In an emergency, a pair of comfortable shoes just might be your most important survival tool.
Thankfully, we don’t encounter massive events like Superstorm Sandy every day – but, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t know what to do in case of an emergency.
A frequently overlooked detail, and often a very important one, is a pair of shoes.
Emergency situations frequently require leaving an area on foot. Whether it is a house fire or a storm surge, if you find yourself outside without protective shoe gear, you become susceptible to injuries to your feet – injuries which can become infected and possibly life threatening.
Much of the standing water remaining after Superstorm Sandy was infected with bacteria. Any open wound, no matter how small, makes it that much easier for the infection to enter the body.
In a recent ABC News report, Dr. Christopher Portier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for Environmental Health, said:
People, especially children, can get sick by touching contaminated objects and putting their hands in their mouths, causing gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting, Portier said. They can also get infections from coming in contact with the bacteria with open sores and cuts, which can be “very difficult to treat.”
When we think about survival, we usually think food and shelter, but sometimes a pair of comfortable shoes that are good for walking, might be just what the doctor ordered.
Not sure what makes a good pair of shoes? Click here for more information.
If you find that you are feeling pain after walking for a while, contact Wappingers Falls podiatrist Dr. David Schlam for an immediate appointment. If you are consistently feeling discomfort in a particular pair of shoes, bring them along so we can check them out.
By David Schlam
English
Spanish