Plan your journey when the weather's dipping below 32 degrees F or worse. Don't plan to walk over an iced lake unless it's your only way out. Don't plan on walking over black ice on the pavement, either. If you cannot avoid it, plan your route and how you will tackle it with as much calm as you can muster.
Wear the proper shoes. Rubber or neoprene composite soles are preferable. Avoid leather boots, sandals and plastic soles.
Use the vehicle for support when exiting a car. If you have other types of support available when walking, such as poles, lampposts and sturdy trees, also use them. Be cautious about grabbing tree branches, though, unless they look especially sturdy. If you grab a branch that breaks, you could slip and fall, and be in even worse shape.
Proceed with caution, but don't be too slow about it. Take short steps, because some parts of the ice may be sturdier than others. Walk with your center of gravity over the feet.
Plan for a slip by bending your head and back forward, just in case your feet slip out from under you. This way you won't bang your head if you are on a hard surface.
