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Germans have been advised to walk "like penguins" to avoid slipping on icy pavements as temperatures in the country plummet.

The German Society of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery told pedestrians they should lean forwards and take small steps so that the centre of gravity is on the front leg.

It issued a sketch showing how humans spread their weight over both legs when they walk, in contrast to penguins which remain stable by placing all their weight on one leg.

In January 2014, amid arctic weather conditions, rescue services in Berlin received more than 750 emergency calls and emergency rooms were stretched to capacity with patients with bone fractures.

It comes after authorities in Berlin were criticised when they did not sprinkle rock salt on icy pavements despite warnings of freezing temperatures.

What's black and white and a bit fat round the middle? The penguins at London Zoo 17 show all What's black and white and a bit fat round the middle? The penguins at London Zoo 1/17 AN7780225The annual weigh-i.jpg Peng-weigh-in: animals at London Zoo were having their vital statistics recorded today

Picture: Alex Lentati 2/17 AN7786033epa03367166 Meerka.jpg Who's next? The meerkats look keen to find out how much they weigh 3/17 AN7786019epa03367165 A meer.jpg How much! Investigating the scales

Picture: EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga 4/17 AN7785517epa03367152 A zook.jpg Not having a hoot: a zookeeper measures and weighs 'Elton', a spectacled owl

Picture: EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga 5/17 AN7785355epa03367145 Giraff.jpg Side by side: giraffes await their weigh-in 6/17 AN7785988epa03367163 Zookee.jpg Head up... and stretch:zookeeper Grant Kother measures a giant tortoise Picture: EPA 7/17 AN7780222The annual weigh-i.jpg Pick up a penguin: the check-ups will allow keepers to ensure more than 16,000 creatures are in the best health possible

Picture: Alex Lentati 8/17 penguins-zoo.jpg Who's next? The penguins line up for Vicky Fyson

Picture: Alex Lentati 9/17 penguin-weigh.jpg Breathe in: Vicky said: “Some of the penguins can get quite fat around this time of year, so it’s important to keep an eye on them, equally a significant drop in weight will mean they are ill”

Picture: Alex Lentati 10/17 AN7786033epa03367166 Meerka.jpg Weight watchers: the meerkats form a queue 11/17 AN7780300The annual weigh-i.jpg On the scales: all that fish goes straight to the hips

Picture: Alex Lentati 12/17 AN7780350The annual weigh-i.jpg One at a time! The birds seem anxious to know their vital statistics

Picture: Alex Lentati 13/17 AN7780417The annual weigh-i.jpg Mili-meters: Measurements are recorded in the Zoological Information Management System, to be shared with facilities across the world

Picture: Alex Lentati 14/17 AN7785311Vicki Fyson a trai.jpg Slippery customer: Vicki Fyson prepares to weigh a Rockhopper penguin

Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant 15/17 AN7780467The annual weigh-i.jpg Tall order: Zoological director David Field said: “We need to know the vital statistics of every animal at the zoo — however big or small”

Picture: Alex Lentati 16/17 AN7780488The annual weigh-i.jpg Two-by-two: the giraffes grab a quick snack

Picture: Alex Lentati 17/17 AN7785185A-Galapagos-giant-.jpg Coming out of his shell: a Galapagos giant tortoise gets measured 1/17 AN7780225The annual weigh-i.jpg Peng-weigh-in: animals at London Zoo were having their vital statistics recorded today

Picture: Alex Lentati 2/17 AN7786033epa03367166 Meerka.jpg Who's next? The meerkats look keen to find out how much they weigh 3/17 AN7786019epa03367165 A meer.jpg How much! Investigating the scales

Picture: EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga 4/17 AN7785517epa03367152 A zook.jpg Not having a hoot: a zookeeper measures and weighs 'Elton', a spectacled owl

Picture: EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga 5/17 AN7785355epa03367145 Giraff.jpg Side by side: giraffes await their weigh-in 6/17 AN7785988epa03367163 Zookee.jpg Head up... and stretch:zookeeper Grant Kother measures a giant tortoise Picture: EPA 7/17 AN7780222The annual weigh-i.jpg Pick up a penguin: the check-ups will allow keepers to ensure more than 16,000 creatures are in the best health possible

Picture: Alex Lentati 8/17 penguins-zoo.jpg Who's next? The penguins line up for Vicky Fyson

Picture: Alex Lentati 9/17 penguin-weigh.jpg Breathe in: Vicky said: “Some of the penguins can get quite fat around this time of year, so it’s important to keep an eye on them, equally a significant drop in weight will mean they are ill”

Picture: Alex Lentati 10/17 AN7786033epa03367166 Meerka.jpg Weight watchers: the meerkats form a queue 11/17 AN7780300The annual weigh-i.jpg On the scales: all that fish goes straight to the hips

Picture: Alex Lentati 12/17 AN7780350The annual weigh-i.jpg One at a time! The birds seem anxious to know their vital statistics

Picture: Alex Lentati 13/17 AN7780417The annual weigh-i.jpg Mili-meters: Measurements are recorded in the Zoological Information Management System, to be shared with facilities across the world

Picture: Alex Lentati 14/17 AN7785311Vicki Fyson a trai.jpg Slippery customer: Vicki Fyson prepares to weigh a Rockhopper penguin

Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant 15/17 AN7780467The annual weigh-i.jpg Tall order: Zoological director David Field said: “We need to know the vital statistics of every animal at the zoo — however big or small”

Picture: Alex Lentati 16/17 AN7780488The annual weigh-i.jpg Two-by-two: the giraffes grab a quick snack

Picture: Alex Lentati 17/17 AN7785185A-Galapagos-giant-.jpg Coming out of his shell: a Galapagos giant tortoise gets measured

The mercury in Berlin is expected to plunge as low as -10C by Saturday.

To avoid falling over, doctors also recommended wearing shoes with spikes, waiting to reach the office before putting on "elegant" shoes in the office, or simply staying at home.