Staying safe dealing with snow

Snow Safety

I used to know a native Vermonter who never wore a coat, only a sweatshirt in the coldest weather. Referring to Vermont winters he would say, “This isn’t cold. Boston is cold.” The damp air made all the difference, he said. So today we’ll turn to Boston for some advice on the best way to shovel snow. Take it from a Vermonter: Boston folks know how to cope with winter.

When you’re shoveling snow, cold isn’t your only enemy – or even your worst. In a report from Boston’s WBZ-TV, Dr. Mallika Marshall offered several pointers to keep in mind when you bundle up, grab the shovel and head out into the elements. I’ve picked out a few of Dr. Marshall’s tips that just might help prevent a heart attack:

• A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that heart attack risk is approximately 30 times greater for those who rarely exercise and then perform a strenuous physical task such as shoveling snow. And if you’re over the age of 50, or if you have symptoms of heart disease, your risk is even higher.
• Digestion of a large meal can put a strain on the heart, so don’t overeat before shoveling.
• Before getting started, do some stretching to warm up a little. When you begin shoveling, your arteries need to open up gradually, so start by scooping up only small amounts of snow.
• Drink water. Exercise in winter can dehydrate you just as easily as exercise in summer.
• Bundle up in breathable, loose-fitting layers to avoid sweating, which can cause a loss of body heat.
• If you feel chest discomfort or a shortness of breath, stop immediately and go inside.

It’s also very important to take care to not hurt your back. When possible, push the snow aside instead of lifting it. But when you have to lift, avoid twisting your body to toss the snow aside. Dr. Marshall recommends a bent-handle shovel that will reduce the amount of bending.

And don’t think that using a snowblower changes all these rules. In the e-Alert “In the Clear” (2/19/03), I told you how using a snowblower elevates the heart rate, which can create problems for those who have cardiac conditions.

Of course, you could just ignore all of these guidelines and find a high-school or college student in your neighborhood who might like to earn a little extra cash. Personally, that would be my call.
To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
“Stay Safe While Shoveling Snow” WJZ-TV, 1/15/04, wjz.com
“Blowing That Snow Away Isn’t Necessarily Better” MotherNature.com