NHS officials have demonstrated how people should walk like a penguin to avoid potentially dangerous falls on icy surfaces during the cold snap.
Officers were filmed as they staggered outside NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to show how it happened.
Dr. Emilia Crighton, the board’s director of public health, said: “While it may seem strange to walk or waddle like a penguin, the alternative could be a nasty injury or even a spell in hospital.” Penguins know best, so if you’re out and about in the next few days, adopting the penguin pose is a very effective way to move without falling.”
NHSGGC also has one Three-step guide to walking like a penguin. “Step 1 – legs out, step 2 – gentle knee bend, step 3 – arms out.”
At a time of acute winter pressure on the NHS, Crighton urged the public to only go to hospital for the most serious falls.
“A&E is here to help the sickest people and treat the most urgent emergencies, and we would always advise anyone who thinks their condition or injury is extremely urgent or life-threatening to call 999 or go to A&E immediately.”
The warning came during the coldest period of winter so far and the worst January in five years.
Hundreds of schools have remained closed for a fourth day as weather warnings, including an orange warning, remain in force in many parts of the country.
Preliminary data from the Met Office indicates temperatures at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands have fallen to -13.6 degrees Celsius.
Britain experienced its coldest night of the winter so far from Tuesday to Wednesday as Dalwhinnie, in the Highlands, recorded a temperature of -14 degrees Celsius.
Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland are under a yellow snow and ice warning for the whole of Thursday, while Wales and south-west England are under shorter snow and ice warnings until 11am on Thursday, and eastern England until noon on Thursday. the possibility of winter showers causing icy patches.
National Rail said the wintry weather could affect train journeys on Thursday, with Great Northern, Thameslink, ScotRail and South Western Railway already experiencing delays.
Another frosty night is forecast on Friday, and while it will be chillier with more cloud in some places, minimum temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius are likely in some areas.