Most times it happens so quickly, you won’t have much time to react, just fall! Forget about trying to be graceful, just be safety conscious. The moment you realize you’re falling, avoid anything that might hurt you as you fall. Try to relax rather than stiffen. Be careful if you’re grabbing someone; they might end up tumbling over with you! If you feel a heel wobble at any time, check your shoe! You may just save yourself the pain of toppling over. See How to Fall Safely for more tips.
Sit down and examine the shoe. In some cases, it may be possible to simply reinsert the heel back into the holes or slots it has eased its way out from. Check the alignment of nails and any other pieces and reinsert as best you can. Ask for help from someone stronger if you can’t manage it alone. Don’t push too hard though, as this may snap the heel or pieces of it. If you have instant dry glue on hand, try to mend it temporarily. Wipe off any dirt or dust, and carefully edge the heel back into place and glue back into place. Since glue takes time to strengthen (even instant glue), you’ll need to be able to rest the shoe somewhere to dry for a short time, at least. Sit back and enjoy a drink or a chat with someone. When you wear a temporarily glued shoe again, try to keep the weight on the ball of your feet by leaning your foot forward, rather than leaning back on the heel. Take care if dancing though, as this will place a lot of pressure on the shoe. If you can’t mend the shoe, proceed to the next steps.
Avoid removing shoes where there are hazards present such as broken glass, excessive heat or cold, unclean floors or pavements, potential for needle objects to be around (such as syringes in a toilet at a nightclub), or any other hazards. Don’t forget the realities of other people treading or dancing onto your feet either! Keep your socks on if you’re worried about dirt or germs and doing so won’t create a slipping hazard.
Late night stores might be open in the vicinity of where you are. Ask your host for advice. Even a pair of cheap sneakers or sandshoes can often be purchased from all night supermarkets or drugstores; these can be good enough to get you home soundly! Better still, find a “repair-while-you-wait” shoe repairer. You can have a laugh about what happened, catch up on a bit of news and return with your heel intact.
Keep in mind that you falling to the ground is a concerning moment for your friends and an awkward and uncomfortable moment for everyone else. For a split second, nobody knows what is happening; for all they know, you could be having a heart attack or an aneurysm. Reassure people before laughing it off, to ease everyone’s tension. It isn’t a pleasant experience but it shouldn’t spoil the rest of the event if you’re out partying, dancing, dining, etc. Continue enjoying yourself; after all, it’s happened, you can’t go back but you can move on and have a great time! If you swap to wearing a spare shoe and it doesn’t match your outfit – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re comfortable and safe.
See if someone you know can give you a lift home if you can’t afford to take a taxi, or don’t like catching one.
If the shoes are not worth the cost, buy a shoe repair kit for an at-home fix-it job. If the shoes are worth it (expensive, sentimental value, etc. ), the shoe repairer is the best option for long-term strength and reliability.
