MANKATO, Minn. -
For those walking to school or work this week.
Cody Thuringer said, "They're just unbelievably icy andslick."
It may have been safer to ice skate across parking lots andsidewalks to reach solid footing indoors.
Dr. Yo Schugel said, "That's pretty much what it is.Outside is kind of like needing to wear a pair of ice skates."
Schugel said at Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato says theslippery conditions meant a busy emergency room.
Schugel said, "It means lots of broken bones, lots ofhurt arms, hurt legs, bruises bumps, hitting their heads on the ground."
Chris Heck said, "Pretty slippery pretty treacherous towalk on, I wouldn't want to fall on it."
That is why when Heck got done clearing the ice off hissidewalk, he went to his neighbors.
Heck said, "I just like to stay on top of it, geteverything done."
Plus it could also help stop a slick sidewalk from turninginto a slippery financial situation for him.
Mankato City Engineer Jeff Johnson said, "The propertyowner is responsible for clearing the sidewalk out in front of their propertyand they could be potentially liable if something happens out in front of theirproperty."
Johnson said under city code, residents have 24 hours fromthe weather event to clean things up.
Johnson said, "While we don't go out and enforce thecode, if we do get complains, we do go talk to property owners."
For walkers braving the slick conditions, consider adding anew accessory to your wardrobe.
Thuringer said, "They are amazing they work really,really well actually."
And remember that speed and ice only go well together at thewinter Olympics.
Schugel said, "The ice just kind of jumps out andgets you when you aren't expecting it so walk very gingerly and very carefully,pay attention to where you are going."
