Is it Safe to Salt Your Driveway?

The leaves have fallen, and the temperature is dropping. It’s officially time to prep for the winter and stock up on supplies to combat the weather. “It’s important to keep surfaces clear in the winter because icy conditions can lead to accidents resulting in bone fractures and muscle injury,” says emergency medicine physician, Jared Ditkowsky, M.D.

There are many ways to de-ice driveways and sidewalks—the easiest and most abundant solution being rock salt. But is it safe to salt your driveway?

What to Know About Salt

Using rock salt is cheap and effective. But even though it is a natural compound helpful for lowering the freezing point of water, it’s corrosive. Rock salts can be composed of various substances including but not limited to calcium chloride, potassium chloride, carbonyl diamide and magnesium chloride. 

• It can cause damage to your driveway and your car. 
• While small amounts of exposure are usually safe, they can cause stomach irritation and skin rash in children who may touch or ingest the salt.
• It can also be a danger to your pets. Even small amounts of salt that your pet may lick off their paws or fur could lead to high blood sodium concentration, which can cause vomiting and lethargy or in serious cases kidney damage. The salts may also lead to irritation of your pet’s paws.
• Excessive use of salt can also have environmental consequences. It can make its way into the soil, damaging plants or even your water supply.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Be sure to talk to a medical professional if you experience a significant fall while out in the ice and snow. 

If your child ingests a small amount of rock salt, wipe the child’s face/mouth and give them water or milk to drink. Look out for the following signs and symptoms if you, your children, pet have had prolonged contact with or ingestion of rock salts. Should you witness any of these symptoms, immediately seek medical care and/or call 911.

• Painful or worsening irritation of the skin
• Vomiting or persistent drooling
• Seizure-like activity (loss of consciousness, shaking, decreased responsiveness)

Alternative Methods for De-Icing

The good news is that salt is not the only option.

• Gravel can be spread down before bad weather to provide traction.
• Sand or kitty litter can be scattered on top of the ice to help keep solid footing.
• Consider installing a snow melt mat the next time you redo your driveway. These work by heating up your driveway from below to prevent ice from forming.
• Shoveling is the old-school method and one of the best. 

“The sooner you shovel after bad weather, the better off you’ll be. If your health or daily life makes this difficult, consider seeing if a neighborhood kid wants to earn a few dollars,” Dr. Ditkowsky says. 

Salt is no doubt effective, but use it with caution and consider your alternative options to get the job done. “But no matter what method you choose, take it slow, use handrails and make sure to wear footwear with good treads when snow and ice are on the ground,” Dr. Ditkowsky says. 

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Jared Ditkowsky, M.D.
• Poison Control - Pets, Kids and Ice Melt Products
• If you are concerned about prolonged contact with or ingestion of rock salt in children, contact a medical professional or your local poison control center:
  • NJ Poison Control - 1-800-222-1222