February feels brighter, yet the cold can be sharper. We often hear stories that begin the same way: I was just walking to the kitchen. I was just getting ready to leave.
One of the most memorable involved an elderly woman who slipped inside her apartment when a leaking, unmaintained valve pipe left water on the floor. She believed she had only twisted her knee, but she could not get up and the water kept coming. She lay in frigid water as the apartment slowly flooded and became hypothermic. Unable to reach her phone, she scooted into the next room and knocked it off a table to call for help. Paramedics arrived and got her warm and stable.
Cold injuries happen faster than you think
Wet clothing. Immobility. Cold water. Poorly maintained building systems. In Alaska, those conditions compound quickly. What starts as a fall can turn into a medical emergency.
Why unsafe conditions matter
Unmaintained plumbing, icy walkways, poor lighting, broken doors, and neglected common areas put people at risk. Property owners still have responsibilities in winter. If you or a loved one is injured, take photos if safe to do so, collect witness names, and report the incident to the property owner’s or landlord’s insurer. For basics on documentation, see What to Do After an Accident and Premises Liability.