.

Can I put salt on the pavement in Germany?

It depends on your town. In Berlin, salt and all other de-icers are banned on pavements; you must use grit such as sand, chippings or granules (Berlin Senate). Check your town's rules.

Why not pour hot water on ice?

GOV.UK says not to use water, because it might refreeze and turn to black ice.

What if I fall and can't get up?

Call for help (999 in the UK, 112 in Germany, 911 in the US) and keep warm with a coat or blanket while you wait. The NHS says to call if you may have hurt your head, back, neck or hip, or can't get up.

Do walking sticks help on ice?

NHS Lanarkshire says make sure sticks and frames have non-slip rubber tips (ferrules).

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