die during or just after snow removal every year.
“The impact of snow removal is especially concerning for people who already have cardiovascular risks like a sedentary lifestyle or obesity, being a current or former smoker, having diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, as well as people who have had a heart attack or stroke,” he says. “People with these characteristics and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty simply should not be shoveling snow.”
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How to safely shovel snow
To stay safer while working with snow, be aware of the dangers, be prepared and take it easy, Franklin suggests.
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Take short breaks as you work.
And, beware: Even using an automatic snow blower can be dangerous for some, because the exertion needed to push it can raise heart rate and blood pressure quickly, Franklin points out.
For folks who consider themselves healthy, though, snow blowers can reduce demands on the heart.
National Safety Council recommends the following tips to shovel safely:
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- Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
- Take it slow and stretch out before you begin
- Shovel only fresh, powdery snow; it’s lighter
- Push the snow rather than lifting and throwing it
- If you do lift it, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel
- Lift with your legs, not your back
- Do not work to the point of exhaustion
If you experience chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, heart palpitations or irregular heart rhythms, stop clearing snow immediately. Call 911 if symptoms don’t subside quickly.
