Death By Icicles



Yes, icicles can be deadly, and that’s no idle threat. Statistics show that 15 Americans die from icicle-related accidents each year, and some can be pretty gruesome. In addition, countless people are also injured by either icicles or blocks of ice that fall to the ground. In 2010, several people were injured by ice falling from the 37-story Sony Center on Madison Avenue in New York City. Ice doesn’t have to fall from tall structures in order to cause damage. Those detaching from a 2-story home can be enough to cause lacerations, head injuries, broken bones, and even death in some cases. Icicles are created when the heat from inside a building partially melts ice or snow on the roof. The water then attaches to an eave, window frame, or gutter and then freezes again. The best way to avoid being hurt by a falling icicle is to be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking under roof overhangs during the winter. When walking in an urban environment where buildings are tall, know that ice tends to drop between 5-10 feet away from the sides of the structure. The good news is that statistically speaking you’re about twice as likely to die from a lightning strike as you are from a falling icicle.